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Galician Timber Industry: still standing, sir

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Galician Timber Markets: Eucalyptus, one step forward... in 2010

Gustavo Iglesias Trabado Contact GIT Forestry Consulting SL / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo
GIT Forestry Consulting SL - Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal - www.git-forestry.com - EUCALYPTOLOGICS


Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, International Forestry Consultant, CEO GIT Forestry Consulting / Analysis of Impacts Eucalyptus Planted Forests and Eucalyptus Timber Production / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Director Ejecutivo de GIT Forestry Consulting / Analisis de Impactos del establecimiento de bosques cultivados de Eucalipto y de la Produccion Maderera con Eucalipto / Contact GIT Forestry Consulting SL / Geschäftsführer GIT Forstwirtschaft Beratung / Analyse der Auswirkungen Eucalyptus gepflanzte Wälder und Eukalyptusholz Produktion / Consultant en foresterie internationale, chef de la direction de consultation en foresterie GIT / Analyse des Eucalyptus Impacts des forêts plantées et la production des bois d'eucalyptus / 国际林业顾问,总裁GIT的林业咨询/分析的影响桉树人工林和桉树木材生产 / 国際林業コンサルタントは、CEOのGITに林業コンサルティング/インパクトのユーカリの分析は、林とユーカリの木材生産を植え / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo
Once again and thanks to the kind input from Fearmaga, the Asociación Galega Monte Industria, the Cluster de la Madera de Galicia & Feceg, we can explore the medium term aftermath of the Spanish version of the global financial crisis and its impact on sustainable timber harvests and the productivity of the Galician timber industry during 2010.

After the historical record of 2008 and the noticeable crash experienced during 2009, Galician timber harvests have recovered during 2010, growing a 12% from 6.15 million cubic metres (including the bulk of non effectively harvested Klaus stormwood) to 6.85 million cubic meters. Timber sale operations, a direct injector of liquid capital into the small rural investor economies, have reached noticeable figures once again: during 2010 up to 33.000 timber sales have been performed by small individual tree growers and commonland timber management organizations, which are indeed the private owners of over 96% of Galician forestlands.

These private and small investors in the production of renewable, recyclable and organic primary resources, as timber is, have managed, once more by sustainably cultivating less than 2% of the acreage of Spain, to produce over 50% of Spanish roundwood output.

Macromagnitudes del recurso forestal arbolado, produccion de madera, cosecha de madera y evolucion de impacto economico positivo de los bosques cultivados de Galicia (Noroeste de España) durante 2010 / Macromagnitudes for timber resource, wood production, timber harvests and evolution of the positive economic impact of the existence of cultivated forests in Galicia (Spain) during 2010 / Macro Waldressourcen Bäume, Holzproduktion, Holznutzung und die Entwicklung der positiven wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen der Existenz von bewirtschafteten Wäldern von Galicien (Nordspanien) im Jahr 2010 / Makro metsävarojen puita, puuntuotanto, puunkorjuu ja kehitys myönteisiä taloudellisia vaikutuksia olemassaolosta viljeltyjen metsien Galiciassa (Pohjois-Espanja) vuonna 2010 / Arbres Macro ressources forestières, la production de bois, la récolte du bois et de l'évolution de l'incidence économique positive de l'existence de forêts cultivées de la Galice (nord de l'Espagne) en 2010 / 宏观森林资源的树木,木材生产,木材采伐和积极的加利西亚(西班牙北部)种植森林的存在,在2010年经济影响的变化 / Макрос лесных ресурсов деревьев, производство древесины, заготовки древесины и развития положительных экономических последствий существования культурных лесах Галиции (Северная Испания) в 2010 году / マクロ森林資源の木、木材生産、木材の伐採や2010年にガリシア(スペイン北部)の栽培林の存在を肯定的経済的影響の進化 / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo

Fig. 1: Galician Timber Resource & Sustainable Roundwood Harvest 2010: hardwoods cover a 63% of total afforested area and yielded 55% of the Galician timber harvest, softwoods cover a 36% of total afforested area and yielded 45% of the Galician timber harvest in 2010. Planted forests yielded nearly the total of timber harvests in Galicia during 2010, relieving almost totally the pressure of industrial wood demand from non planted forests. [A larger version of this graphic summary is available from GIT Forestry Consulting upon request (just contact us)]

