At the initiative of COSE and Marjal, the Directorate General of Forestry Policy and Biodiversity of the Ministry of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy of the Junta de Andalucía, has approved the creation of a Working Group to support the technical and administrative work for the development and approval of a standard model of Sustainable Forest Management for poplar plantations in Andalusia.

This is a historic milestone in Andalusia, as the first necessary step towards obtaining the seal of Sustainable Forest Certification for Andalusian poplar plantations, thus fulfilling one of the objectives set by the LIFE Wood for Future project.

The certification of poplar groves as a seal to guarantee their environmental and social sustainability will allow the wood to reach new markets and suppliers that demand PEFC or FSC certified wood, especially the structural wood sector for construction, and to establish chains of custody poplar-industry-market with this certification.

In this way LIFE Wood for Future and Marjal, in collaboration with the administration of the Autonomous Community, transfer their developments, innovations and knowledge to the sector of public and private poplar owners, an essential link to develop a value chain of quality wood in Andalusia.

The Working Group will be composed of members of Marjal, COSE and IFAPA and technicians from the central services of the Directorate General of Forestry Policy and Biodiversity, the Territorial Delegation of the Ministry of Sustainability in Granada, Environment and Blue Economy in Granada and the Environment and Water Agency of Andalusia (AMAYA).