The AFG general assemblies were successfully held in Torroso (Mos)
The Galician Forestry Association (AFG) held its annual ordinary assembly on the morning of Saturday, April 26, in Mos (Pontevedra), in which a resolution was approved requesting the implementation of specific regulations for the sustainable management of eucalyptus. The AFG's proposal is that this future regulation be agreed upon with the entire forestry sector and the Galician Government over the coming months.
The regulatory formula that the Galician Forestry Association considers most suitable is the creation of the figure of 'eucalyptus rights'. This system would allow owners who currently have eucalyptus plantations in sites unsuitable for the species to sell their plantation rights to other people who have better conditions for growing this species.
In this way, eucalyptus forests that are currently abandoned and/or occupying unproductive or non-mechanizable surfaces could be eliminated. The mechanism would also have additional advantages, such as creating incentives for the removal of eucalyptus from protected natural spaces or encouraging the installation of other forest species in the current eucalyptus stands, with the aim of creating a mosaic landscape with discontinuities, thus promoting biodiversity.
Until this specific rules for the regulation of eucalyptus is agreed upon and implemented, the Galician Forestry Association understands that it is necessary to extend the current eucalyptus moratorium, which in principle expires at the end of 2025.
The resolution approved in the assembly specifies that this extension of the moratorium should be made for a period of 2–3 years, and should be eliminated once future specific regulations are approved.
Proposal for the mutualization of the costs of fire protection strips
Two other resolutions were approved at the ordinary assembly of the Galician Forestry Association. One on secondary fire protection strips and another on the regulation of forestry activity in areas of cultural heritage concern.
Regarding the secondary fire protection strips, which are available around houses and population centers, the AFG assembly requests that the new Law on the Fight against Forest Fires include the mutualization of the maintenance costs of the secondary strips.
The Galician Forestry Association believes that the annual clearing expenses of these strips should not fall solely on the forest owners, but that a mutualization of the costs should be sought, also taking into account the loss of productive capacity of these plots.
Areas affected by cultural heritage
A third resolution of the assembly refers to forest areas affected by cultural heritage elements, for which the definition of instructions for forestry work is requested. The AFG is in favor of the conservation of heritage elements in the forest, but emphasizes that both the bureaucracy and the current expenses that the presence of cultural heritage in the forest implies for property must be reduced.
Farewell to Francisco Dans
In addition to the approval of resolutions and management issues of the AFG, the most emotional moment of the ordinary assembly occurred with the farewell of Francisco Dans, promoter of the Galician Forestry Association and director of the entity since 1986. Dans has just left his position at the head of the AFG due to his upcoming retirement and had the opportunity to say goodbye to the members at the assembly on April 26.
During his 38 years as director of the Galician Forestry Association, of which he was one of its creators, Francisco Dans led the defense of the interests of private forest property and of private communal neighboring forest owners.
In line with the lines of work agreed upon with the four presidents of the AFG with whom he lived, he represented the AFG in the vast majority of forums and committees of the Galician and Spanish forestry sector, as well as at an international level. In recent years, he has also held the positions of vice president of the Arume Foundation and vice president of Institutional Relations of the AFG. He will continue to work at the AFG until July 2025.
Given the departure of Francisco Dans, a key figure in the Galician forestry sector in recent decades, the Governing Board of the Galician Forestry Association has appointed Xosé Covelo Míguez as the new director, a forestry engineer who has been working in the association since 2018, first as head of the wood marketing unit and later as technical director of the Ponteareas office, in addition to being responsible for supervising the certification unit and CO2 projects.
In his role, Covelo will be assisted by three technical directors, all with extensive work experience at AFG and recognized professionals in the sector: Daniel Rodríguez, in economic management; Braulio Molina, in R&D&I, and Jorge Bouzas in technical forestry management.
