Recovering the Memory of Our Forests
Our association was created with a clear, long-term commitment: to manage the resources of our environment efficiently, while preserving its extraordinary natural wealth. For generations, the inhabitants of Valverde de los Arroyos and Zarzuela de Galve developed an economy deeply rooted in the use of forests, meadows and farmland. Thanks to their effort and sacrifice, they achieved a delicate balance that allowed them to live off timber, firewood, livestock grazing and the fruits of the earth without depleting these resources. This traditional knowledge shaped a landscape in which economic activity and ecological health went hand in hand.
Unfortunately, rural depopulation and the declining profitability of these activities led to the gradual abandonment of the territory. Today, we are faced with overgrown and aging forest stands, a higher risk of catastrophic wildfires, and a gradual loss of biodiversity. This situation threatens not only the natural environment but also the cultural heritage and identity of our communities.
In response, our challenge is twofold: to reactivate sustainable forest management in order to restore economic value to the forest and, at the same time, to ensure that it continues to fulfill its vital ecological and social functions.
To achieve this, our association is committed to solutions based on knowledge, innovation, and collaboration. We promote adaptive silvicultural practices that improve forest structure and resilience to climate change, we invest in the use of new technologies for early fire detection and prevention, and we support projects that recover both traditional and modern methods of using forest resources.
Above all, we believe that forests are not merely productive assets but a living heritage that must be handed down in better condition. Giving them this “new opportunity” means rethinking their role in the rural economy, building sustainable value chains, and ensuring that management is participatory, equitable, and resilient for the future.