Torraspapel takes part in reforestation project

Torraspapel, part of the Lecta Group, has taken part in its fifth reforestation project. Working in conjunction with two NGOs – the Fundaci Natura and the Fundacin Urdaibai – Torraspapel helped to restore natural environments of great ecological value that had become degraded and whose conservation was plagued by serious financial difficulties.

The Fundaci Natura was one of the first Spanish not-for-profit NGOs to devote itself solely to protecting, improving and restoring natural ecosystems. Torraspapel has taken part in a number of its projects, at sites where development cooperation is combined with the conservation of nature, in order to enhance the wellbeing of the local community.

The Fundacin Urdaibai is now focusing its work in the territory of Biscay in the Basque Country, with particularly emphasis on the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, where Torraspapel contributed to planting work this spring.

Flooding and various human activities – livestock farming, agriculture, forestry, urban development etc – pursued over many centuries have resulted in a gradual shrinking of the total area of the groves of oak, alder, beech and holm oaks growing along the coast, when once they spread up into the mountains and valleys. In fact the Basque Country’s native woods now occupy just 20 percent of their potential area. Particularly delicate is the situation of certain oak groves, which have lost 95 percent of their original area. 

The aim in this project was to recover and conserve the mixed native forest of Berria and Busturia, re-establishing the original flora, and thus gaining the attendant ecological benefits.

Over half of the 3,171 plants and seeds planted came from the native-plant nursery that the Fundacin Urdaibai is running as part of the Quercus programme. Torraspapel’s sponsorship enabled 750 trees and shrubs to be planted.

Those trees and bushes were planted in April, the types being decided on the basis of the nature of each particular spot, its orientation, and the type of soil. The plantations were based on the species that are typical of the Basque Country’s native woods. These include holly, yew, oak, Turkey oak, birch, alder, ash, beech and maple.

The plantation work was carried out successfully. Over the next few months, maintenance operations will be performed to assure the survival of the plants, and then there will be a final assessment of the reforestation project.

This project brings the total number of trees planted by Torraspapel in the Iberian Peninsula and Brazil to over 18,200.