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, participates this afternoon in the closing of the congress “Rural Environment and climate change”, organized by the Galician Forestry Sector Association (ASEFOGA) and held at the Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions of A Coruña.

During this meeting, different issues are addressed, such as the effects of climate change on biodiversity and marine and terrestrial ecosystems; sustainable development and climate change in Spain; new scenarios for local sustainability; emergencies, transport and procedures to mitigate climate change; its repercussions and alternatives for Galician fishing resources; tourism and rural environment: climate change and mitigation policies; or research in environmental health: impact of climate change on animal health, among others.

The congress “Rural Environment and climate change” is part of the project “Responsible promotion of business activities in disadvantaged areas and the Galician Natura Network and its interaction with Climate Change”, carried out by the Galician Forestry Sector Association, ASEFOGA, and which is part of the Empleaverde Program. This programme, managed by the Biodiversity Foundation, aims to support projects that favour the creation of employment and the environment.

This initiative is aimed at workers in rural Galicia, especially in disadvantaged areas, belonging mostly to the primary sector (agriculture, forestry and fishing), although it also includes workers in the tourism, industry, agri-food, commerce, construction and services sectors.

Thus, the objective of the project is to promote and enhance traditional agricultural farms, the implementation of renewable energies and new technologies in rural activities, as well as the development of business activities that take advantage of the competitive potential in disadvantaged areas and in those included in the Galician Natura 2000 Network. In addition, the project includes advisory actions for workers who carry out their activity in the Galician rural environment.