The LIFE Wood for Future project team participated in the POPULUS 360 International Conference held on October 21 and 22, 2021 at the School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering located in the Ponferrada Campus of the University of León. The conference was characterized by the presence of professionals of the sector who are referents in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Chile and Argentina, and discussed topics on: product, management models, health, genetic improvement and sustainability, in addition to analyzing the current reality and prospects of the sector.

The coordinator of the LWFF project, Prof. Antolino Gallego, presented the project and a paper entitled “Mechanical characterization of I214. Technical structural wood products”, highlighting the potential of poplar for the production of structural bioproducts for sustainable, low-carbon wood construction. Patricia Gómez, manager of COSE, developed the presentation “LIFE Wood for Future Project: CO2 and ecosystem services” highlighting the figure of associationism (through the Ecoproducers Group) to improve the sustainable management of poplar plantations, streamlining administrative procedures, facilitating access to subsidies and providing silvicultural advice to producers to obtain quality wood for structural use and the use of clones for technical structural timber products.

The day concluded with an interesting technical field visit to learn about clonal trials as well as the cutting, pruning and chipping of a poplar tree.