On 7 November, Iberpapel joined Alicante Renace in a new ecological restoration initiative held at Monte Orgegia, one of the peri-urban forest areas surrounding the city of Alicante. The initiative, promoted by the Asociación Enamorados de Alicante in collaboration with Alicante City Council, brought together more than 1,000 people for a morning dedicated to environmental restoration, community participation and environmental education.
The result of the event was the planting of 1,500 trees and shrubs, together with the distribution of one million seeds from herbaceous plants to help support biodiversity and the gradual regeneration of the soil.
An initiative designed for the local environment
The more than 1,000 trees and saplings and nearly 500 shrubs planted during the event represented eight different species, including Aleppo pine, carob, mastic, terebinth, black hawthorn and Cartagena cypress.
The species were selected according to their ability to adapt to local climatic conditions, particularly drought, while also helping to restore vegetation cover, protect the soil from erosion and create new shelter and food sources for wildlife.
The planting was complemented by the distribution of herbaceous plant seeds, which are important for increasing vegetation cover and encouraging the presence of pollinating insects. According to the data published by Alicante Renace, this combination of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants is intended to create an increasingly diverse and resilient ecosystem.
Reforestation does not end on planting day
Planting is only the first step. For an initiative like this to make sense in the long term, the new plants need monitoring, water and maintenance while they adapt to their new environment. One of the aspects we value most about this project is precisely its continuity and its medium- and long-term approach.
At Monte Orgegia, the plantations benefit from irrigation systems, the use of reclaimed water and subsequent maintenance work designed to support the establishment and development of the trees and shrubs. This approach means that the work carried out during a single day of volunteering does not end when participants leave the site, but instead becomes part of a broader restoration process.
The initiative also included workshops and activities focused on environmental education, helping participants learn more about biodiversity and the Mediterranean fauna and flora. As Alicante Renace itself explained, the success of initiatives like this should not be measured solely by the number of specimens planted, but also by their ability to raise awareness of the importance of protecting them in the future.
Supporting our local environment
At Iberpapel, we wanted to take part in this year’s Autumn Reforestation initiative as a collaborating company. Our activity is closely linked to paper, and our industrial operations are based in the province of Alicante.
Iberpapel is one of the organisations participating in Alicante Renace, supporting its work to restore and conserve the natural environment of the province of Alicante.
For this reason, we believe it makes sense to pay attention to the environment closest to us and to support projects working directly to improve it. We see real value in supporting associations and initiatives that are already doing meaningful work on the ground, particularly when that work continues beyond the initial action.
It is also worth highlighting that the involvement of local residents, companies, public authorities and institutions made the initiative much more meaningful, human and memorable.
Through this article, Iberpapel would therefore like to thank the organisers, Alicante City Council and the other organisations involved in making the event possible.
But above all, we would like to thank everyone who was there and took part.
Thank you very much.