The Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Catalina García, highlighted the value of the draft regulation that will establish the basis for granting aid for the modernization of forestry machinery in rural Andalusia during the Plenary Session of the regional Parliament. She stated that this is «a pioneering and necessary initiative» that addresses a historical sector demand and «marks a before and after in the sustainable management of our forests.»
Catalina García emphasized that, for the first time, the Andalusian Government will make available to forestry sector professionals a specific line of subsidies aimed at acquiring modern, safer, and more efficient machinery. «With these aids, we will take a decisive step to promote a structural change in forestry activity, supporting the sector in renewing their equipment and adapting to the demands of the present and the future,» she declared.
The aids will be structured through a draft regulation, the previous consultations of which have already been published. This initiative is co-financed through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (Feader) and is part of the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027. «We align this measure with European commitments to sustainability, biodiversity, and the fight against climate change,» the Minister stated.
During her speech, she recalled that the Andalusian forestry sector has had to operate for decades with obsolete machinery, which has hindered its competitiveness, increased occupational risks, and had a greater environmental impact. «With this regulation, we are investing in technology, employment, sustainability, and social cohesion in rural areas,» she affirmed.
Likewise, she explained that the goal of these aids is to provide the sector with a stable legal framework that allows for periodic calls aimed at modernizing machinery, promoting the adoption of cleaner and safer technologies. «This is an action that bets on innovation as a key tool to protect our natural resources, generate economic opportunities, and reduce vulnerability to forest fires,» she stated.
The Minister also highlighted that this measure is included in the Andalusian Forest Plan Horizon 2030, approved in November 2023, and is reflected in the chapter on incentives for sustainable forest management in the draft Law of Andalusia Forests, currently in progress. «We clearly assume that innovation is a strategic necessity to ensure the conservation of our forests and their role as engines of rural development,» she asserted.
The Minister of Sustainability and Environment insisted that these types of investments are particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, which form the basis of its productivity and face more challenges in renewing their equipment. «These aids have an inclusive focus, designed so that no one is left behind and so that all stakeholders in the forestry sector can make the technological leap they need,» she stated.
In this regard, she recalled that the regulation is included in the Strategic Subsidies Plan of the Ministry for the period 2023-2025, ensuring its integration into a stable and coordinated framework. Its final approval will allow progress in defining future calls, with a focus on circular bioeconomy, landscape conservation, and resilience to climate change. Finally, the Minister defended the participatory nature of the process, where contributions from citizens, entities, and organizations have been collected to ensure that these aids arise from the broadest possible consensus.