Occident joins the first public-private partnership for forest management in the Collserola mountains

"The project, called PROMACC Collserola–Vallès Occidental, will be deployed over a total of 56 hectares in the municipality of Sant Cugat del Vallès."

Occident has joined the environmental project PROMACC Collserola–Vallès Occidental, the first public-private partnership for multifunctional forest management in the Collserola Mountains Natural Park, in the province of Barcelona, underlining its commitment to protecting natural capital and sustainable development. This pioneering initiative, promoted by the association Collserola Iniciatives with the collaboration of Nactiva, aims to reduce the risk of major fires, revive sustainable forest production and ensure that it remains a biodiverse and resilient green space for the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.

Occident, together with the companies Molins and Fuidra, have provided the financing needed to cover 27 of the 56 hectares that make up the entire project. Initiatives - which have already begun - involve three estates in the municipality of Sant Cugat del Vallès: two that are privately owned, and one that is publicly managed by the City Council of Sant Cugat and the Municipal Entity of Valldoreix.

Specifically, forest management will involve active intervention in the forest, such as pruning, the selection of more suitable species and specimens and the removal of excess flammable plant material or complementary planting. These actions aim to prevent the spread of major forest fires in the Collserola mountains, especially in the wildland-urban interface of Sant Cugat del Vallès, and to strengthen the forest's resilience to the effects of climate change, such as drought.

In the presentation of the project, the environmental manager of Occident, Alicia Lemus, explained that “we are proud to be part of a pioneering project that, in addition to mitigating environmental risks, helps generate value for local communities, like Sant Cugat del Vallès, where Occident has a deep historical link".

The initiative also has the support of Consorci del Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola, which manages one of the project's estates, and the Centre de la Propietat Forestal, which is responsible for administering the climate credit system and certifying projects.