Sure! Here’s the translation into American English:
—
Marta Corella, a forestry engineer and director of Bioeconomics at COPADE, has emphasized the issue of the silent growth of forests in Spain, which cover more than 56% of the national territory. Despite their vast extent, the lack of proper management poses an uncertain future for these vital areas. On a global scale, the situation is critical: between 1990 and 2020, over 420 million hectares of forest were lost, an area comparable to that of the entire European Union, according to the FAO. This raises questions about how our consumption habits contribute to this devastation.
A report from the European Commission reveals that only 8% of global deforestation is attributable to the wood market, while products like palm oil, soy, cocoa, and coffee are responsible for the loss of extensive forest areas. This reality, closer than it seems, directly affects the products we consume daily, highlighting how deforestation is intertwined with our patterns of production and consumption.
Despite being the second-largest country in the EU in terms of forest area, Spain only utilizes one-third of the available wood, according to the Spanish Forest Plan 2022–2032. This generates a dependency on wood imports from countries where logging occurs without oversight, causing severe ecosystem destruction and loss of biodiversity. The situation impoverishes rural communities related to these forests, many of which are forced to migrate to cities.
In response to this issue, the new European regulation EUDR (Regulation on Products Free of Deforestation) has been implemented, aiming to disconnect the European market from global deforestation. This law requires companies to ensure the traceability and sustainable sourcing of the raw materials they import. However, Corella warns that legislation alone is not enough; greater social, business, and political commitment is needed.
For this reason, the “Living Forests” initiative has been launched, promoted by COPADE in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). Its goal is to promote forest conservation and combat deforestation, aligning with the EUDR regulations while encouraging responsible and sustainable consumption. The presentation of this initiative coincides with Biocultura Madrid 2025, where participatory activities will take place, such as the performance “The Forest Disappears” and demonstrations of forestry crafts, to raise awareness of the connection between our consumption habits and the health of the forests.
COPADE emphasizes that deforestation is not an inevitable fate, but a consequence of our collective decisions. The current situation presents an opportunity to rethink our production and consumption practices. Corella concludes that taking care of the forests means taking care of the future, reminding us that every consumption decision impacts the health of our woodlands and the communities that depend on them.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
