It's spring and today, March 21st, is the United Nations International Day of Forests, observed in Spain and elsewhere around the world as a reminder of the importance of protecting our woodlands. The UN chose today because it is indeed the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere and the first day of autumn in the southern hemisphere...seasons we recognize by many means, not the least of which are the changing color of leaves and the buds blooming on trees. If Yellowstone in the United States--declared a national park in 1872--was the pioneer for wildlife preservation, Spain's northern coastal mountains "Los Picos de Europa" (literally, "The Peaks of Europe") were not far behind, declared a national park in 1918 and marking the beginning of Spain's official protection of natural areas. Within the European Union, Spain ranks second for greatest forestal coverage, with nearly 57 percent of the country covered in woods. This past week, in Algeria, forestry specialists have come together for the third annual Mediterranean Forest Week, with debates on conservation, reforestation, and other issues. In honor of the Mediterranean forest and to mark the International Day of Forests, Alison Hughes talks to Professor Juan Antonio Oliet of the School of Forestry at Madrid's Polytechnic University (22/03/13).
