Forest sector organisations want the Galician Forestry Plan to be debated in Parliament.
The associations of the wood value chain insist, for years, on the need for the new Galicia Forest Plan to be debated in the Parliament of Galicia before being approved, with the aim of achieving a political consensus that reflects the one already hard-won within the sector and gives it stability, as was the case with the previous Plan, since it is a 20-year document in which the future of the rural environment is at stake. In this regard, since the public process for defining the guidelines of the Forestry Plan was initiated by the Countryside Department, the Galician timber sector has worked actively and intensively for more than five years, conceding on some of its demands and contributing its points of view, with the aim of developing and benefiting the rural environment. Therefore, it is considered fair and necessary that politicians do the same for the development of the rural world, without which there can be no forestry activity.
Throughout these years, the timber value chain has maintained working meetings with all the involved stakeholders in order to achieve the long-awaited consensus. From scientific circles to environmental groups, parties across the political spectrum and all social sectors involved in rural areas have reached common ground. Work was carried out by setting aside particular formulations, making concessions to achieve consensus, with the firm conviction that what unites us is stronger than what divides us; the future of rural Galicia is at stake. Forest managers, the industry and all the aforementioned groups worked together collaboratively, with the sole aim of producing a document that helps to improve the rural environment.
Within the forestry sector, there is a strong sense of responsibility to have the Galician Forestry Plan approved in the near future, due to the imminent programming of European Funds which will be channelled through the Rural Development Plan; it is key to align the objectives of the Forestry Plan within the European programming period. The Plan is fundamental to accessing the European funds that will be mobilised in the coming years. For the rural areas to benefit from these investments, it is essential that the document is approved. There is no document in Galicia that has been more thoroughly worked on, discussed and consensually agreed before its introduction to Parliament than the new Forestry Plan.
The Forestry Plan must be a robust document that reflects the collaborative work of all these years. A long-term document that provides legal certainty with a view to the future of Galicia, of all Galicians and their forests. A document that guarantees the survival and development of the rural environment.
