Las repoblaciones del Patrimonio Forestal del Estado y del ICONA en la provincia de Badajoz, 1941-1977

This paper analyzes the reforestations conducted by the Spanish Patrimonio Forestal del Estado (PFE) and its successor, the Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICONA), that affected private and public utility land in the province of Badajoz, paying special attention to their criteria, objectives, and social and environmental impact. The time-frame of this study (1941-1977) spans the entire period of activity the Patrimonio (1941-1971), as well as the six years of operation of the ICONA (1971-1995). The main source used is the documentation generated by both organisms, particularly the reforestation projects, partnership projects, and the minutes of the Direction Council meetings, but also the paperwork generated by the forest District. The qualitative information provided by these sources allows the clarification of some of the conclusions drawn from the quantitative data published by the PFE, as these do not adjust strictly to reality. The main conclusions are as follows. 1. The logic imposed by the Administration was exclusively based on productive and industrial criteria, disregarding the application of social, silviculture-oriented and environmental principles. This was reflected in the adoption of a reforestation policy centered around the introduction and substitution of tree species impelled and financed by the official Organizations. 2. This was justified alleging the need of protection against erosion, run-down forests, and the inevitability of the “pine stage” in ecological succession, but not all reforestations were to take place in land devoid of tree cover. 3. Beyond the good intentions shown by ICONA, or the adaptation of its speech to the new times, reforestation activities in this province show a strong continuity with the previous period.