The Xunta de Galicia has opened the door to an innovative strategy for reforestation Galician forests, which includes the use of pine trees from other regions, such as France, as long as they meet quality and adaptability standards for the territory.

This approach is part of the Galicia Forest Plan 2021‑2040, which aims to strengthen forested areas and improve timber production without compromising sustainability. The main idea is to use seeds and seedlings of high genetic value, capable of growing faster, resisting diseases better, and adapting to climate changes.

Although Galicia has traditionally prioritized the use of local material, the Xunta believes that, in controlled cases, external species can be incorporated to achieve healthier and more productive forests. This measure is expected to reforest thousands of hectares and strengthen the Galician forestry industry, while maintaining ecological balance.

Ecologistas en Acción will hold its Confederative Assembly from December 6 to 8 in Vigo, marking the first time in 25 years that it takes place in Galicia.

Program:

Friday, December 5 – 19:00h.
Public presentation of the book Paca Blanco, la Brava (the activist’s autobiography) — open to the public.

Saturday, December 6 – 11:30h.
Inaugural roundtable titled “Social Environmentalism as a Tool for Change” — open to the public, with representatives from Galician collectives.

Saturday, December 6 – Afternoon
Start of internal sessions: review of work done in 2025 and planning of campaigns and action lines for 2026 (exact time not publicly specified).

Sunday, December 7 – Morning
Confederative debates: budget approval, review of territorial milestones, review of statutes, presentation of new communication strategy.

Sunday, December 7 – Afternoon
Thematic workshops by areas and EEA groups; call for anti-nuclear action.

Sunday, December 7 – 16:30h.
Public screening of the documentary Dende que veu a mina — about the impacts of mining in Galicia.

Sunday, December 7 – Evening
Concert at Sala Rebullón (Tameiga space) with musical performances.

Monday, December 8 – Morning/Afternoon
Closing demonstration — a march highlighting various ecosocial struggles in Galicia (mining, industry, fishing, cruise tourism, international solidarity, etc.), ending with the reading of a manifesto on the beach.

According to the latest EF English Proficiency Paper, Galicia is one of the top regions in Spain for English skills, consistently ranking in the “high proficiency” category. The region’s score this year is 563 points, placing it ahead of La Rioja (560), Madrid, Navarra (553), Asturias (552) and Cantabria (550).

Among Spanish cities, Vigo stands out as the leader with 585 points, followed by Gijón (575) and Zaragoza (565), follow it Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid .

Experts attribute Galicia’s success to long-term educational policies promoting multilingualism, teacher training, and immersive English experiences. Exchange programs, conversation assistants, and bilingual initiatives have all contributed to creating an effective learning environment.

Highlighting these efforts is PILIVIGO, a fully funded English exchange program in the U.K. for eligible students registered in Vigo. The three-week program offers students immersive exposure to English in various British cities, strengthening language skills and cultural experience.

The mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, has been demanding for years that the city of Vigo should have its own Faculty of Medicine.

The Xunta de Galicia insists that there must be “a single public Faculty of Medicine” in Galicia, the one in Santiago de Compostela, determined that it should remain the only faculty, even though the city of Santiago is smaller than Vigo in area, population, and number of hospitals.

For now, the Regional Minister of Education says that the best option is to “pool resources” and not fragment medical training, reaching an agreement so that the final years, 4th and 5th, are taught both in Santiago and in Vigo and A Coruña. According to a 2015 agreement between the Xunta, the USC, and the other Galician universities, sixth-year medical students are already distributed across several hospitals in Galicia. Specifically, 100 places are assigned for 6th-year students in Vigo’s hospitals.

There is a preliminary agreement among the rectors of USC, UVigo, and UDC to create teaching units in Vigo and A Coruña. In these units, at least 50% of the teaching staff for the second cycle would come from the universities of Vigo and A Coruña.

However, Abel Caballero states that this agreement is not enough, and he hopes to achieve that the first three years of the degree are also taught in Vigo, due to the city’s population, hospitals, and the ongoing need for doctors, for whom positions are always available.