The Director of International Affairs of the Biodiversity Foundation, Sonia Castañeda, inaugurated today at the Biodiversity Forum in Seville the workshop “Tools for the integration of biodiversity in municipal policies”, together with Juan Martínez, technical coordinator of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Sonia Bermúdez, representative of the Network of Local Governments for Biodiversity.

The one in Seville is the second of the four workshops that take place, between March and April (the first took place last week in Gernika, Bizkaia), with the aim of facilitating the task of presenting candidacies to the “Capital of Biodiversity” contest of the Biodiversity Foundation, whose registration is open until April 30. in four categories (according to the amount of population of each municipality). The “Capital of Biodiversity” competition aims to protect the natural heritage in Spanish municipalities, through the promotion of conservation initiatives.

In this sense, the workshops will provide local managers with the necessary tools to launch or intensify their efforts for the protection of biodiversity. More than 30 people from 16 municipalities in Andalusia, Asturias and Extremadura are participating in the workshop in Seville.

Designed specifically for local authorities, mayors, department directors, technicians and experts with direct responsibility for decision-making, the workshop agenda addresses the integration of biodiversity protection into municipal regulations and planning 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 today’s session in Seville, and the following ones (in Madrid, on April 13, and Gandía, on April 19), detailed information will be provided on the characteristics and requirements for participation in the “Capital of Biodiversity” contest.