El Sabinar de las BlancasLocated in the heart of the Puebla de San Miguel Natural Park, it has become one of the most talked-about forests in the Valencian Community after being chosen Forest of the Year in the Tree and Forest of the Year Awards 2026. The award puts it on the map as a benchmark of Spanish forest heritage and reinforces its projection beyond the Rincón de Ademuz.
The recognition comes within the framework of the competition Tree, Forest and Urban Forest of the Year in SpainPromoted by the NGO Forests Without Borders in collaboration with various institutions, including the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the Valencian juniper forest has surpassed other unique sites with thousands of votes cast in the final phase, further solidifying the Valencian Community's image as a territory with a forest wealth remarkable.
An ancient juniper forest that wins the title of Forest of the Year
The Sabinar de las Blancas is located within the Puebla de San Miguel Natural ParkLocated in the far northwest of the province of Valencia, very close to the Rincón de Ademuz, this is a micro-reserve of flora featuring extensive formations of sessile juniper (Juniperus thurifera), with specimens of exceptional dimensions and ages that have attracted the attention of specialists and visitors for decades.
Technical studies carried out in the area suggest that some of these junipers could be between 800 and almost 1.000 yearsAlthough other analyses place its origin even earlier. This longevity, combined with the good state of preservation of the whole, makes the juniper grove one of the most valuable plant spaces in the entire Valencian territory, both for its ecological interest as well as for its scenic and historical value.
With an approximate area of six hectaresThe Las Blancas area stands out within the network of micro-reserves for the density and monumental size of its juniper trees. This is not the first time this forest has captured the collective imagination: an image of the juniper grove was already chosen to illustrate the calendar of monumental trees Published by the Provincial Council of Valencia in 2001, anticipating in a way the state recognition it now receives.
A large part of the specimens in the Sabinar de las Blancas are part of the Catalogue of Monumental and Singular Trees of the Valencian CommunityThis classification grants them specific legal protection due to their uniqueness, size, age and environmental relevance, so that any action in the environment must comply with strict conservation criteria.
In the latest edition of the Tree and Forest of the Year Awards, this Valencian enclave has won in the Forest of the Year category with 12.144 public votes, surpassing the Cornetal del Barranco del Perú, in Albanchez de Mágina (Jaén), which obtained 10.023 votes. The high participation demonstrates the growing social interest in the unique forests and for the defense of these spaces as common heritage.
Local impact: pride in Puebla de San Miguel and Rincón de Ademuz
The award has been very well received in the municipality of Puebla de San Miguel and throughout the Rincón de Ademuz region. The mayor, Eva María Azcutia Marqués, expressed that the townspeople are “delighted and very satisfied” with the result, and encouraged those who haven't yet visited the juniper grove to come and see it “for themselves.” In her words, the title is a recognition of good work of the people of the territory and a shared source of pride.
Those close to the natural park emphasize that the award acts as a promotion of conservation and dissemination of the juniper grove. Administrations, technical staff and entities linked to the protection of the natural environment agree that this type of award helps to reinforce the commitment to the sustainable management of the forest and to make it known to the entire citizenry, beyond the local level.
The title of Forest of the Year not only highlights the beauty of the place, but also its status as key space for environmental heritage Valencian. The Sabinar de las Blancas is thus consolidated as a benchmark in the network of protected spaces of the Valencian Community, where the combination of ecological, historical and cultural values is especially evident.
These types of awards also serve to highlight the role of the rural in the conservation of forest ecosystems. Small municipalities like Puebla de San Miguel see their position on the territorial and tourist map strengthened, while new opportunities open up for a development model linked to nature, provided it is managed in a way that is compatible with the environmental protection.
The Valencian government has emphasized that the award reinforces the need to continue supporting conservation policies that ensure these unique forests remain in good condition for future generations. future generationsLegal protection, coupled with social recognition, is considered a key tool to curb threats such as climate change, rural abandonment, or pressure on natural resources.
The role of Forests Without Borders and the Tree, Forest and Urban Forest of the Year competition
The competition in which Sabinar de las Blancas has been recognized is part of the program Tree, Forest and Urban Forest of the Year in Spain, created in 2007 by the NGO Forests Without BordersThis non-profit organization was a pioneer in Europe in promoting a competition dedicated exclusively to recognizing trees and forest stands with a marked singular character.
The initiative is structured into several categories, including those of Tree of the YearForest of the Year and Urban Forest of the Year. Each nomination is usually accompanied by a story explaining the tree or forest's relationship with the local community, its ecological value, its cultural significance, and the threats it faces. The public can participate in the final selection through open voting, making the competition a tool for environmental awareness broad-reaching.
