MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT SECRETARIAT-GENERAL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION INDEX INDEX....................................................................................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 11 PART ONE: BREAKDOWN OF THE CURRENT SITUATION......................................... 17 1. FOREST DISTRIBUTION IN SPAIN ............................................................................... 17 2. FACTORS AFFECTING THE STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPANISH FORESTS .............................................................................................................................. 223 2.1. NATURAL FACTORS...................................................................................................................... 22 2.2. NON-NATURAL FACTORS:HUMAN ACTIVITY............................................................................. 24 2.2.1. DEFORESTATION......................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.2. FOREST RECOVERY IN SPAIN ...................................................................................................... 25 2.2.3. SHRUBBERY ANDGRASSLAND..................................................................................................... 27 2.2.4. PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS.................................................................................................... 29 2.2.5. LIVESTOCK TRACKS.................................................................................................................... 30 3. FOREST HARVESTING.................................................................................................... 31 3.1. TIMBER HARVESTING .................................................................................................................. 34 3.2. GRAZING....................................................................................................................................... 41 3.2.3. LIVESTOCK BREEDING ................................................................................................................ 42 3.2.3.1. BEEF CATTLE ........................................................................................................................... 43 3.2.3.2 Sheep and goats........................................................................................................................ 45 3.2.3.3. Extensive pig farming ............................................................................................................. 45 3.2.3.4. Apiculture................................................................................................................................ 46 3.2.4. IMPORTANCE OF LIVESTOCK GRAZING IN FOREST AREAS .......................................................... 47 3.2.4.l. Preservation of forest areas ...................................................................................................... 47 3.2.4.2. Stabilizing the rural population............................................................................................... 48 3.2.4.3 Maintaining autochthonous breeds........................................................................................... 49 3.3. OTHER FOREST PRODUCTS .......................................................................................................... 51 3.3.1. FUELWOOD AND BIOMASS .......................................................................................................... 52 3.3.2. RESIN .......................................................................................................................................... 54 3.3.3. CORK .......................................................................................................................................... 56 3 3.3.4. ESPARTO GRASS.......................................................................................................................... 58 3.3.5. FRUIT, MUSHROOMS AND OTHER PLANTS................................................................................... 59 3.3.6. AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL PLANTS........................................................................................... 64 3.4. GAME HUNTING ............................................................................................................................ 66 3.5. CONTINENTAL FISHERIES ............................................................................................................ 68 4. INDUSTRY, CONSULTANCY, ENGINEERING, SERVICES AND THE MARKETING OF FOREST PRODUCTS.......................................................................................................70 4.1. FOREST ENGINEERING AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES .............................................................. 70 4.2. FOREST EXPLOITATION SUB-SECTOR.......................................................................................... 71 4.3. FIRST-STAGE WOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY............................................................................. 71 4.4. SECOND-STAGE WOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY ......................................................................... 74 4.5. CERTIFICATION OF SUSTAINABLE SOURCES OF FOREST PRODUCTS......................................... 75 4.5. EXPORT PROMOTION PLANS ........................................................................................................ 78 5. TERTIARY USES OF SPANISH FORESTS .....................................................................78 5.1. EFFECTS OF USAGE....................................................................................................................... 79 5.2. REGULATION AND PROMOTION OF TERTIARY USES .................................................................. 80 6. LEGISLATION AND FOREST PLANS OF THE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES...81 6.1. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................ 81 6.2. THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE............................................................................................. 82 6.3. REGIONAL FORESTRY STRATEGIES AND PLANS ......................................................................... 83 6.4. A REGIONAL DIAGNOSIS OF THE FORESTRY PANORAMA........................................................... 85 7. ACTION TAKEN BY THE NATIONAL FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION..................86 7.1. CURRENT INITIATIVES ................................................................................................................. 86 7.1.1. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVES.................................................................................. 87 7.1.2. INITIATIVES BY THE MINISTRY FOR AGRICULTURE,FISHERIES AND FOOD ............................... 89 Afforestation of farmland..................................................................................................................... 89 7.2. INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES ...................................................................................................... 92 8. THE EUROPEAN UNION..................................................................................................94 8.1. COMMUNITY FOREST LEGISLATION............................................................................................ 95 8.2. APPLICATION OF THE STRUCTURAL FUNDS................................................................................ 95 8.3. NEW PERSPECTIVES:THE EUROPEAN UNION FORESTRY STRATEGY ...................................... 96 9. FORESTRY RESEARCH ...................................................................................................97 4 10. OTHER PROBLEMS IN SPANISH FORESTS............................................................... 99 10.1. EROSION ..................................................................................................................................... 99 10.2. FOREST FIRES ........................................................................................................................... 101 10.3. PHYTOSANITARY PROBLEMS IN FOREST AREAS ..................................................................... 103 10.4. PRODUCTION AND USE OF FOREST REPRODUCTION MATERIAL............................................ 104 10.5. LACK OF SOCIAL CONSENSUS ON MULTIFUNCTIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................................... 104 10.6. FOREST PROPERTY: THE EFFECTS OF THE MULTIPLE LEGAL CATEGORIES OF FORESTS ON MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES ............................................................................................................ 106 10.7. LAND ZONING AND MANAGEMENT.......................................................................................... 108 PART TWO: FOREST POLICY PROPOSALS................................................................... 109 1. THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE FORESTRY MODEL............................................ 109 1.1. MULTIFUNCTIONALITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT.ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FOREST MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................. 109 1.2. PUBLIC UTILITY FORESTS .........................................................................................................