A unique historical process has resulted in 75% of Bizkaia's forest area being in private hands. This ownership has played a crucial role in the management of the territory's forests, contributing to an increase in forested area from 20% to 60% over the last 80 years and creating forests that provide ecosystem services.
In order to achieve better territorial management, it is considered necessary to promote a greater percentage of public ownership in the forests of Bizkaia.
However, some amendments to the draft Foral Law undermine the role of private ownership, moving away from sustainable forest management and jeopardizing the sector's interests. These amendments propose, among other things, increasing the powers of local councils, despite a recent court ruling that annulled articles of Zeberio's General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU) for overstepping forest regulations.
The Association of Foresters of Bizkaia, representing private forest ownership, has conveyed these concerns to all parliamentary groups. The association hopes that their contributions will be considered and that the finally approved law will adequately recognize the importance of private ownership and its management in the Historical Territory of Bizkaia.
