In recent weeks, plantings have taken place in Castellón and Cádiz , private support has been boosted in the Canary Islands , and regulatory steps have been taken in Aragón to renew aging truffle oak forests. The shared objective is clear: to multiply the success of ecological restoration and channel more people and resources to the region.
Castellón and Cádiz: plantations, environmental education and care
In Bejís (Castellón), staff from the Oriwa association , employees of the Salera shopping center, and their families organized a restoration day in areas affected by the major fire of 2022. On November 16th , nearly 100 native trees —out of a total of 1.000 donated by Salera—were planted using a method that directs water to the root system to improve their survival during the summer.
The planting technique combined irrigation pipes placed next to the roots and protective coverings to prevent damage from wildlife. In addition, seed bombs prepared in previous workshops were released, and the installation of nest boxes and insect hotels is planned; these materials will be managed and placed by Oriwa with the help of its volunteers in the coming months.
The shopping center's management emphasized the value of networking: the campaign combines educational workshops, community involvement, and on-the-ground initiatives , reinforcing their commitment to sustainable regeneration. Following the activity, a meal was shared at the Bejís Los Cloticos campsite, strengthening the bonds of a community eager to see its surroundings revitalized.
The educational involvement continues: the schools that participated in the workshops will maintain their seedling trays until early next year and, together with Oriwa , will organize a field trip for students to join in the reforestation efforts. Anyone wishing to collaborate can contact the association through its website and join in watering, planting, and maintenance tasks.
In Puerto Real (Cádiz), the City Council has launched its second campaign in the Las Canteras pine forest , bringing forward the dates after recent rains left the soil in optimal condition. The activity, included in the Municipal Educational Program , began with 5th-grade students from the Juan XXIII school and focuses on reinforcing learning from the previous season to improve the success rate.
The operation involves the Municipal Environmental Brigade and a large group of volunteers: local residents and organizations such as Ecologists in Action , El Pulmón de la Bahía, and CEAR. Native species are being planted— pines, holm oaks, carob trees, cork oaks, junipers, kermes oaks, wild olive trees, and strawberry trees —and the importance of institutional collaboration, including with the Andalusian Regional Government, is emphasized in order to restore a particularly vulnerable public forest following a fire.
Canary Islands and Aragon: funding for reforestation and renewal of truffle oaks
In the Canary Islands, the hotel management company Canarian Hospitality has launched its Green Friday campaign , donating 1,5% of its November direct sales to the Foresta Foundation for reforestation efforts. This initiative, now in its fourth year, promotes more conscious consumption and has contributed to the planting of over 3.200 trees across the islands.
The We Care sustainability program includes measurable actions: saving over one million liters of water, installing dispensers that have prevented the use of nearly 400.000 plastic bottles , and contributing to the planting of more than 3.200 trees on the islands. The "Don't Throw in the Towel for the Planet" campaign stands out, donating €0,20 for every unwashed towel and backed by Biosphere certifications and industry recognition for its regenerative tourism approach.
In Aragon, the Provincial Environmental Service in Teruel is working with the truffle sector to renew holm oak groves resulting from old subsidized reforestation projects on agricultural land. Between 650 and 1.000 hectares planted in the late 90s—with Quercus ilex, faginea, and pyrenaica at around 400 plants per hectare—have seen their productivity decline as these stands have reached the end of their life cycle.
The proposal under study would allow for the removal of old trees and the replanting of mycorrhizal holm oaks within a timeframe determined by experts, while maintaining forestry use. Undigitized records are being located, and the CITA (Agricultural Technology Centre of Teruel) is preparing reports on yield loss and renewal conditions. This measure, coordinated with the Teruel Provincial Council and local councils, aims to provide legal certainty for landowners and could draw inspiration from solutions adopted in other provinces, always with the condition of replanting holm oaks to guarantee the viability of truffle cultivation.
The push for local plantations , volunteering, private funding, and clearer regulatory frameworks paints a favorable picture for accelerating forest recovery. With more effective planting techniques, technical support, and engaged citizens, Spanish forests have a better chance of establishing new woodlands that are better adapted to the climate and the realities of the land.