Concern in the community woodlands of southern Pontevedra over the expansion of the nematode demarcated zone
The sector is calling for a silviculture support programme in the demarcated area to improve pest containment and to address the increased costs involved.
The Forestry Association of Galicia held a meeting in Tomiño with the montes communities of the Lower Miño to inform and advise them about the pine nematode. At the meeting, attended by around fifty people, most of them representatives of community woodlands, concern was expressed over the expansion of the demarcated zone for the nematode and the recent suspension of pine movements to Portugal.
The suspension of pine wood exports to Portugal from the demarcated area began on 12 February, following a written communication from the Countryside Department to forestry companies, informing them that, “for the time being”, transport authorisations for wood destined for Portugal were suspended. The Department of Rural Affairs indicated in the same communication that it is awaiting an agreement that is expected to be reached with the Portuguese authorities.
The block on timber sales to Portugal, which had never occurred in the previous demarcated area of The Neves (2010-2019), concerns the community woodlands and private landowners, as in southern Pontevedra, the vast majority of pine wood destined for chipping was until now sold to the Europac factory (Viana do Castelo, Portugal), a company that pays higher prices for this wood than other potential buyers.
The current inability to send pine to Portugal therefore represents a clear risk of serious losses for the community woodlands. Some of the sawmill pine was also being traded with the neighbouring country, so the communities are calling for clarification and for the swiftest possible reopening of exports.
Forestry Support Programme
Another of the issues addressed last Saturday at the meeting between the Forestry Association of Galicia and the community woodlands of the Lower Miño was the need for a silvicultural support programme. To contain the pine nematode plague, one of the priorities is the removal of symptomatic and decaying trees from the woodland.
The sanitary surveillance and control that mountain communities can carry out on their land is therefore a fundamental measure to curb the spread of the pine nematode. The Forestry Association of Galicia is calling for a support plan for silviculture in the area demarcated by the nematode, so that mountain communities can meet the increased costs that the pest imposes on the management of their stands.
In addition to the removal of dead or symptomatic trees, communities must shred the remains of felling and pruning to diameters of less than 3 centimetres. That diameter requires the use of hammer shredders, which more than doubles the cost of the shredding work compared with a chain shredder.
It is also necessary to have a support plan for the forestry companies and wood-processing industries located in the demarcated area. Another issue the community woodlands complain about is the lack of information on the pest from the Administration.
New briefing in Vigo
The Forestry Association of Galicia will continue this Friday, 22nd, in Vigo with the information meetings to explain the measures being taken to halt the advance of the pest and to address the queries and concerns of mountain communities and private landowners.
This Friday's meeting will be at 7.30 pm at the social centre of the Coruxo Community of Neighbourly Mountains (Subida San Sebastián, No. 23, Fragoselo – Coruxo, Vigo).
More information
– José Covelo (Director of the Forestry Association of Galicia office in Ponteareas): 618 752 218.
– Francisco Dans, Director of the Galician Forestry Association, 618 752 222.
