The FORTEXVAL project seeks to create an innovative forest management system capable of guaranteeing forests’ resilience against natural threats, anchoring populations, and fostering green employment in rural settings. This approach heralds a novel perspective on adding value to agroforestry resources, leveraging low-carbon-footprint technologies for a triple benefit. Envisioned as a circular bioeconomy initiative, it will unfold within the Saja Reserve over the forthcoming 17 months.
The consortium leading this venture includes the Mancomunidad de la Reserva del Saja, the Centro Tecnológico de Automoción de Galicia and the CTC Technological Centre. The venture marked its inception at a meeting hosted in the Town Hall of Ruente. Project partners, associated stakeholders and María José Sáenz de Buruaga, the President of Cantabria, attended the launch of a project that aspires to unlock development prospects in rural areas.
FORTEXVAL proposes an alternative management model to optimise the resources of each forest area. This comprehensive proposal includes the use of animal traction techniques to minimise environmental impact during material collection, alongside the creation of new, high-value products through the conditioning and processing of harvested plant elements. Should the anticipated outcomes be fulfilled and the project advances to an industrial scale, it is projected that 300 new jobs will be created. These positions will span forest management activities and the production of high-value items.
With a funding allocation of 619,120 euros, FORTEXVAL is backed by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan [Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia ] and financed by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU programme.
The first phase of the FORTEXVAL initiative prioritises the sustainable extraction of agroforestry resources. By employing animal traction techniques over conventional mechanical machinery, the project significantly reduces its impact on the land and biodiversity.
Choosing horses for these operations revitalises a traditional practice that is both emblematic of and deeply ingrained in the local community. FORTEXVAL marries the low carbon footprint of animal traction with cutting-edge technology in forest resource management.
This strategy significantly contributes to the forests preventive maintenance, protecting the soil from degradation and mitigating biodiversity loss typically associated with conventional forestry practices.
The project opens up a new avenue for economic development within the region by adding value to extracted forest resources. Specifically, materials like brushwood, woodchips and other elements perceived as low value are repurposed to produce biochar. Termed as nature’s ‘black gold,’ biochar boasts a multitude of properties and high-value applications.Biochar is produced by heating biomass in a low-oxygen environment through a process called pyrolysis.
The end product is carbon-rich, offering vast potential for development, from closing the organic waste loop to boosting crop yields and rejuvenating soil. It presents considerable atmospheric advantages, including reducing methane emissions and odours while also aiding in carbon sequestration. When incorporated into the substrate, biochar significantly enhances soil fertility and reduces nutrient loss.Within the FORTEXVAL project, this biochar will be specifically utilised to enrich the agricultural lands and orchards across the Saja Reserve.
The project is set to undertake an experimental study aimed at exploring biochar’s potential, including its ability to retain water , its gradual nutrient release and its efficacy in absorbing pollutants from the soil.Alongside these initiatives, the project is exploring the incorporation of low-density biomass as a filler for thermoplastic automotive components enriched with natural fibres.
The overall objective of the project aligns with 4 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN. These goals are Gender Equality , Decent Work and Economic Growth , Responsible Consumption and Production and Climate Action . Should the anticipated outcomes be met, the approach could serve as a blueprint for replication in other regions facing similar socio-environmental challenges.
