Rewilding Spain signs the first agreement to preserve an old-growth forest in the Serranía Alta de Cuenca region, which will allow the recovery of ecological processes and also provide income to the municipality thanks to future carbon sequestration rights trading.
Preserving a 264-hectare forest without felling, so that it evolves naturally, improves its biodiversity and becomes a natural heritage of high ecological and landscape value, will not only bring ecosystem and landscape benefits to the inhabitants and visitors Vega del Codorno village (130 inhabitants, Cuenca province), but will also provide the municipality with an income of at least 8,000 euros per year for the next 30 years.
Rewilding Spain has signed a collaboration agreement with the Town Council of this municipality, located in the Serranía Alta de Cuenca region, so that part of its woodland can be preserved as an old-growth forest where lost ecological processes are restored. The estate is owned by the Town Council and the Vega del Codorno residents.
The new forest reserve is part of a larger area totalling 1,162 hectares. The only limit to action in the reserve area will be that of timber harvesting, as hunting, grazing and recreational use may continue.
Natural heritage to be enjoyed by future generations
These 264 hectares of forest are already in a good state of conservation and will consolidate as an old-growth forest in which the typical natural processes can take place. In the mature stages, the forest is home to a different biodiversity of animals and plants than in younger forests, so they are more resilient against pests. In addition, future generations of Vega del Codorno inhabitants and visitor will be able to enjoy this improved natural heritage.
The agreement between Rewilding Spain and Vega del Codorno Town Council involves the creation of a reserve area in which no trees will be cut for the next 30 years. To compensate for the loss of income from timber harvesting, Rewilding Spain will pay 8,000 euros per year to the municipality and will subsequently be responsible for trading the carbon sequestration rights.
The amount to be paid by the village has been calculated on the basis of the market price of timber and will be reviewed every ten years to keep it up to date. In addition, Rewilding Spain undertakes to maintain the amount of 8,000 euros per year also in the event that the price of timber is below this amount when the updates are carried out.
Red pine, black pine, European box, juniper and common hawthorn are the most abundant species in this forest. As well, this is a mycological area which is enjoyed both by the inhabitants of Vega del Codorno and by visitors.
A pioneering agreement
The collaboration agreement was signed by Rewilding Spain general manager, Mara Zamora, and the mayor of Vega del Codorno, Rodrigo Molina. Councillors Leoncio Ochandio and Maximiliano Castillejo attended the event.
Mara Zamora highlighted: “This is the Rewilding Spain’s first agreement that puts into practice a sustainable management formula that benefit small villages in the Iberian Highlands making it possible to obtain income from the recovery of ecological processes. It’s a new path that we hope to follow with other stakeholders in the landscape.”
On his side, the mayor of Vega del Codorno, Rodrigo Molina, highlighted “the environmental and landscape benefits” provided by this partnership, which is also important for tourism, the activity which, together with timber harvesting, is the main source of income in the village. “When visitors get to know that we have an old-growth forest here, it will also benefit the local tourism businesses, which is a very important sector for us.”
Rodrigo Molina also stated that the pioneering and innovative perspective of this agreement is relevant in the landscape: “It is also important for us that we can inspire other municipalities and landowners to follow the same path. We are totally available to explain how we got to make this possible.”
Cuenca-based forest management consulting company AGG Gestión Forestal has collaborated in locating the area and carrying out the market analysis and calculations that have been taken into account in the drafting of the agreement.
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