Galician timber harvest figures have followed during 2010 the main general trend of the last decades: +95% of total roundwood volume is sourced from planted forests, and of this total volume two sub-types prevail: different pine timbers, and different eucalypt timbers. During 2010 and continuing the 2009 inertia, the previously increasing trend for specialty hardwood harvests (oak, birch, chestnut, cherry, etc), which reached up to 5% of overall volume in 2008, has crashed down due to, and excepting the case of some high grade lumbers and luxury wood uses in very small amounts, the lower performance and higher production costs of these locally produced hardwoods as material source for the dominant (most demanding volume wise) industrial lines.

Macromagnitudes del recurso forestal arbolado, produccion de madera de pino y conifera, cosecha de madera de pino y coniferas y evolucion de impacto economico positivo de los bosques cultivados de Galicia (Noroeste de España) durante 2010 / Macromagnitudes for timber resource, softwood production, softwood timber harvests and evolution of the positive economic impact of the existence of cultivated forests in Galicia (Spain) during 2010 / Macro Waldressourcen Bäume, Holzproduktion, Holznutzung und die Entwicklung der positiven wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen der Existenz von bewirtschafteten Wäldern von Galicien (Nordspanien) im Jahr 2010 / Makro metsävarojen puita, puuntuotanto, puunkorjuu ja kehitys myönteisiä taloudellisia vaikutuksia olemassaolosta viljeltyjen metsien Galiciassa (Pohjois-Espanja) vuonna 2010 / Arbres Macro ressources forestières, la production de bois, la récolte du bois et de l'évolution de l'incidence économique positive de l'existence de forêts cultivées de la Galice (nord de l'Espagne) en 2010 / 宏观森林资源的树木,木材生产,木材采伐和积极的加利西亚(西班牙北部)种植森林的存在,在2010年经济影响的变化 / Макрос лесных ресурсов деревьев, производство древесины, заготовки древесины и развития положительных экономических последствий существования культурных лесах Галиции (Северная Испания) в 2010 году / マクロ森林資源の木、木材生産、木材の伐採や2010年にガリシア(スペイン北部)の栽培林の存在を肯定的経済的影響の進化 / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo

Fig. 2: Sustainable timber harvest operations in one of the different Galician softwood planted forests types yielding roundwood for over 10 different industrial segments, including sawmilling, board & panels and high quality furniture making industrial processes. Galician softwood harvests roughly mean a 20% of the total annual timber output of Spain. (Click image to enlarge)

The still existent paralysis of the building sector in Spain has also kept the demand of those processed timbers and technical timber products necessary in times of normal levels of activity in lower than usual levels, and, consequently, industrial production in these market segments has adjusted. Backwards in the supply chain, this factor, combined with others, has meant that one of the main primary sources for these organic and renewable materials, timber harvests from softwood planted forests, have not experienced a major change in harvested volume terms compared to 2009, recovering a 9% compared to 2009 levels but still remaining at an equivalent of 80% of the harvest peak in 2008 even with that increase.

Resultados de la Industria de la Madera de Galicia 2010 - cortesia de la Federacion de Aserraderos y Cosechadores de Madera de Galicia, la Asociacion Monte Industria, el Cluster de la Madera de Galicia, y la Federacion de Empresarios de Carpinteria y Ebanisteria de Galicia / Results of the Timber Industry Galicia 2010 - courtesy of the Federation of sawmills and timber harvest Galicia, Monte Industry Association, the Timber Cluster Galicia, and the Federacion de Empresarios de Galicia Carpentry and Joinery / Les résultats de l'industrie du bois Galice 2010 - gracieuseté de la Fédération des scieries et la récolte Galice, Monte Association de l'industrie, du bois de la grappe en Galice, et de la Federacion de Empresarios de Galicia Charpenterie et menuiserie / Ergebnisse der Holzindustrie Galizien 2010 - mit freundlicher Genehmigung des Verbandes der Säge-und Holzernte Galizien, Monte Industry Association, der Holzcluster Galizien und der Federación de Empresarios de Galicia Tischlerei / 木材産業の結果ガリシア2010-製材所や木材収穫ガリシア、モンテカルロ産業協会、木材クラスタガリシア連合会のご好意と、FederacionデEmpresariosデガリシア大工とジョイナリー / 木材行业的业绩加利西亚2010 -锯木厂和木材的收获加利西亚,蒙地行业协会,木材集群加利西亚联邦礼貌,和加利西亚联合会德Empresarios德木工和细木工 / Результаты лесной промышленности Галиции 2010 - любезно Федерации пород древесины и урожая Галиции, Монте-промышленной ассоциации, лесоматериалов кластера Галиции, и Федерасьон де Empresarios де Галиция и столярных изделий / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo

