The program "Committed to our forests"The initiative, driven by Carrefour Spain and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is entering a new phase in which forest fire prevention takes center stage in its strategy. After several years focused primarily on... restoration of areas devastated by fireThe initiative now focuses on acting before the emergency occurs.
This fourth edition strengthens an alliance in which they participate Consumer goods companies, specialized entities, Carrefour Club clients and partnerswith the aim of moving towards more responsible forest management, protect biodiversity and to support rural areas most vulnerable to wildfires. The campaign comes at a time when Spain continues to lead European rankings in terms of burned area.
A business and social alliance for the forests
The new edition of "Committed to our forests" The program was presented at an event in Madrid that brought together top executives from Carrefour Spain and the FSC, along with representatives from a dozen other consumer goods companies. The meeting served to detail the program's shift towards prevention and to underscore the importance of public-private partnerships in protecting the environment.
In the event they have participated Elodie Perthuisot, CEO of Carrefour Spain; Roberto Rubio, president of FSC Spain; Jorge Ybarra, commercial director of Carrefour Spain, and Gonzalo Anguita, director of FSC Spain. Also present were spokespeople from the companies joining this edition: Mahou, L'Oréal, El Encinar de Humienta, Mondelez Spain, Diageo, Pernod Ricard, CVNE, Coca-Cola Foundation, Bel and Estar Asalvo.
During the presentation, Perthuisot emphasized that the project stems from the conviction that companies can and should be actively involved in improving the environment and the social fabric. The director thanked FSC and the collaborating companies for their commitment, highlighting them as key partners for ensuring the continuity and scale of on-the-ground initiatives.
A frequently repeated message was the recognition of the role of the Carrefour Club customers and membersThese are the people whom the company considers "the heart" of the program. Their participation in volunteer activities and their purchasing decisions, choosing products from the brands involved, translate into direct support for forestry projects, giving the campaign a human and personal dimension.
On behalf of FSC Spain, Roberto Rubio insisted that forests are a true “living infrastructure” that regulates the climate, protects watersheds, supports biodiversity, and sustains rural economiesFor Rubio, "Committed to our forests" exemplifies how the corporate social responsibilityWhen it is structured with technical criteria and independent verification, it ceases to be a mere image exercise and becomes a collaboration with a real impact on the territory.
From firefighting to active fire prevention
One of the most significant changes in this fourth edition is the shift from a focus centered on the post-fire reforestation a strategy based on prevention and active forest management. The goal is to reduce the intensity and extent of large forest fires, which in recent years have ravaged hundreds of thousands of hectares in Spain.
Recent figures, with More than 400.000 hectares burned in a single year Spain, with the highest area ravaged by fire in the European Union, has reinforced the idea that firefighting alone is not enough. As Gonzalo Anguita, director of FSC Spain, explained, most of the burned area is concentrated in a few large fires, demonstrating that firefighting resources are overwhelmed when there is a lack of prior management of vegetation.
The program's new approach translates into three concrete projects in Galicia, Castile and León and Castile-La ManchaThis approach combines land management measures, silvopastoral practices, and soil regeneration. In all cases, the aim is to revitalize forest management, reduce accumulated biomass, and improve the capacity of ecosystems to withstand fire and adapt to climate change.
In addition to the environmental impact, the initiatives aim to strengthen the economy and employment in rural areasThis involves integrating livestock farmers, forest owners, local communities, and other local stakeholders. The aim is to move from a model of neglected forests to one where the land is cared for and produces environmental services, while simultaneously generating opportunities for the communities that live there.
This shift towards prevention also reflects an evolution in how sustainability is understood within the participating companies. As noted in the round table discussion held during the event, the Sustainability is no longer a purely reputational element to integrate into the business strategy, with projects that translate into visible actions on the ground.
The three key projects: Galicia, Palencia and Ciudad Real
The new edition of "Committed to our forests" is structured around three actions that share the same philosophy: manage the territory to reduce the risk of fires and, at the same time, conserve soil, water, and biodiversity. Each project responds to the particularities of its area, but all are based on traditional practices adapted to the current context.
«Raño vivo»: silvopastoral system in Galicia
The project "Living Raño" It will be developed in the communal land of Raño, in the municipality of Irixoa (A Coruña), covering an area of 342 hectares. The proposal consists of implementing a innovative silvopastoral system in which controlled grazing with native goats and horses becomes a tool for managing plant fuel.
