New edition of the program “Beaches, rivers, volunteering and land stewardship” aimed at the conservation of the coastline and watersheds.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment (MAPAMA), through the Biodiversity Foundation and in collaboration with Decathlon Spain, has held a new edition of the volunteering programme “Beaches, rivers, volunteering and land stewardship”, aimed at improving and conserving the coastline and watersheds.

In this year’s edition, around 90 volunteer actions, in which about 4,500 people to participate as volunteers. These actions have been developed by some 40 entities spread throughout the national territory.

Volunteering activities have been carried out in beach areas, river basins and other areas located in protected areas defined and regulated on a basic basis in state legislation (Network of National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Natura 2000 Network, other protected areas, etc.).

Among the activities carried out by the entities are the cleaning of beaches, rivers, hiking trails and seabeds, control and elimination of invasive species, conservation and restoration of vegetation, improvement of the habitat of native fauna, restoration of ecosystems, construction and placement of nest boxes, bird ringing and training activities. communication and environmental awareness.

The initiative was born in 2012 to promote the involvement of citizens in the conservation of the coastline and the areas that make up the inter-community watersheds, as well as to develop a network of volunteers for the maintenance and improvement of these spaces through different volunteer programs.

Since this volunteer program was launched in collaboration with Decathlon Spain, Nearly 10,000 people and 69 entities have participated in these conferences, which promote land stewardship as a conservation tool to make good use of natural, cultural and landscape values and resources. To achieve this, it promotes agreements and mechanisms for continuous collaboration between owners, custodial entities and other public and private agents.