In a statement, the MIMCYL expressed its disappointment at the complete omission of specific measures for the forestry sector in the Pact for Reconstruction, signed by the main political groups of the autonomous community on June 17.
The MIMCYL highlights the enormous potential of forestry activity to generate wealth and employment in the rural areas of the region and to respond, in addition, to the provisions of the European Green Deal and in the future Biodiversity Strategies and Forestry of the European Union.
Castile and León is one of the most important forest regions in all of Europe (51.1% of its surface area is forested). It has accumulated 150 million cubic meters of rainwater.3 made of wood and is the second most important region at the national level.
Forests in Castile and León are being exploited below their capacity. Only 301,000 tons of growth are being harvested (below the Spanish average of 371,000 tons and the European average of 651,000 tons). Bringing these resources into production could be a driving force for the region's development.
The forestry sector It employs more than 16,000 people in the region. and its industry has great relevance at the national level, contributing 14 % of the total production. Wood products processed in the region can be key to the new economic development based on the major European Green Deal, generating a unique strategic opportunity.
Over 95% of the sector's activity is concentrated in towns with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants, and a large portion of the associated tax revenue is returned to the regional government. The sector's development presents an opportunity for job creation and helps retain population in rural areas. Therefore, sectors that manage local resources are considered strategic, especially in rural areas where efforts are underway to retain residents.
Furthermore, the sustainable forest management of our forests allows the maintenance of the forest mass, promoting its proper health and cleanliness and avoiding fire and pest problems. Forests are the main carbon sinks that exist, and environmental sustainability and the care of the rural environment depend on their conservation.
«"We are convinced that developing a sustainable sector with as many possibilities as forestry is a strategic opportunity so that our autonomous community can consolidate its economic and social recovery after the pandemic; otherwise, a large part of the activity associated with the sector could disappear.".
The MIMCYL The Castile and León Intersectoral Wood Roundtable is the association that represents the interests of the wood sector in Castile and León. It brings together the most representative business associations in the sector with a presence in our region. ANFTA (National Association of Board Manufacturers), ASEMFO (National Association of Forestry Companies), ASPAPEL (Spanish Association of Pulp, Paper and Board Manufacturers), AVEBIOM (Spanish Biomass Association), CEMCAL (Confederation of Wood Business Owners of Castile and León), FAFCYLE (Federation of Forestry Associations of Castile and León) and FEIM (Spanish Federation of Wood Industries).
More information: http://www.mimcyl.es/