Line of action:

Drivers of biodiversity loss

Status:

En ejecución

Execution date:

2023

Total budget:

44.239,87€

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

35.391,90 €

Desertification amplified by the effects of climate change is of particular concern in island territories. The easternmost Canary Islands and Gran Canaria are the most vulnerable to this problem.

The development of “gavias” and “nateros” in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote has demonstrated that Nature Based Solutions (NBS) can have a very positive impact on soil condition and biodiversity.

Therefore, we propose a line of work focused on the identification, compilation and new approaches of Nature-Based Solutions drawn from the whole Spanish territory and climatically similar areas to the aforementioned islands in order to explore future lines of intervention that may help to conserve protected areas especially affected by desertification and climate change.

The main objective is to identify, collect and develop new Nature-Based Solutions for the improvement of soil productivity and with applications in the fight against desertification in the easternmost Canary Islands and Gran Canaria.

Specific goals include:

• Design and promote participation, awareness and dissemination campaigns in social networks on the problems associated with desertification (with special attention to the Canary Islands) and the results during each part of the process.
• Identify historical Nature-Based Solutions and where an improvement in soil productivity is obtained.
• Collect and typify all Nature-Based Solutions where intervention is minimal.
• Propose and develop general intervention plans in the eastern islands based on the Nature-Based Solutions compiled.

• Bibliographic review of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in oceanic islands and other areas with climatic conditions similar to the Canary Islands, in addition to those available on Spanish territory.
• Development of contact networks of local agents with application of SBN techniques in studied territories, and of specialists with fields of research on the impact of SBN in the place of origin.
• Typification of all Nature-Based Solutions identified in the different regional areas, classified according to the typology established in the report carried out by the WG-10 Working Group of the CONAMA Foundation during the National Environmental Congress 2018.
• Background research on measures based on Nature-Based Solutions or similar in the Canary Islands, from a historical perspective and in consultation with specialists in the field.
• Study and consultation with specialists on the applicability of each of the Nature-Based Solutions for biodiversity conservation in the eastern islands.
• Identification of natural areas at risk of desertification in the eastern islands, as well as the selection of potential study locations and identification of applicable SBNs.
• Development of the list of species that will benefit from the application of SBN techniques in the characterized localities.
• Development of support networks among citizens, companies, associations and the administration of the eastern islands in order to propose future lines of work and future collaborations.
• Dissemination and communication of the project.