The stated objective of the competition is to put the spotlight on the unique specimens and in emblematic forests of Spanish territory, understood as a natural and cultural heritage that deserves to be known and protected. In this way, the aim is to foster respect for these spaces, promote good conservation practices, and support the communities that care for them.
Based on the Spanish experience, in 2011 a further step was taken with the creation of the European prize Tree of the YearOrganized by the Alliance Foundation (Nadace Partnerství)This continental competition brings together the various national initiatives that have been developed in several countries and allows the winning trees and forests at the state level to represent their country in a European vote.
The international reach of these awards helps to give visibility to the European forests with greater symbolic and ecological weight, and places cases such as the Sabinar de las Blancas within a broader context, in which the conservation of large trees and forest landscapes is understood as a shared challenge between regions and states.
The red eucalyptus of Paiporta: second place in Tree of the Year
Although the Sabinar de las Blancas has taken center stage in the forest category, the Valencian Community has also excelled in the section on Tree of the Year through a combined analysis of access conditions and regulatory barriers. red eucalyptus of PaiportaThis centuries-old specimen, located in the riverbed of Poyo ravine, has obtained second place in the vote, only behind El Tilo and La Tila de El Arenal (Ávila), which have won the state victory.
The tree, identified as eucalyptus camaldulensisIt is also included in the Catalogue of Monumental and Singular Trees of the Valencian Community, which represents official recognition of its environmental, landscape, and social importance. Throughout its life, it has withstood several episodes of flooding, including the storms and flash floods that periodically affect the area.
One of the most delicate moments for this eucalyptus tree occurred during the DANA and the flood of late 2024which caused significant damage in the municipality of Paiporta and much of the surrounding region. Despite the impact of the water, the tree managed to remain standing, largely thanks to its root system, with roots that can reach up to 35 depth meters.
The nomination of this specimen for Tree of the Year has highlighted its heritage and environmental valueas well as the emotional connection it maintains with the local population. Many residents consider it a symbol of perseverance and continuity, an iconic image in the middle of the ravine that has accompanied the daily lives of several generations in the municipality.
In the final vote, the eucalyptus from Paiporta has obtained around 6.167 votesIt came very close to the approximately 6.910 votes received by the linden trees of El Arenal. Its podium finish reinforces the presence of the Valencian Community in the competition and demonstrates that the region's unique trees generate considerable interest throughout the country.
Other protagonists of the competition and European projection
In the 2026 edition of the Tree of the Year competition, the winner in the main category was... The Linden and Lime Trees of El ArenalIn the province of Ávila, these two trees, planted around a century ago next to the local school, have forged a close relationship with the neighborhood for decades: they have provided shade for the students, served as a meeting point for the community, and become part of the municipality's identity.
The support campaign launched from El Arenal has managed to mobilize residents and people linked to the town, totaling almost 7.000 votes and placing these linden trees as representatives of Spain in the European competition Tree of the YearThe story of these trees fits well with the spirit of the competition, which seeks to highlight the emotional connection between the people and their most emblematic trees.
In the other nominations, other examples such as the hackberry tree of Bruil ParkThe ficus tree in Zaragoza, or the one at the CEIP Huerta de Santa Marina school in Seville, have also received significant support, although they are further from the top three. These trees complete a list that reflects the diversity of the tree heritage Spanish and the variety of contexts —urban, rural, school or natural— in which authentic botanical gems can be found.
The link between the national editions and the European competition allows stories like those of the Sabinar de las Blancas, the eucalyptus tree of Paiporta, or the linden trees of El Arenal to transcend the local sphere and reach a wider audience. At the same time, comparison with other European countries helps to contextualize the Iberian forests from a common conservation perspective.
Open voting, media coverage, and the use of social media in campaigns have proven to be effective tools for bringing these issues closer to the public. It is increasingly common for small communities to mobilize considerable support, as seen in the cases of Rincón de Ademuz, Paiporta, and El Arenal, generating a positive effect on citizen involvement in the defense of the natural environment.
The recent recognition of the Sabinar de las Blancas as Forest of the Year and the eucalyptus tree of Paiporta as one of the Trees of the Year highlights the importance of the forests and unique trees In Spain, the capacity of society to value its natural heritage and the role these awards can play in promoting its protection are significant. Between their ecological dimension, historical significance, and the social connection they generate, these sites are becoming key elements for understanding the relationship between people and the landscape that surrounds them.
