The Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, participates in the meeting “Sailing to Barcelona” that opens the IUCN World Conservation Congress, which is being held in Barcelona from 5 to 14 October. The event takes place this afternoon at the Barcelona Marina.

The Director of International Studies of the Biodiversity Foundation, Sonia Castañeda, and the Director of Studies and Projects of the Biodiversity Foundation, Germán Alonso, attend this event, with which the IUCN aims to raise awareness through the world of navigation about the conservation of the seas, coasts and oceans. It is also a meeting aimed at all the boats participating in the congress, which contribute to the conservation of the marine and coastal environment. Among the objectives of “Sailing to Barcelona” are: to raise awareness about the conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity, to be a showcase for contributions to marine and coastal conservation, the creation of a movement for future actions in the conservation of the marine environment.

During the days of the Congress, some thirty boats, representing various marine conservation organizations from all over the world will be moored in the Port Vell of Barcelona. A series of activities will be programmed around these boats.

The Biodiversity Foundation together with the Marine Stewardship Working Group of the Land Stewardship Network are participating in this initiative with the sailboat Far Barceloneta, owned by the El Far Consortium. It will include project presentations by marine stewardship entities, such as the Mar Foundation, environmental education activities, technical meetings and informal meetings with marine conservation experts.

An exhibition on marine custody will be permanently installed in its vicinity. The sailboat can be visited from October 4 to 9 morning and afternoon and will make at least one sailing trip a day around the coast of Barcelona.

Marine stewardship is a new conservation strategy that uses voluntary agreements between the different agents related to the sea to conserve its natural, cultural and landscape values. This work philosophy seeks innovative formulas so that civil society, through conservation entities, users and local entities can participate in marine conservation.