Fig. 3: Galician Timber Industry Results 2010, a report by the Galician Timber Contractors & Sawmillers Association, the Galician Forest Industry Association, the Galician Cluster for Wood & the Galician Federation of Carpentry & Cabinet Making Professionals. Download the full report [PDF 813 KB]


In other words, the only timber fraction significantly impacting positively in the whole sector during 2010, from small timber selling individual tree growers to end of industrial line, has been eucalypt hardwood. Only set back in 2009 due to the important volumes of eucalypt stormwood caused by Hurricane Klaus, Galicia has experienced a quick recovery in eucalypt timber harvests to reach a 97% of the historical 2008 peak harvest during 2010. So, nearly another historical peak harvest for eucalypt timber after over 500 years of exotic tree growing and harvesting in Northern Spain.


Fig. 4: Eucalyptus globulus: noble wood of Galicia. For over 50 years, eucalypt planted forests have been one of the very few available timber resources in Spain able to provide raw timber as to prepare 25 meter long solidwood pieces, a traditional industry based on timber knowledge and expert handling of this Galician adopted Australian timber from tree harvest to final processing at sawmill. Some uses of this timber support the employment of up to 10.ooo Galician people in other key sectors of the economy. (Click play to watch a video depicting on site preparation of long wood beams "madera maciza" in a harvest coupe of Galicia, Northwestern Spain)

This means that, for the third time in their nearly 200 years of cultivation history, eucalypts have become the most important timber group fraction for overall timber harvests in Galicia, and by extension, as Galicia supplies roughly 50% of Spanish yearly roundwood output, for the whole nation. The versatility of these Galician adopted Aussie timbers has positively impacted once again all the main industrial lines, and a surprising trend has emerged even for industrial processing not widely associated by the average Joe to this type of timbers: for the first time in history, the main hardwood lumber type used by the Galician sawmilling industry is sustainably produced Eucalyptus wood sourced from planted forests.

Organically grown renewable and recyclable high quality Eucalyptus solid wood products manufactured in Galicia (Northwestern Spain) from sustainably harvested planted forests: structural use, carpentry, flooring, luxury furniture and board and panels / Biologisch angebaute nachwachsenden und recycelbaren hochwertige Eukalyptus Massivholz Produkte in Galicien (Nordwest-Spanien) aus nachhaltigem Anbau gepflanzt Wäldern hergestellt: baulichen Nutzung, Schreinerei, Bodenbeläge, Luxusmöbel und Pappe und Paneele. / De l'agriculture biologique renouvelables et recyclables de haute qualité des produits fabriqués en bois massif d'eucalyptus en Galice (nord-ouest de l'Espagne) à partir de récolte durable des forêts plantées: utiliser des panneaux de structure, la menuiserie, revêtements de sol, le luxe de mobilier et de conseil et. / Biologisch geteelde hernieuwbare en recyclebare hoge kwaliteit Eucalyptus massief hout vervaardigde producten in Galicië (Noordwest Spanje) uit duurzaam geoogst aangeplante bossen: structurele gebruik, timmerwerk, vloeren, luxe meubilair en karton en panelen. / Органически выращенные возобновляемых и переработки высокого качества эвкалипта твердых продуктов древесины производится в Галисии (северо-западной Испании) из устойчиво собрано лесонасаждений: структурные использования, столярные изделия, полы, мебель роскоши и доски и панели / 可再生利用的有机种植优质桉树实木加利西亚(西班牙西北部)制造从可持续人工林采伐产品:结构的使用,木工,地板,高档家具和电路板和面板。/ 有機再生可能エネルギーやリサイクル持続可能な収穫植林からガリシア(北西スペイン)で製造、高品質ユーカリ無垢材製品の成長:構造用、木工、床材、高級家具やボードとパネルが。/ Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo
Fig. 5: During 2010, Galician organically grown Eucalyptus timber sourced from planted forests has become the most used hardwood lumber type for the Galician sawmilling industry, surpassing the processed volume of all other locally harvested hardwoods (oak, chestnut, cherry, etc.) combined. This type of local industrial segment starts in a locally grown tree and adds value for a whole local processing chain that ends up in luxury furniture exports and solidwood applications for structural uses, generating the highest amount of added value on timber products per unit of processed timber in Galicia that is fully injected in the regional economy (Click image to enlarge)

