Rafael Puig y Valls

Born in Tarragona in 1845, Rafael Puig y Valls was a Catalan forestry engineer and public intellectual whose work linked science, civic life, and the natural world. He served as chief engineer of the Barcelona forest district and became known for practical efforts to protect and restore wooded areas.

He played an important role in promoting the Festa de l’Arbre, or Arbor Day, as a way to encourage reforestation and cultivate public respect for forests. Beyond his environmental work, he was active in economic and cultural institutions in Barcelona, including the Societat Econòmica d’Amics del País, and he also took part in planning projects such as the Manresa–Cardona railway line.

Puig y Valls died in 1920, but his legacy lives on through his influence on forestry, conservation, and civic environmental awareness in Catalonia. His career stands out as an early example of combining technical expertise with public advocacy for the landscape.