Actuality

A group of around fifty schoolchildren from CEIP Antonio Blanco (Covelo, Pontevedra) collaborated with the Private Communal Neighborhood Forest Owners of Mouriscados (Mondariz) and the Galician Forestry Association in the planting of 60 strawberry trees in the demonstration forest of Mouriscados. The day, which aims to promote environmental education among students, served to celebrate Arbor Day.

The plan was to plant 60 strawberry trees in the private communal neighborhood forest, in a strip that will act as a natural firebreak to prevent fires. At the same time, the strawberry trees produce fruit that is highly palatable to birds and other wildlife, so the area will also function as a small edible forest.

The celebration of Arbor Day in the Mouriscados demonstration forest was aimed at disseminating among students the environmental benefits generated by the forest and the forestry activity itself. By planting trees, they saw how to actively prevent fires and learned how private communal neighborhood forest owners and individual forest owners are concerned about increasing the biodiversity of their lands, which provide a series of ecosystem services to society as a whole.

On the Mouriscados demonstration forest
The Mouriscados demonstration forest, of 315 hectares, is located in the municipality of Mondariz (Pontevedra) and combines natural, cultural and historical heritage in an exceptional environment for hiking.
It has multiple areas of important environmental value: groves of native species (oaks, willows and chestnut trees, among others) in approximately 35.95 hectares. The Xabriña River, an emblematic watercourse in the region, runs through the forest, with areas of high quality riparian vegetation.

The Galician Forestry Association is collaborating with the private communal neighborhood forest of Mouriscados, owner of the space, in the management of the forest and the restoration with conifers and deciduous trees of areas affected by a forest fire.