The agreement, signed by the Town Council of Villanueva del Pardillo and SIGAUS, provides for the creation of a forest comprising 500 stone pines (Pinus pinea), 250 holm oaks (Quercus ilex) and 250 cork oaks (Quercus suber). These are native species adapted to the Mediterranean climate that will help improve air quality, capture CO₂ and generate new habitats for local wildlife.

To ensure the success of the forest, SIGAUS will finance both the supply of trees and the planting work, as well as the installation of a drip irrigation network. SIGAUS will also be responsible for any replanting required following the first summer period after planting, to complete the number of trees donated to the municipality.

Meanwhile, the Town Council will be responsible for providing the water connection required for the installation of the irrigation network and, once planting is complete, will take on tree maintenance services, as well as promoting the initiative through its usual communication channels. “According to Eurostat, three out of four people live in urban areas in Europe, and it is in these environments that green areas play an essential role in mitigating the effects of climate change and improving the quality of life of their inhabitants. With this new SIGAUS Forest, we are continuing to expand our urban forest project and bring nature closer to citizens”, said Eduardo de Lecea, CEO of SIGAUS.

The Third Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Environment of Villanueva del Pardillo, Raúl Jiménez Rodríguez, highlighted that “this agreement with SIGAUS allows us to transform a green area into a multifunctional forest, which will be a new gathering place for walking, playing sports and enjoying nature. We are working towards a healthier and more sustainable municipality, which complements the work we’ve been doing to increase and care for our urban woodland.”