Expert Group on Human Health and Well-being

First meeting, 23-24 January 2018, Bratislava

Mr. Gorka Altuna FernandezUSSE (South European Private Forest Owners Union)Basque Country, Spain

Mr. Gorka Altuna Fernandez

• San Sebastián (Basque Country, Spain), 10/04/1982.

• Forestry engineer by E.T.S.I.A Lleida University (Catalonia, Spain).

06/2010.

• Experience:– Biodiversity technician in Environmental Department (San Sebastian

City Council). 2012.– Technician Basque Wood Cluster. 2013-2015.– Forestry technician in HAZI’s Forest Department (Basque Country

Govern`s Corporation for 1st sector development). 2015 2017.– Head of Projects development in USSE. Since 04/2017.

USSE• The Union of Foresters of Southern Europe (USSE) is an European Economic

Interest Grouping (EEIG) uniting forester organisations of Southern Europe.• USSE Projects 2017:

– “Forest Baths establishment and dinamization in Busturialdea”. ✓– “Applicability of the extraction and fragmentation processes of

lignocellulosic materials obteined from the sustainable forest management of the mixed Atlantic forest of the Basque Country”. ✓

– “Forestry management and harvesting of Pinus radiata forest stands in the juvenile phase for the production of forest biomass”. ✓

– “Socio-economic approach to improving ecosystem services in Lea-Artibai”.✘

– EGURPREST (10/2017 Basque Country, Nouvelle Aquitaine and Navarra Eurorregion 2nd call). ⁇

– Preparing GRUPFOR (3rd call INTERREG SUDOE, 2018). Forest ownersgrouping for SFM. →

How do you/your organisation contribute with your work to the field of Human Health and Well-being?

• Communication:– USSE’s member FORESNA (Navarra region) communicate COST

ACTION E39 in Pamplona. Mireia Pecurull from Forestry Comission(UK) informed Authorities and wood-forestry sector about it during“Forests, more than wood” session (may, 2017).

• Promoting cooperation projects:– Basque Contry’s Government RDP’s M16 submeasure Cooperation and

Innovation call 2017.

Please describe a successful example(s) in your country/by your organization

• Project approved by Basque Government in the call forsubmeasure M16 of the basque RDP in 2017: “Forest Bathsestablishment and dinamization in Busturialdea”.

www.disfrutabizkaia.com

http://www.urdaibai.org

Please describe a successful example(s) in your country/by your organization

• Project approved by Basque Government in the call forsubmeasure M16 of the basque RDP in 2017: “Forest Bathsestablishment and dinamization in Busturialdea”.

– Beginning: february 2018. 2 years.– Budjet: 99.934 €. (100% FEADER and BASQUE COUNTRY GOVERN

funding)– Cooperation with health and rural development sector: URREMENDI

(Rural Development Association) and AVIFES (Association of relativesand mentally ill people from Bizkaia).

– Private and public forest owners involved.– 6 month forest bath activity and measurement of health results.– 1 year work group.– Communication.

• Involving Public Health Department (Osakidetza -Basque

Country- / Seguridad Social -Spain-).

• Environmental service payment.

• Forest owners groupment. SFM improvement.

• Private cultivated forest owners activity valorization. Public

Authorities and society.

• Private forest owners involvement in all wood-forest sector value

chain.

What are major challenges related to the given topic in your country?

Mr. Gorka Altuna FernandezUSSEParque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, c/ Canala, Edif. 103, 2ª planta. 48170 Zamudio (Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain).

CIF: V-48526420

tel.: +34 673 000 342email: galtuna@usse-eu.org