On 1 February, the Biodiversity Foundation launched the “Capital of Biodiversity” competition, whose main objective is the protection of nature in Spanish municipalities, through the promotion of conservation initiatives. Until April 30, municipalities throughout Spain can register for the contest in four categories, according to the amount of population in each case.
Next week a series of workshops will also begin to support representatives of city councils on issues related to the conservation of biodiversity. The first of these will take place in Gernika-Lumo (Vizcaya), 9 March 2010, and is entitled “Tools for the integration of biodiversity in municipal policies”. The aim of these workshops is to provide municipalities with the necessary tools to launch or intensify their efforts for the protection of biodiversity.
Designed specifically for local authorities, mayors, managers, department directors, technicians and experts with direct responsibility for decision-making, the workshop will address the integration of biodiversity protection into municipal planning regulations and instruments; the design of measures for the conservation and protection of biodiversity; communication techniques for carrying out awareness-raising campaigns and financing instruments for local biodiversity protection initiatives.
During the Gernika day and the following ones (in Seville, on March 16, and during the month of April, in Madrid and Gandía) information will be provided on the “Capital of Biodiversity” contest of the Biodiversity Foundation and personalized attention will be given to the municipalities that are interested in participating in the contest.
The competition is part of the LIFE+ project “European Capitals of Biodiversity”, has a budget of 1.6 million euros and is co-financed by the European Commission at 50 percent. In addition to the launch of the competition, the project plans to organize four training workshops for municipalities on topics related to the conservation and promotion of biodiversity during the first quarter of 2010.
