The director of the Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Ana Leiva; the technician of the Network of Local Governments + Biodiversity 2010, Adrián Dorta, and the mayor of the city, Carmen Purificación Peñalver, have presented today in Jaén a joint work project to increase biodiversity in degraded areas of this Andalusian province.

The “Project for the restoration of degraded areas to recover their natural and landscape values, and especially as a habitat for the land snail (Iberus gualtieranus)” is an initiative of the Jaén City Council to which 188,754 euros are allocated. The aim is to recover the habitat of interest for this species that is endemic to Andalusia. On this path, the first step is to restore degraded land, devoid of vegetation cover and subject to strong erosive processes. Bioengineering techniques and materials will be used for this purpose.

The actions to be carried out include, specifically, the restoration of the habitat, in about 10,000 m2, with native scrub and contribution of limestone rocks to provide shelter for Iberus gualterianus; the qualification and training of local personnel in bioengineering techniques and landscape restoration; public awareness and the development of indicators for monitoring the project.

This project was one of the best valued in the “I Competition of projects for the increase of biodiversity”, promoted by the Biodiversity Foundation and the FEMP, with the aim of financing actions that harmonize conservation and sustainability policies to increase biodiversity. In particular, the aim is to promote the conservation of biodiversity in rural areas.

The Competition was addressed to City Councils, Provincial Councils, Island Councils and Island Councils belonging to the FEMP and, in turn, members of the Network of Local Governments + Biodiversity 2010. This Network, which is a Section of the FEMP, has the mission of promoting local policies for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, the conservation of natural heritage and the promotion of rural development with sustainability criteria.

The “I Competition for projects for the increase of Biodiversity” is part of the agreements signed between the Biodiversity Foundation, the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. Thus, the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, and the FEMP signed an agreement for the implementation of a Common Strategy for the Preservation of Biodiversity, with the aim of promoting precise actions for the balanced integration of social, economic and environmental factors aimed at achieving a sustainable use of resources and the preservation of biodiversity in the field of Local Administrations.

For their part, the Biodiversity Foundation and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, FEMP, signed a collaboration agreement for the creation of the Network of Local Governments + Biodiversity 2010 and the implementation of the competition for incentives to increase biodiversity among the members of the Network.