Since the First National Meeting of the Integrate Network in Spain (more details here), Spanish partners of the Network have been working in the development of the booklet of the “Monte de Valsaín” Marteloscope (to be published soon).

This process has led to engaging discussions about many topics, from the main challenges related to forest management to the opportunities that being part of the Network provides, and how the Network could help to face these challenges.

Valsaín forest managers are struggling with significant market loss for sawnwood timber aimed for structural use (construction, carpentry etc.). Prices for this type of timber are lower every day, and this tendency is not expected to change in the short term. In other circumstances, this could lead to shorter rotation periods, promoting younger stands with bigger densities of trees. However, in Valsaín, this challenge is also seen as an opportunity to favour mature trees, leaving them uncut, which will increase biodiversity.

In this sense, being part of the Integrate Network is certainly useful. The immense potential of the I+Trainer software for simulating interventions makes the marteloscope installed in this forest the perfect “testing lab” on how to achieve, for instance, these more mature stands.

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Report and featured image by © Miguel Ramírez López