"The tree, a perfect machine" was the theme of a series of workshops PEFC Spain organized at this year's Reciclamadrid'09. The workshops aimed at demonstrating the benefits that forests offer in tackling climate change.

"Wood is essentially carbon neutral, which distinguishes it from alternative materials such as plastics, aluminum or steel, materials that require a great deal of energy to create," said Ana Belén Noriega, Secretary General of PEFC Spain. "Using wood-based products - sourced from certified forests - therefore assists in tackling our common challenge of mitigating climate change."

Examples of certified products were showcased by PEFC Spain in an adjacent exhibition, which featured items ranging from wine boxes, books and windows frames to furniture, including tables, chairs, shelves and cabinets.

"A recently released study by the European Union indicates that how people perceive forests and forest management in Europe is misaligned with reality, and that the public feels to have insufficient information about the role of forests in the climate change debate," Mrs. Noriega continued. "We hope that our workshops have contributed to better understanding of the importance of sustainable forest management and PEFC-certification in this context."