Within the framework of the International Day of Forests, the Universidad Industrial de Santander, through its campus in Málaga, reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and academic innovation through a remarkable entrepreneurship fair led by Forestry Engineering students.
The activity, organized as part of the courses Forest Management, Silviculture, and Restoration of Natural Forests, was inspired by this year’s theme: “Forests and Economies”, highlighting the fundamental role of forest ecosystems in economic development for communities.
During the fair, future forestry engineers impressed the university community with a wide variety of 100% handcrafted products, made from responsibly sourced natural resources. These included cosmetics such as soaps, balms, lipsticks, and ointments; food products like avocado ice cream, wafers with chachafruto caramel spread, tamarind sauce, mushrooms, yogurt, and jams; as well as decorative items including coasters, paintings, aromatic candles, keychains, and natural dyes for fabrics and paper.
This academic initiative not only helped showcase the productive potential of forests but also highlighted the students’ commitment to research, responsible harvesting, and the transformation of raw materials into products with environmental and economic value.
Professor Doris Duarte emphasized the importance of these learning spaces: “It is essential to demonstrate how valuable these ecosystems are in providing a wide range of products and helping to boost the economy of our rural communities,” she stated.
Through initiatives like this, the UIS Málaga campus continues to strengthen its position as an academic leader in training professionals committed to sustainable development, promoting the responsible use of forest resources and reinforcing the connection between academia and local economic dynamics.
