Afforestation in Spain - stocktaking report after the regionalization
Barbero, A.
EFI Proceedings 35: 67-75
2000
Document Number: 203722
Afforestation is considered to be one of the best solutions for dealing with the abandonment of agricultural land, but the implementation in Spain of the National Programme for Afforestation in Agricultural Land (1994-99), had to face two main challenges: firstly, the unfavourable climatic and ecological conditions in many of the areas to be afforested; and secondly, the new Spanish model of the state in which the full competence for forestry comes under the jurisdiction of the new autonomous regional governments. The Programme covered over 490 000 ha, and although this is less than the area originally expected (800 000 ha), it still represents a considerable effort in the total amount of the forested area in the European Union covered by Council Regulation (EEC) 2080/92 . Significant advances in afforestation techniques, and an increase in the environmental integration of Spanish agriculture, are other issues to be taken into account.