Through this combination of trees and livestock, the aim is reduce the continuity of the scrubland and, consequently, the likelihood of a fire spreading rapidly and intensely. At the same time, the project aims to conserve habitats of community interest, particularly those Atlantic oak forests, and contribute to the preservation of native Galician breeds adapted to the environment.
The initiative also has an important social dimension, since the communal forests They are a traditional form of collective ownership deeply rooted in Galicia. Involving local communities in the active management of the land strengthens local governance and ensures the continuity of sustainable land use practices.
Silvopastoral restoration in Brañosera (Palencia)
The second project, called "Silvopastoral restoration in Brañosera"The project will take place in Palencia on a 20,64-hectare site. Its main objective is to recover traditional practices. mountain pastures or high mountain grasslands, creating a mosaic landscape that alternates between grasslands and forest areas, which hinders the spread of fire.
This mosaic landscape acts as natural barrier against large firesBy breaking up the fuel flow, it facilitates firefighting efforts in the event of a fire. Furthermore, the project aims to preserve the archaeological heritage of the area, where there is a Mesolithic site with remains more than five thousand years old.
The project in Brañosera also prioritizes the provision of key ecosystem servicesThese areas not only serve as natural firebreaks, but also harbor a very specific flora and fauna that depends on continuous grazing, such as water resource regulation, carbon storage in the soil, and the recovery of biodiversity linked to high-mountain grasslands.
By reviving these practices, the aim is to bring stability to the extensive livestock farming in the areaExtensive livestock farming has historically been an ally in fire prevention. It keeps vegetation under control, prevents the accumulation of biomass, and helps to maintain population levels in rural areas where abandonment exacerbates the risk of fire.
«Regenera Alcudia»: living soils in the Alcudia Valley
The third initiative, "Regenerate Alcudia"The project is being launched in the pasturelands of the Alcudia Valley, in the province of Ciudad Real. In this case, the project focuses on 200 hectares where a [missing word - possibly "treatment" or "treatment"] will be applied. adaptive grazing management to reverse the silent degradation of the soil, one of the least visible but most decisive problems in the medium and long term.
The strategy involves improving the structure and the soil biological activity through management practices that protect the vegetation cover, promote pasture regeneration, and reduce erosion. Healthy soil retains water better, stores more carbon, and better withstands the stress caused by droughts and fires, thus increasing the climate resilience of the dehesa.
In this context, extensive livestock farming is once again emerging as an ally. Voices like that of The Holm Oak Grove of HumientaThe beef company, which specializes in beef, emphasizes that properly managed herds act as "natural firefighters," since by grazing they reduce the fuel load that could feed a large fire if the forest is abandoned.
The role of the private sector and consumers
Beyond the technical aspects, the program's presentation day served to highlight the contribution of the collaborating companies and the role that consumption plays in driving these projects. Representatives from Mahou San Miguel, L'Oréal, the Coca-Cola Foundation, CVNE, El Encinar de Humienta, and other companies agreed that sustainability has now been integrated into corporate strategy, ceasing to be a mere communication add-on.
The Coca-Cola Foundation highlighted the value of what they described as a “Triangle” between companies, consumers and expert entitiescapable of grounding major climate commitments and translating them into specific actions on the ground. This approach aims to prevent initiatives from remaining mere declarations of intent, focusing instead on projects with measurable results.
Other companies, such as the CVNE winery, highlighted their work for reduce carbon footprint and to promote regenerative viticulture, aligning their own business strategies with the principles that inspire "Committed to our forests." In the case of this long-established family business, emphasis was placed on the importance of considering the legacy left for future generations.
The program combines private funding with a system of Independent verification provided by FSCThis framework ensures that investments generate quantifiable environmental and social benefits. It aims to provide transparency and credibility in a context where the risk of confusing genuine commitment with mere green marketing is a growing concern for the public.
At the same time, the Consumers participate through the Carrefour Club and the choice of products from the brands involved, which ultimately channels resources towards on-the-ground initiatives. In this way, the everyday purchasing decision is linked to the conservation of forests, pastures, and high mountain landscapes, generating a circle of shared responsibility among those who produce, distribute, and consume.
With the fourth edition of "Committed to our forests", Carrefour Spain and FSC, together with a growing network of companies and customers, are committed to a model in which fire prevention, responsible forest management and soil restoration They are addressed jointly. The projects in Galicia, Palencia, and Ciudad Real show that it is possible to combine traditional practices such as extensive grazing with current technical criteria, generating benefits for the environment, the rural economy, and fire safety.
