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ZOSTECO – Conservation of Zostera noltei meadows in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula: a research based on participatory mapping of ecosystem uses and services

Pleamar program

Description

The project is aimed at generating knowledge and useful tools on fishing and recreational activity and its relationship with the spatial distribution of their RN2000 habitats with the participation of the different relevant actors (administration-management, fishing and recreational sector, environmental groups, researchers) of protected areas in which they operate.
To this end, existing information will be analyzed and updated, a perception study will be carried out on the services provided by these habitats, and training workshops will be implemented in order to develop a map of services and conflicts. Based on these results, a participatory Forum and working groups will be organized with the actors involved to jointly develop a diagnostic report and participatory management for the mitigation of impacts and conflicts. Likewise, an educational innovation program will be carried out on the interaction and conflicts identified

See the project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2020

It is expected to involve the users of these habitats in conservation actions and to raise awareness of users about the services provided by the meadows and to develop management proposals based on the information derived from the previous modules and from a collaborative process with users.
This proposal will contribute to improving the management of knowledge of seagrass meadows in protected natural areas, and their potential replicability in other areas of the Spanish territory, thus contributing to applied research for the management of marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network.

Specific objectives of the project:
1.To document and integrate published scientific information and other existing knowledge on the project topics in the study areas around seagrass meadows and their interaction with other uses.
2. Involve fishermen and collect their ecological knowledge to jointly develop the corresponding maps of the distribution of seagrass meadows and extractive activity, identifying areas of synergy and conflict.
3. Disseminate and raise awareness about seagrass meadow conservation among the users of these habitats and develop a collaborative proposal for improvements and management recommendations
4. To improve the capacities of direct users in terms of protection and recovery of work areas through (i) generation and provision of the necessary tools to develop reforestation campaigns and (ii) involvement of users in conservation actions.

  • Generation of a document repository by categories and study area.
  • Evaluation of the state and evolution of seagrass meadows in the study areas.
  • Perception study, through user surveys
  • 1 workshop will be held in each case study under a deliberative and participatory evaluation work approach.
  • A Map of Conflicts (uses-services and conservation) will be developed by regions.
  • The knowledge of managers, the fishing sector and researchers on shellfish activity and its trends (past and future) will be integrated with the conservation status of the habitats under study.
  • Two Forums will be organised in which a proposal will be drawn up to improve the management measures of natural areas and the human activities that take place in them.
  • an Educational Innovation Program for research on seagrass meadows will be organized.
  • Graphic and audiovisual material will be designed on these ecosystems, conflicts of uses,

The ZOSTECO project has carried out a comprehensive review of the published literature on seagrass meadows in the regions of Ensenada de San Simón (Galicia) and Bahía de Santander (Cantabria). Based on the information collected from the literature review and interviews with users of these habitats, maps of uses and conflicts and reports with management measures have been prepared through collaborative workshops with active participants from both regions. On the other hand, an educational innovation program has been developed to introduce students to an interest in the scientific research process while highlighting the value of the Zostera meadows.

Within the framework of these actions, the following results have been achieved:

  • Preparation of reports on the analysis of the evolution of the meadows, RN2000 spaces and repository
  • Documentary of the Ensenada de San Simón and the Bay of Santander.
  • Preparation of a report on the study of perception and comparison between regions based on interviewed users, a map of uses and conflicts and a technical report of knowledge generated for the management of habitats under study.
  • Training workshops and participatory forums in Galicia and Cantabria with a final result reflected in a report on the Proposal for improvements in the current management of fisheries resources.
  • Training activities in schools, didactic sheets, research article and Report on the implementation of the educational innovation programme.
  • Interactions on social networks, reaching 115 followers on Twitter @zosteco and around 70,000 interactions.
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ZOSTECO – Conservation of Zostera noltei meadows in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula: a research based on participatory mapping of ecosystem uses and services