The Reserva del Port d’Arnes estate applies innovative forestry techniques to improve forest conservation

As part of the European LIFE RedBosques project, a pilot test was conducted to achieve forest structures that imitate the natural dynamic of forest ecosystems and are more resilient to climate change

Yesterday, the European Commission on projects visited the park to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the actions taken and hopes that this model can be adopted in Mediterranean forests in the European Natura 2000 network

Three private properties in the Els Ports Nature Park, including the Reserva del Port d’Arnes, which is managed by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, served as the site for putting forest habitat management demonstrations into practice within the framework of the LIFE RedBosques project.

To this end, it hosted a pilot test which enabled innovative forestry techniques to be implemented to allow the estates’ productive interests to coexist with the conservation and improvement of the biodiversity of the forest habitats.

This is an alternative to conventional forest management whose goal is to conserve ecological processes. The basic premise is imitating forest ecosystems to gradually achieve forest structures with maturity levels common to the habitat in its natural state yet with stronger resilience to climate change.

Dovetailing with the final stage of the project, which will conclude within the next few months, the partners have shared the work done in the past three years on a two-day visit to Els Ports Nature Park with the European project tutor, Giulia Carboni, and the outside monitor, David Peña.

The European LIFE RedBosques project got started in September 2016 with the goal of improving the training and management tools of professionals who plan and manage forest habitats in the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network.