Last Friday, September 24, 2021, the Rector of the University of Granada, Pilar Aranda, chaired the launching ceremony of the European project LIFE Wood Future for the recovery of the poplar groves of the Vega de Granada to improve the environment, biodiversity and promote the economy, industry and low-carbon construction in the province of Granada through the development and demonstration of new structural products based on poplar wood. The project, coordinated by the University of Granada, counts among its partners the Plataforma de Ingeniería de Madera Estructural (PEMADE) of the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), the Confederación de Organizaciones de Selvicultores de España (COSE), the Diputación provincial de Granada and the forestry spin-off 3edata. It also has as local partners the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training of Andalusia (IFAPA), the non-governmental organizations Salvemos la Vega-Vega Educa and the Association of Trees against Climate Change (ACCC), and the Technological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA).

The event took place in the Assembly Hall of the ETS of Building Engineering, with the presence at the table of authorities of the Territorial Delegates of Promotion and Sustainable Development of the Junta de Andalucía in Granada, the President of the Diputación de Granada and the Director of the ETS of Building Engineering of the UGR.

The event included the following technical talks, which highlighted the current situation of the sector, its great opportunity for the future within the framework of the European Green Pact, and its perfect fit in the European New Generation reconstruction plans.

• Poplar in the Spanish climate change strategy. Marta Hernández. Spanish Climate Change Office. Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.
• Present and future of the poplar wood industry in Spain and Europe. Ignacio García. Manager of the Spanish Association of Plywood Manufacturers (AEFCON).
• LIFE Wood for Future Project. Antolino Gallego. University of Granada (UGR), Project Coordinator.
• The primary poplar sector in Granada. Innovations proposed by LIFE Wood for Future. Patricia Gómez Agrela. Manager of the Confederación de Organizaciones de Selvicultores de España (COSE).
• New structural products proposed by LIFE Wood for Future. Manuel Guaita. Director of the Structural Wood Engineering Platform (PEMADE) of the University of Santiago de Compostela.

Among those attending the event, in addition to those belonging to the project partners were representatives of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, poplar sector of Granada (owners, farmers and entrepreneurs), the IFAPA, the OTRI and the International Projects Office of the UGR, the Association of Populiculturists of Granada, the Official College of Environmentalists of Andalusia (COAMBA), the Hydrographic Confederation of the Guadalquivir, the certifying company of sustainable forest management PFEC, the Social Council of the University of Granada, the Social Council of Granada, the Government of Aragón, the Duero Hydrographic Confederation, the La Vega-Sierra Elvira Consortium, Salvemos la Vega-Vega Educa, ACCC, the Association of Quantity Surveyors and Technical Architects of Granada, the Cluster of Sustainable Construction, the Territorial Delegation of Tourism of Granada, the Chamber of Commerce of Granada, Architecture studios, the General Association of Builders and Developers (ACP) of Granada, the City Council of Gójar and the Virgen de las Nieves Seconary School.