In recent months, the cultivation of fig trees and tree management have acquired special importance in different parts of Spain and Latin America, both for initiatives for agricultural sustainability as well as the controversy surrounding the management of these emblematic fruit trees.
Following a recent intervention, a strong controversy arose in the area of Miramar Alto, where a was carried out pruning fig trees in the middle of JuneVarious environmental groups, such as DAUBMA, have expressed their rejection of these practices because make severe cuts during the warm season can have adverse consequences for the trees.
Risks of improper pruning of fig trees
Criticism focuses on the fact that pruning fig trees in summer increases the risk of loss of fruit and stress for the treeThe environmental conditions of the time, with greater circulation of sap and high temperatures, favor excessive bleeding and make healing difficult. In addition, open wounds become a focus for fungal and bacterial infections, negatively impacting the future health of the tree.
Adaptation of fig trees to climate change
Meanwhile, in the Valencian Community, the agricultural sector faces the challenge of increasingly frequent droughts and rising temperaturesThe Elche Agricultural Experimental Station leads important Research to improve the resistance of fig trees and other traditional species in the face of these adverse conditions.
Among the jobs carried out by technicians, the following stand out: testing of new varieties of figs, as well as the development of protective techniques, such as the use of nets to reduce the fruit's exposure to direct sunlight. At the same time, monitor water stress and study the impact of new pests and diseases that, as a result of climate change, affect fig cultivation.
Experimentation also includes the application of natural extracts to strengthen plant resistance, as well as the implementation of precision sensors in the soil and in the trees themselves to evaluate their response to different environmental conditions.
Fig trees, a driving force of rural development: the example of the Sierra de Picachos
In the municipality of Fig trees, located in Nuevo León (Mexico), the natural environment is used to promote a sustainable rural developmentSpecifically, the wild oregano that abounds in the Sierra de Picachos has become the axis of an initiative that seeks to obtain the denomination of origin.
The state administration, together with the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, has developed the necessary technical studies to ensure that the oregano from this area receives the Recognition by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI)This step would make it easier for communities of collectors and producers of Fig trees can access new markets and strengthen the local economy, highlighting the potential of this "green gold" as an essential ingredient in regional gastronomy.
The objective is to give greater adding value to native products, promoting agricultural practices sustainable and contributing to the national and international projection of both Fig trees as from the Sierra de Picachos.
The management of las fig trees —both in its environmental, agricultural and economic aspects—continues to generate debate and movement, driven by the demand for greater protection, innovation for climate adaptation and the valorization of rural resources. These issues directly affect the landscape, livelihood of many families and the biodiversity from the regions where the fig tree is an inseparable part of the environment.
