Forestry in Spain

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Logging in Navarredonda de Gredos. Troncos cortados en Gredos.jpg
Logging in Navarredonda de Gredos.

For the most part, the history of forestry in Spain was one of increasing deforestation. [1] Wood (Spanish : madera) long was the main source of energy. [1] In the 20th century, efforts were taken to revert the trend, increasing the forested area in the country from then on. [2] [n. 1]

Forests cover roughly 55% of the land in Spain, with 70% privately owned and 27% on public land. The former amount wildly changes depending on the region, with Navarre accounting for the largest share of publicly owned forest and Galicia the smallest (MAGRAMA, 2012). [4]

As of 2012, the most common tree species in Spanish forests are Pinus pinaster , Pinus sylvestris , species of eucalypts, Pinus halepensis , Fagus sylvatica , Pinus nigra , Quercus ilex , Quercus pyrenaica , Quercus pubescens , Pinus radiata , Quercus robur and Quercus petraea . [5]

Forestry policy at the state level is included as part of the policy area of rural development of the relevant ministerial department. [6] Much of the management of forestry, however, has been transferred at the regional level to different autonomous communities. [5]

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Deforestation and climate change Relationship between deforestation and global warming


Deforestation is a primary contributor to climate change. Land use changes, especially in the form of deforestation, are the second largest anthropogenic source of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions, after fossil fuel combustion. Greenhouse gases are emitted during combustion of forest biomass and decomposition of remaining plant material and soil carbon. Global models and national greenhouse gas inventories give similar results for deforestation emissions. As of 2019, deforestation is responsible for about 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Peatland degradation also emits GHG. Growing forests are a carbon sink with additional potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. Some of the effects of climate change, such as more wildfires, may increase deforestation. Deforestation comes in many forms: wildfire, agricultural clearcutting, livestock ranching, and logging for timber, among others. The vast majority of agricultural activity resulting in deforestation is subsidized by government tax revenue. Forests cover 31% of the land area on Earth and annually 75,700 square kilometers of the forest is lost. Mass deforestation continues to threaten tropical forests, their biodiversity, and the ecosystem services they provide. The main area of concern of deforestation is in tropical rain forests since they are home to the majority of the planet's biodiversity.

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Cantabrian mixed forests

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Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests

The Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It occupies the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, encompassing coastal lowlands and mountains in portions of Portugal and Spain.

Iberian conifer forests

The Iberian conifer forests is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It includes the mountain forests of southern and central Spain.

Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests

The Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in southwestern Europe. It extends along the Pyrenees mountains which run east and west along the border between France and Spain, and includes all Andorra. The ecoregion extends from the lower slopes of the Pyrenees to its highest peaks, which include Aneto, Posets, and Vignemale.

Forest in Turkey Woodland and maquis in the Eurasian country

Forest now covers just over a quarter of Turkey, but 4000 years ago most of the country was forested. The country is reforesting, which is important for the wildlife of Turkey.

References

Informational notes
  1. Concern about the increasing pressure over woodland was already present in the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula, though. An early case (considered one of the earliest recorded in Europe) of reforestation took place in 1276 in the Monastery of Oña. [3]
Citations
  1. 1 2 Valbuena-Carabaña et al. 2010, p. 492.
  2. Valbuena-Carabaña, María; López de Heredia, Unai; Fuentes-Utrilla, Pablo; González-Doncel, Inés; Gil, Luis (2010). "Historical and recent changes in the Spanish forests: A socio-economic process". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 162 (3): 492. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2009.11.003.
  3. Wing, John T. (2012). "Keeping Spain Afloat: State Forestry and Imperial Defense in the Sixteenth Century". Environmental History. 17 (1): 121. doi:10.1093/envhis/emr123. JSTOR   23212618.
  4. Freitas 2016–2017, p. 40.
  5. 1 2 Freitas 2016–2017, p. 41.
  6. Freitas, Ester Oliveira de (2016–2017). "Effects of national forest governance structures on the adoption of EU Forestry Strategy: an analysis in selected Mediterranean countries" (PDF). p. 41.