Interesting trend indeed, considering that Galician Eucalyptus harvests mean figures in the range of 25% of the total timber harvested annually in Spain, and that, besides its well recognized quality for the pulp & paper industrial segments, it is also increasingly used in board & panel segments, and also in saw-milling segments. Part of the later products, due to their quality and outstanding beauty, are consistently exported and, not being as directly dependent on the currently reduced activity of the Spanish building sector as some alternatives, have hence become a relatively safe haven in times of general contraction of the regional solidwood industry.

It is not too adventurous then to say that, after the maelstrom of the global financial crisis deeply impacted the economies of the whole world, affecting Galicia too, impacts on the timber industry were impossible to avoid, and considering the particularities of Spanish economy, the aftermath of the crisis still lingers on Spain and its Timber Reserve and will probably stay with us all for a while. However, a first tiny step, or good sign of the start of a recovery, has already happened. And one of the main drivers of such happening during 2010 has been... Galician eucalypt timber.

It is not so surprising then that, independently on whatever funding restrictions for afforestation caused by the lack of credit to the different governments of the EU, Spain or Galicia may exist... whatever the right or wrongs of public support to sustainable productive activities as tree growing is... and independently on whatever artificial conflict of interests created and maintained by whatever ignorant urbanite... 600.000 small tree growers of Galicia have taken their own step forward: some 40 million € of their own money, which grew on trees during the last decades and was harvested in 2010, is to be invested again during 2011 to start a new timber growing cycle by planting dozens of millions more trees. Why? Because they know, and you should know by now too, that you harvest what you sow.


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Effects of the Global Crisis on Galician Timber / Galician Timber Results 2009, by Fearmaga, Asociacion Galega Monte Industria, Cluster de la Madera de Galicia and Feceg / Efectos de la crisis en la Industria Forestal de Galicia / Resultados de la Industria de la Madera de Galicia 2009 / Galician Timber Industry Macromagnitudes / Galician Timber Industry Productivity and Income / GIT Forestry Consulting SL / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo


Galician timber harvests reach 8 million cubic metres in 2008 / Eucalyptus generate 1651 million Euro for Galician tree growers / La cosecha de madera de 2008 en Galicia alcanza los 8 millones de metros cubicos / El eucalipto genera 1651 millones de euros a los cultivadores en Galicia / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo



Storm Klaus damages the largest Eucalyptus Forest in Europe at Galicia, Spain / La tormenta Klaus arrasa el bosque de eucalipto más grande de Europa en Galicia, España / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo



Spatial distribution of stormwood volumes after damage caused by windstorm Klaus to forestry resources in Galicia / Distribucion espacial de la madera de tormenta tras el daño causado por el huracan Klaus a los recursos forestales de Galicia / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoria y Servicios de Ingenieria Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, Information resources on sustainable eucalypt cultivation worldwide / Recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo sostenible del eucalipto en el mundo



High Value Eucalyptus nitens Model Forest for veneer and sawnwood in agroforestry regime / Bosque Modelo de Eucalyptus nitens para chapa y aserrio en regimen de silvopastoreo / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro and Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting SL, Consultoría y Servicios de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Lugo, Galicia, España, Spain / Eucalyptologics, information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation around the world / Eucalyptologics, recursos de informacion sobre el cultivo del eucalipto en el mundo



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