Antonio Rigueiro takes over from Francisco Fernández de Ana Magán as president of the Galician Forestry Association.
The Forestry Association of Galicia (AFG) held its 34th Ordinary General Assembly on Saturday 6 November at the Pazo de Cultura in Pontevedra, an event it decided to stage in the capital of the Lérez in recognition of its outgoing president, Francisco Fernández de Ana Magán, who has always been personally and professionally linked to the Pontevedra region.
Francisco Fernández de Ana Magán's research career began at the Lourizán Forestry Research Centre, where he would go on to become head of the Phytopathology Section. He was also a lecturer at the Lourizán Foremen's School and an associate professor at the Higher Polytechnic School of Lugo (USC).
In his career as a researcher, he has published around a hundred scientific papers, is the author of seven books on forestry, and is also noted for his role as a leading populariser of mycology, with some of his research on the inoculation of forest species with mycorrhizae being world-leading.
Francisco Fernández de Ana Magán took over the presidency of the AFG in 2004, succeeding the late Xosé Represas. During his tenure at the helm of the Galician Forestry Association, he drove the professionalisation of services to AFG members, supported by a competent technical team.
Renowned as one of Spain's leading phytopathologists, the outgoing president of the AFG put his expertise in forest health at the service of the Association, which resulted in better support for its members. He also contributed to strengthening the structure of the AFG and was noted for his efforts in promoting a multifunctional forest, in which timber production coexists with other services, such as mushroom production and other economic and leisure activities.
A staunch defender of Galicia's natural and cultural heritage, Francisco Fernández de Ana Magán also played an important role in forging stable relationships with other sector entities at both national and European levels.
New board of directors
Antonio Rigueiro has now taken over as president of the Forestry Association of Galicia, having until now been its vice-president for Institutional Relations.
Rigueiro also began his career as a researcher in Pontevedra, at the Lourizán Forestry Research Centre, where he would work until 1986. Subsequently, He would hold positions in the regional administration and in 1988 began his career as a full professor at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineers (Lugo, USC), of which he was director between 1990 and 1993. In a second term, he would direct the Higher Polytechnic School of Lugo between 1997 and 2000.
Antonio Rigueiro Rodríguez has also been an ordinary member of the Royal Galician Academy of Sciences since 2002. At the University of Santiago, where he is a professor, he also coordinates a research group on silvopastoral systems and is director of the Courel Scientific Station (USC).
The following people accompany Antonio Rigueiro on the AFG's governing board:
– Francisco Dans del Valle (Vice President of Institutional Relations)
– Juan Ramón Gallástegui Otero (Vice President of Private Forests)
– José Luis Campos Represas (Vice-President of the Community Woodlands) – Xinzo Community Woodlands (Ponteareas)
Vogais of private mountains:
– Julio Aneiros Lorenzo
– Manuel Galdo Dopico
– Belén Mantiñán Edreira
Village Hill Trustees:
– Irene Díaz Martínez (Chaos Community of Mountain Commoners, Ribadeo)
– José Manuel Suárez Gamallo (Saiar Community of Mountain Neighbours, Caldas de Reis)
Natura Network, fire prevention and recovery of the pine forest ecosystem
The renewal of the AFG's governing board, which took place at an extraordinary general meeting, was preceded by the 34th Ordinary General Assembly, which served to review the work of the past two years and to map out the Association's roadmap.
Among the members' concerns, the restrictions experienced by owners and community woodlands affected by the Natura Network stood out. The Association reaffirmed its commitment to nature conservation, but agreed with the members on the need for the Administration to provide support to compensate owners and community woodlands for the use restrictions they are obliged to accept.
As notable milestones of the last two years, the AFG highlighted the collaboration it has been providing to partner mountain communities affected by wildfires in 2017, especially in the province of Pontevedra. The AFG, in collaboration with the mountain communities, sought a co-financing mechanism by registering the restoration projects in the Ministry of Ecological Transition's CO2 Compensation Register. This registration allows companies interested in voluntarily offsetting their carbon footprint to invest in these restoration projects, thereby collaborating with the community woodlands in the recovery of forests affected by fires.
A second line of work for the Galician Forestry Association, in this case in collaboration with the Arume Foundation, is focused on the recovery of the Galician pine ecosystem. Together with the Arume Foundation, the Galician Forestry Association is working on projects to improve the genetics of Galician conifers and to restore pine forests, for which the Arume Foundation has applied for Next Generation funds.
Other topics addressed at the assembly included the new legislative regulations being prepared in the forestry sector, concerning issues such as fire prevention and the management of community woodlands, as well as the recently approved Galician Forestry Plan.
