The results of the first phase of tests to assess the feasibility of extracting the resin in a pine forest plot in Isna, in the municipality of Oleiros, exceeded all expectations.
After a first assessment of the amount of resin obtained in the campaign that began in April and ended in early November 2023, the president of Re- sipinus – Association of Resin Distillers and Explorers and responsible for Raízes In, a partner entity in this research project, Marco Ribeiro, advances that the resin extracted in the traditional way in each of the 60 maritime pines “exceeded the value of the national average of production, which stands at about one and a half kilos per spout, in the first year of exploration. At Isna, the bags were removed and the resin weighed, with each pine tree originating values of around two kilos of this material”.
This project has been developed since April 2023 by a consortium of 37 entities, led by Forestwise – Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management. The entity responsible for the development of the tests is the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), together with the company Raízes In.
The project, followed by a forestry engineer and two resin workers from the Parish of Isna, also aims to improve resin exploration techniques. In the second campaign, which will start in March this year, the extraction of resin in the traditional way will continue in
the same 60 pine trees, with Marco Pinheiro stating that “we estimate that in a second campaign production will increase between 30 and 40 percent. Thus, it is to be expected that the values obtained at Isna will be even more satisfactory next year”.
Another trial that will begin this year, in 60 pine trees also at Isna, will test other forms of resin extraction, using, on the one hand, a closed system, which aims to increase the quality of the resin obtained, and, on the other hand, using new biological stimulants that increase its production.
For the mayor of Oleiros, Miguel Marques, the first data obtained by these tests are not surprising, because “we are fully aware of the potential of this patch of maritime pines and what it can represent, in terms of income, for the owners. We are very pleased with the good data obtained and hope that it will continue to be so. It will be a great challenge and an opportunity for many landowners for the forest to generate income again to become sustainable”.
This testing project is part of RN21 – Innovation in the Natural Resin Sector for Strengthening the National Bioeconomy and is co-financed by the Environmental Fund through Component 12 – Promotion of Sustainable Bioeconomy of the European funds allocated to Portugal by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). Along with Oleiros, trials are underway in pine forest plots in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Nazaré, Cantanhede, and Amareleja.
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