The Ages of the Spanish Fir: an Exhibition to Discover Malaga's Most Emblematic Tree

"The Ages of the Spanish Fir" is the most detailed exhibition to date on the key aspects of conserving the most emblematic species of the province's flora. "It is a descriptive study of the different forms it takes as it develops, from the dispersal of the seed to germination, the formation of the seedling, the onset of photosynthetic activity, and through the various stages of growth," explains its author, Gabriel Gutiérrez Tejada, regional coordinator of the Andalusian Board's Recovery Plan.

"For managers and researchers, it is very relevant to know the different forms it takes, in order to apply, if necessary, the management or conservation measures needed," he adds. The exhibition aims to provide, through dozens of photos and illustrations, little-known details about the particular way these trees develop in nature. "It is a work that is unfinished, because it can never be finished, and it is open to the participation of the scientific community and technicians."

The La Concepción Botanical Garden displays the life cycle of these trees through 15 illustrations

A total of 15 panels trace the entire development, from when it is a seed, grows and becomes a tree, until it exhausts its life and dies. The exhibition can be visited in the exhibition hall of the Historic Botanical Garden of the Constitution, until January 31. From there, the exhibition will travel to other provinces, under the auspices of the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

Dissemination of the Spanish Fir

The provincial delegate, José Antonio Víquez, who participated in the inauguration, asserts that educating the public about the values of this native fir is key to its conservation. "It is fundamental and vital. Thanks to efforts like this, the Spanish fir forests have been preserved to this day and are well protected, precisely because of the respect they are given in these areas."

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"The exhibition is a divulgative and educational summary of what a Spanish fir is, the different growth phases, and its peculiarities, since we have it in our Mediterranean mountains, in the Sierra de las Nieves and in the Sierra de Grazalema; it is a uniqueness of the natural spaces of Andalusia."

Another objective of this initiative is to assist enthusiasts in differentiating this fir from other similar types of vegetation, which sometimes can be confusing. "The level of detail in these photographs allows us to understand why we must handle it in a certain way, in terms of conserving the wing of the seed, not manipulating it excessively to avoid affecting the resin pockets, etc. These are already technical and scientific details, which justify a type of management and management decisions," adds Gutiérrez Tejada.