Having been the entity that provided scientific support to the project has been motivating, because each entity had different realities and requirements and with each one we have contributed and learned different things.
CustForest culminates two years of innovation in forest stewardship to boost biodiversity and the bioeconomy
After two years of intense work on the territory, the CustForest project comes to an end consolidating an innovative model of forest stewardship that demonstrates that it is possible to conserve biodiversity, improve the resilience of forests and generate socioeconomic opportunities in rural areas in an integrated manner.
Developed during 2024 and 2025 , CustForest has been a commitment to forest stewardship as a conservation tool , promoting territorial governance and collaboration between environmental entities, forest properties, administrations and local communities to respond to some of the major current challenges: the loss of biodiversity, the increasing risk of fires, habitat fragmentation and rural depopulation.
An ambitious project, rooted in the territory
An ambitious project, rooted in the territory
The project has deployed four sustainable forest management sub-projects in different parts of Catalonia, in the regions of Tarragona, Lleida and Girona, adapting the actions to the ecological and social reality of each territory. This tailor-made approach, with continuous scientific advice, has allowed the application of multifunctional forest management oriented both to conservation and to the generation of local value.
The project journey at a glance
To facilitate understanding of the project and its scope, the following infographic summarizes the main work areas of CustForest, the areas of action and the impacts achieved throughout the two years of the project.
The three main strategic objectives of the project have been:
- promote forestry and territorial planning with a long-term perspective ,
- apply sustainable forest management oriented towards biodiversity ,
- and activate the bioeconomy and social involvement of the territory.
The project has had a total budget of €2,007,911.73 and with the support of the Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO), within the framework of the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Alliance of entities and scientific rigor
Alliance of entities and scientific rigor
CustForest has been possible thanks to an alliance of entities that have combined scientific knowledge, technical expertise and territorial roots. The Xarxa per a la Conservació de la Natura (XCN) has led and coordinated the project, ensuring methodological coherence and integration of all actions.
CREAF has provided scientific rigor through ecological monitoring of vegetation and forest structure, establishing monitoring methodologies that will allow the impact of forest management to continue to be assessed beyond the duration of the project.
On the ground, the participating entities have developed specialized actions:
- Pioneers of Our Time Foundation , in the Muga Valley, promoting fire prevention with a strong social dimension, climate credits and ecotourism.
- La Sínia Environmental Association , in the Gaià river, improving the habitat of the Mediterranean turtle and combining conservation with governance and ecotourism.
- Fundació Projecte Boscos de Muntanya , in Pallars Sobirà, improving the habitat of the capercaillie and promoting bioengineering as a training and employment opportunity.
- Associació Sèlvans , in Girona lands, preserving mature forests and developing private financing tools for long-term conservation.
Bioeconomy, participation and shared learning
Bioeconomy, participation and shared learning
One of the major results of the project has been to confirm that the bioeconomy linked to forest management is a real vector of rural development. The use of biomass, training in bioengineering, ecotourism and private financing mechanisms have opened up new opportunities for the territory and for environmental entities.
Citizen involvement has been a fundamental pillar: more than 350 people have participated in volunteer days and participatory activities, strengthening the bond between the population and the territory and generating a shared responsibility towards the forests.
The project has also highlighted the importance of prior planning , solid governance instruments , flexibility in actions and the integration of scientific criteria in decision-making. Added to all this is the cross-cutting incorporation of the gender perspective and a clear commitment to communication and dissemination as tools for transformation.
A legacy to continue moving forward
A legacy to continue moving forward
As a closing of the project, the final document has been prepared: “Boscos amb futur: el model CustForest. Com la custòdia del territori impulsa la biodiversitat i la bioeconomia” .
This publication includes the entire project, the actions developed, the lessons learned and the tools generated, with the aim of transferring knowledge and facilitating the replicability of the model in other territories. You can download it below.
With CustForest, a replicable forest stewardship model is consolidated, based on the integration of ecology, governance, community and economy, which leaves a solid foundation to continue moving towards more resilient, vibrant forests with a future in Catalonia.
The CustForest project has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
