The project: In Caleruega (Burgos), Spain, the project of 1700 trees was started in the Spring of 2023. The largest part of the trees is Quercus Ilex. Local row tillage was chosen for soil preparation, since the plot was previously an agricultural field, resulting in compacted soil when it was abandoned. This soil preparation also favors the development of the root system and water retention. The trees are planted at a distance of 5 m from each other along the row. Degradable plastic protection is installed for each tree to protect it from play and make it grow in height instead of width. A wooden stick is installed for each tree to support the seedlings as they grow. The trees used in this plantation were before mycorrhized to promote the production of black truffles. Thanks to this more developed root system and the symbiosis with the mushroom the trees will be more resistant to hot temperatures and drought. Maintenance and monitoring: Any dead plants will be replanted, they want to reach a 100% recovery rate. Over the next three years, weeds around the tree will be removed to avoid competition with the tree and to encourage the tree's growth. Local tilling of the soil each winter to encourage air exchange and the production of larger truffles.

Tórtoles de Esgueva is a municipality in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain, situated at 930 meters above sea level on the limestone moorland of the Castilian plateau. The soils are basophilic with calcium carbonate stones, and the native vegetation is dominated by Quercus ilex forest, with scattered Juniperus thurifera and shrub species including Rosa canina, Prunus spinosa, and Rhamnus saxatilis. The project site had been under dry-land cereal and legume cultivation for over 70 years, replacing a native Quercus ilex forest. This land use was ecologically unproductive and reliant on agrochemicals. The plantation aims to restore native forest cover through a sustainable truffle-producing agroforestry system, delivering benefits including soil restoration, carbon storage, elimination of agrochemical inputs, and long-term economic value through Tuber melanosporum production. Plantation updates: - Planting date: March–April 2025. - 1,600 trees planted, of which 984 trees sponsored by Go Forest clients: 100% Quercus ilex, mycorrhized with Tuber melanosporum, at 400 plants/ha over 4 hectares - Seedling quality: Two-year-old mycorrhized seedlings from Viveros Fuenteamarga (Valladolid), with a mean height of 36 cm, mean stem diameter of 6.8 mm, and an average mycorrhization rate of 29%. - Site preparation: Cross subsoiling and shallow tillage, with a 5 x 5 m planting spacing. Fencing and an irrigation system were installed to mitigate wildlife browsing risk during establishment. - Maintenance planned: A 5-year silvicultural plan includes soil tillage in 2025; irrigation and replacement of dead plants in 2026–2027; and pruning from 2028 onwards. - Future outlook: The plantation is managed under a 40-year continuous canopy forest plan, with natural regeneration expected after approximately 30 years. A truffle-growing school and guided visits are planned to support knowledge transfer and local engagement.