'Green community' raises the voice in Demoverde

To draw the context in which moves currently the sector of the green areas, José Luis García Seijas, President of the Spanish Association of gardening companies (Aseja), gave several illustrative data, such as the fall suffered by investment in construction of gardens, passing the 1,182 million euros in 2009 to 402 million euros in 2010estimating figures also close to 400 million euros for this year. Obviously, this activity has been hampered by the crisis in the construction in general and the suspension of new urban projects. But the problem is compounded further by knowing that the maintenance of the gardens is not mitigating this fall. In fact, for this year estimated that investments in conservation will suffer the first annual decline in the past five years, from the 1,190 million euros invested in 2010 to nearly 1,090 million euros for the 2011.

All this means that the volume of employees in this sector also be viewing resentful. While in 2010 the number of employees who were represented in Aseja was 13,000 workers, today this figure has been reduced to 12.171 operators. "Despite this decline, staff remains a significant cost to our companies, given that every euro that invests public administration, 0.80 cents to employees as a destination".

The fall in investments is compounded by another problem, nothing trivial, the delay in payment by the public administration, which already exceeds on average 300 days and makes that the EUR 500 million which billed Aseja enterprises, 400 million are still outstanding collection.

Eugenio Merino González, of the Spanish Association of parks and public gardens (Aepjp), confirmed the poor prospects that loom over investment in the green sector. "There is no money and that makes that investment in new construction is going to be practically non-existent and between 20 and 30% reduction of budgets for peacekeeping." To counter this fall, should opt for introducing new technical solutions to gain in productivity and sustainability. "The ultimate goal must be preserve, at least, that we have worked so hard to create."

Precisely, in the field of innovation is still much work to do, as they showed two sectors which were also represented at the round table as they were the Arboriculture and landscaping. Although the tree is present in the city for many years, the truth is that modern Arboriculture presents new techniques and methodologies that can improve the coexistence of the tree in the city. "It tends to make a more individualized management of the heritage of woodland", he acotaba Salvador Cañís, President of the Spanish Association of Arboriculture (Aea).

With regard to the landscape, this is a sector that has just had recognition in Spain during the last years, in contrast to what is happening in other European regions. From the Spanish landscape Association (EPA), as pointed out Eladio Hernando, Member of its Board of Directors, remain in place interesting steps to win in the presence, as have included this activity in the University course 2011-2012, but the truth is that, being so directly related to the development of new urban projects, it has been dragged by the crisis in the construction. "There is no new construction, landscaping professionals we are seeing very concerned." "Therefore our goal now is to create the mentality of address landscaping more professionally, bringing our ideas to improve efficiency in the construction and maintenance of gardens".

The Spanish Association of agricultural machinery, forestry and green spaces (Ansemat) also committed to this line of greater professionalization and elimination of the intrusion. "Despite the fall in investment, the green areas are not so neglected in Spain." In recent years it has earned much on surface for gardens and parks, and in fact, in some cases have committed excesses which are now very difficult to keep these areas. "From our Association we consider that it can be improved much in efficiency, using machinery and equipment which until now were virtually unknown," indicating Borja Aizpuru, Chairman of the Committee of green areas in Ansemat.

Known different and numerous fronts relevant to the sector of green areas, as well as its great breadth and the fragmentation that exists to include in its bosom various subsectors, from the Spanish Federation of associations of exporting producers of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants alive (Fepex), its Chairman in the Committee of flowers and plants, Vicente Peris, he advocated creating a large sectoral Forum in which all the actors involved in one or another are represented way in this 'green community'. An initiative was very well received by the rest of the entities represented at the table round, including the Association Spanish centres of gardening (Aecj), whose director, Santiago González, noted in this regard: "much greater unity and communication within the sector, longer exists can make progress." In USA, for example, there is already a great Association that encompasses all the green sector and employs over 40 people, and the progress that have been made have been very notable. "We must work to incorporate all the actors involved," he concluded.

This Union is intended to strengthen the sector of the green areas and continue gaining weight, as it has already happened in other regions of the world as Australia, current benchmark in this market.