The Government of Navarra and the University of Navarra have signed an agreement agreement for the creation and operation of the Chair Madera. goal Directed by Professor José Manuel Cabrero, its aim is to promote the sustainable use of wood in the construction sector through a plan of activities including training, research and knowledge dissemination. The project will be in force during the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 and has a total budget of 360,000 euros, which will be contributed 50% by the two institutions signing the agreement.

The initiative has been presented by Lourdes Goicoechea Zubelzu, Regional Minister of development Rural, Industry, employment and Environment, and Iciar Astiasarán Anchía, Vice President of research of the University of Navarra.

Activities of the Chair Madera
The School of Architecture of the University of Navarra has launched an annual subject with two learning modules on wood construction. The first module presents a comprehensive view of the subject raw material cycle, from the forest to the construction site, and the second is dedicated to good construction practices and techniques of design in wood. The activity professor of this subject will be complemented with seminars at position by internationally renowned speakers on construction, environment and employment of forest biomass as energy source . One of these seminars has already been held recently, given by Dr. A.J.M. Leijten, from the department of Architecture, Building and Planning of the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (Holland).

The agreement signed between the Government of Navarra and the University of Navarra includes the commitment of the latter to develop research, thesis doctoral projects and programs of study in the field of wood, of agreement with the demands of the forestry sector in Navarra. One of these projects will seek new markets for beech wood, the most common wood in Navarre, by studying the viability of this wood for use as decking and cladding in exteriors, in urban furniture or in sleepers for gardening. Another project researcher that has already been launched will analyze the different initiatives of public administrations in different countries in relation to wood, in order to assess their implementation in Navarra.

In the field of knowledge dissemination, the University of Navarra will organize an annual competition of construction projects aimed at architects, quantity surveyors and engineers of Building, which will value the role of wood, as well as the energy grade of the building, the employment of sustainable materials and the use of renewable energies.