April 17, 2024 — The Sustainable Environmental and Forest Management Unit (UXAFORES) research group at the USC Terra Campus’ Higher Polytechnic School of Engineering is working to improve soil fertility and optimize forest management in the ‘montes vecinales’ of Barbanza, under the auspices of a project promoted by the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory, financed with two million euros from Next Generation funds thanks to the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union.

The UXAFORES research staff involved in this project focuses on studying the physical, chemical, and biological fertility of the soils, suggesting possible fertilizers, and designing forest management tactics that promote the (potential) commercialization of carbon credits, according to the coordinator of the group, USC professor Esperanza Álvarez.

To achieve the proposed objectives, UXAFORES will conduct sampling in various ‘montes’ plots to determine fertility, while also testing management tools aimed at preventing fires and seeking alternative uses (such as the introduction of livestock or the elimination of invasive species such as eucalyptus and acacia trees). The development of soil dressings from agricultural and forestry residues and their application in less fertile lands is another aspect entrusted to the UXAFORES group within the framework of this project, in which the HISTAGRA group at the USC also participates, as well as other public and private entities. In fact, besides the USC (through CISPAC and the aforementioned groups), Fundación RIA, the Plataforma pola Defensa do Monte, Pablo de Olavide University, the Rianxo City Council, and the Montescola Foundation are also part of this project.

Improving forest management in the project’s area of interest, in order to optimize its long-term sustainability and profitability for landowners, is yet another challenge in a project that launched this month with the ambitions of contributing to job creation and economic opportunity, conserving biodiversity, and preventing forest fires in the area.

In this case, UXAFORES will use existing ‘Monte’ Planning Projects (POM) and Simple Management Documents (DSG) to understand the actual situation of the areas being studied. This initial technical analysis will be used to find the average ‘monte’ growth curve in volume and also to estimate the conversion of the obtained values into carbon-biomass and tons of CO2 equivalent. The results of the various simulations developed over the two-year period will then be compiled in a joint report that will facilitate the formation of forest management improvement projects.

Beyond these targeted actions, the consortium promoting the project (which emerged from the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory) aims to generate new opportunities through a program of training workshops, educational activities, and environmental volunteering. This range of tools will also allow for the assessment and expansion of capacities for community-based land management, collective energy use, and soil regeneration initiatives.

Barbanza Ecosocial Lab has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) of the Government of Spain, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

Coordinated by Fundación RIA, the Barbanza Ecosocial Lab is a project dedicated to promoting the transition towards environmental sustainability and strengthening resilience in the territorial management of the Barbanza common land.