The Council of Government has taken note of the actions carried out by the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment within the framework of the Public Nurseries Network of native forest plants, a strategic infrastructure serving ecological restoration, conservation of plant species, and environmental awareness in the Andalusian territory, where an investment of nearly 8 million euros will be made by 2029 with the aim of producing around 4,300,000 plants.
Andalusia’s uniqueness as one of the most biodiverse regions in Europe, with over 4,000 plant species (551 of them endemic), demands a specialized network that responds to the recovery of ecosystems affected by disasters and the production of plants adapted to their various habitats. This Forest Nurseries Network is a fundamental tool to showcase the natural richness of Andalusia and ensure the survival of unique species.
In this regard, from 2023 to 2025, the Andalusian Government has allocated around 3 million euros to this purpose. Of this amount, nearly half a million has been invested in renewing the machinery park, with the acquisition of five multifunctional backhoe loaders, and over 2.2 million in vegetal production campaigns. These investments have made it possible to have over 1,800,000 plants in just over two years.
For the period 2026-2029, an additional investment of almost 5 million euros is planned, which will allow the production of around 2,500,000 more plants, bringing the total to approximately 4,300,000 specimens. Additionally, improvements in the facilities of the nurseries will be carried out, such as the renewal of irrigation systems, shading nets, cultivation platforms, and covers, as well as the incorporation of new automation systems.
This investment effort is in line with the objectives set by the Andalusian Forest Plan Horizon 2030, which emphasizes the role of forests as a driver of rural development, a tool against depopulation, a fundamental element against climate change, and a guarantee of conservation of natural resources. Within this framework, Specific Operational Program 5 expressly includes the promotion of the nursery network as a key element for forest restorations, erosion and desertification control, and habitat improvement.
One of the most significant examples of the impact of this network on environmental recovery is the supply of over 1,700,000 plants to restore the area affected by the 2017 Doñana fire. Of this figure, more than 1.1 million have been allocated to projects directly carried out by the Andalusian Government, while around 600,000 specimens have been used to support collaboration agreements with entities like Plant for the Planet, INTA-Doñana, or WWF. The most used species in these works include stone pine, junipers, junipers, cork oaks, strawberry trees, oleasters, pistachios, holm oaks, and myrtles.
The Andalusian Forest Nurseries Network consists of seven centers strategically located according to bioclimatic criteria. These centers ensure production tailored to the conditions of each territory and also carry out educational, scientific, and social functions. In addition to annually producing 650,000 plants of over 70 species typical of Andalusian forest ecosystems, work is being done on conservation projects for threatened flora, such as the Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo Boiss.), of which about 70,000 specimens are currently being cultivated for reintroduction programs, population reinforcement, and support for the Interreg-Cooptree project.
The nurseries also play an important role in knowledge transfer and awareness. Through the «One tree, one landscape of the future» program, the Andalusian Government promotes the recovery of the Andalusian Mediterranean landscape with actions aimed at improving environmental quality as a key factor for sustainable development, promoting biodiversity through the planting of plant species, increasing CO2 absorption capacity to mitigate climate change, and raising awareness, educating, and educating the public, both in rural and urban areas, on the importance of conserving natural values.
Another key field of action is the registration and maintenance of seed sources and selected stands that ensure genetic quality of plant material. Thanks to the work carried out by the Nurseries Network, new entries were added to the National Base Materials Catalog in October 2024, including a Spanish fir seed source and over forty cork oak stands for the production of ‘Selected’ category forest reproduction material.
The versatility of this network also allows for plants not used in reforestation projects to be allocated to social initiatives, awareness campaigns, or educational activities, through collaborations with schools, conservation associations, and other non-profit public and private entities.