How are our forests looked after? What role does forest biomass play in the energy transition? Who works to ensure the conservation of our forests? And how can we prepare them for the effects of climate change?
These are some of the questions answered by the new series of four informative videos produced as part of the European BIO4RES project, an audiovisual initiative that aims to raise public awareness of the importance of sustainable forest management, fire prevention and the responsible use of natural resources.
The short videos, aimed at the general public, combine footage of Navarre’s forests with explanations and testimonials from professionals involved in forest management. Their aim is to convey, in a simple and accessible way, the environmental, social and economic benefits of active and planned management of our forests.
This initiative forms part of BIO4RES’s social awareness and outreach programme, which is committed to the dissemination and transfer of knowledge as fundamental tools for improving the resilience of forest ecosystems.
FOUR VIDEOS TO HELP YOU GET TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND OUR FORESTS
The audiovisual series is structured around four main themes that enable viewers to discover different aspects of forest management and its contribution to sustainable development.
The first video, ‘A well-managed forest is a sustainable forest’, explains how forestry work – such as clear-cutting, thinning, pruning and brush-clearing – helps to keep forests in better condition, reduce certain risks and promote their long-term conservation.
The second video, ‘Forest biomass: energy from the forest’, shows how lower-quality timber and residues from forestry work can be transformed into a source of renewable energy. Using this biomass generates heat for homes, public buildings and industrial facilities, whilst boosting the local economy and contributing to sustainable land management.
The third video, ‘Many hands, one forest’, focuses on collaboration between the various stakeholders involved in forest management. Public authorities, landowners, professionals, companies and organisations in the sector share responsibilities and expertise to ensure the sustainability of the forests and tackle common challenges.
Finally, ‘Forests Prepared for Climate Change’ examines the effects that changing climatic conditions are having on forest ecosystems, ranging from droughts and high temperatures to an increase in certain risks. The feature explains how adaptive forest management can help to improve the resilience and recovery capacity of our forests.
THE EXPERTISE OF PROFESSIONALS: THE FOCUS OF THE VIDEOS
One of the key strengths of this audiovisual initiative is the involvement of professionals who have first-hand knowledge of the forestry situation in Navarre and who work directly on its conservation, planning and sustainable management.
Roberto Borda Pascal, Iñigo Mazkiaran San Román, Laura Navarro Pérez de Pipaón and Irantzu Primicia Álvarez – all forestry engineers and staff members of the Government of Navarre’s Forestry and Game Management Service – took part in the filming.
Also collaborating are David Candel Pérez, a technician at Nasuvinsa-Lursarea; Olatz Esparza Uros, manager and technical officer at ADEMAN (Association of Timber Entrepreneurs of Navarre); and Mikel Barberena Tabar from the company Biomasa Navarra S.L. and president of ADEMAN.
Through its features, the series provides the public with an accessible yet thorough insight into the work carried out by public authorities and stakeholders in the forestry sector, highlighting the expertise of those involved in the day-to-day management of our forests.
Their contributions help to illustrate that forest conservation requires technical knowledge, planning, collaboration and the ongoing involvement of all stakeholders in the region.
RAISING AWARENESS TO PROTECT THE FUTURE OF OUR FORESTS
With this new initiative, BIO4RES aims to help improve public perception of forest management, demonstrating that the sustainable use of natural resources can be compatible with the conservation of ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity.
The four videos have been designed as tools for outreach and raising awareness, using accessible language and an audiovisual format intended to facilitate their dissemination amongst different audiences.
As well as explaining good forestry practices, the materials highlight the importance of institutional and business cooperation, the role of biomass as a local energy resource, and the need to adapt forests to the challenges of climate change.
The development of these materials thus reinforces BIO4RES’s commitment to knowledge transfer and raising public awareness – two essential elements for promoting more sustainable forest management and more resilient rural areas.
Because understanding how our forests work, who looks after them and what resources they provide is also a way of contributing to their conservation.
The BIO4RES project, ‘Forest biomass and fire prevention: an opportunity for rural resilience’, is being carried out under the Interreg Sudoe programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).