Sustainable land management and wood processing on a local scale
The wood processing workshop held this Saturday in Baroña highlighted sustainable ‘monte’ management on a local scale. It was organized by the Plataforma pola Defensa do Monte together with the Baroña Common Land Community, within the framework of the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory project.
March 31, 2025 – Last Saturday, the Baroña Forest House hosted a workshop on sustainable common land management and small-scale wood processing. It was a morning of learning and meetings, organized by the Plataforma pola Defensa do Monte (PDM) and the Baroña Forest Community, within the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory—a project promoted by the Fundación RIA and supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), within the context of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Throughout the day, residents of the Baroña common land community, along with professionals from various parts of Galicia (and beyond) gathered to learn firsthand about the possibilities offered by small-scale wood processing. The meeting focused on the importance of forest management rooted in the territory and adding value to local timber resources.
Ovidio Queiruga, president of the Baroña Common Land Community, highlighted the potential of these tools for the community: “We want other ‘comunidades de montes’ to invest in machinery like this, like our portable sawmill, which enables the production of boards and beams to build livestock sheds or fences, for example.”
One of the main attractions of the day was the forestry machinery demonstrations, where Logosol portable sawmills, Amura branch shredders, and Husqvarna chainsaws, among other tools, could be seen in operation. These demonstrations were made possible thanks to the collaboration of Timber Tools, distributors from Valencia, as well as Recambios Blanco and Agrícola Rodríguez, from the Noia and Porto do Son areas, who provided technical personnel and equipment.
Another key moment was the discussion “From ‘Monte’ to Industry”, a space for cross-generational testimonies, where the loss of the local value chain and the opportunities to recover it were discussed. Francisco, from Maderas Romero Cambeiro, stated: “Before, there were many sawmills, the wood was processed here. The wealth remained in the territory, and we are losing that today.”
José Manuel Silva, from Silva Forestal and president of the Xuño Common Land Community, emphasized the same point: “Our wood isn’t valued; we are giving it away, and those who work in the ‘monte’—clearing, logging, and selling need support. Without these people and without a fair valuation of our resources, there is no living common land.”
There was also time to talk about culture and trade. Ramón Collazo, from the Catoira shipyards and president of the Galician Carpentry Association of Ribeira (AGALCARI), reaffirmed the identity linked to traditional know-how: “We have to keep alive the trades linked to the sea and the land.” Rodrigo Mosquera, a craftsman from TresOficios, was clear: “I can’t buy wood from a common land comunity or a small sawmill; we need good wood from here.”
The day closed with an open reflection by Rafael Saco, president of the PDM: “We are moving from an overexploited woodland to an underutilized one. We have to recover a multifunctional, living model that connects us to the territory.” He added: “Projects like the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory help pool knowledge and energy to imagine other possible futures for the common land.”
Upcoming activities in Rianxo
The wood-related activities will continue throughout April at the Rianxo town hall. On Tuesday the 22nd, a new technical demonstration will be held in the parish of Isorna, aimed at students and professionals in the sector. On Sunday the 27th, a public event will be held in the parish of Araño, with a more festive and participatory format, designed for all audiences.
During that week, the Baroña Forest Community’s portable sawmill will remain in Rianxo, offering individuals and forest communities the opportunity to use it. Those interested should register in advance by emailing info@barbanzaecosocial.org
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.