- This demonstrative experience, in which 147 volunteers have participated, has made it possible to collect updated data on nine marine species of special interest
- The information obtained will be validated by the scientific community and will be transferred to the MITECO Nature Data Bank, EMODNet Biology and the Global Biodiversity Information System to expand knowledge in an open way
A total of 3,400 pieces of data collected by the participants of the “Volunteering for biodiversity in Andalusia” initiative, promoted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), will be validated by the scientific community and will be transferred to the Nature Data Bank managed by MITECO and to various information platforms with the aim of expanding knowledge about marine biodiversity to contribute to the effective management of marine biodiversity. marine protected areas.
This demonstrative experience, which has been developed within the framework of the LIFE INTEMARES project coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation (MITECO), has had the collaboration of the Junta de Andalucía, a partner in the project, and the non-profit organization HyT, which has executed the actions.
The results were presented at a conference held at the Seville headquarters of the Biodiversity Foundation, in which the information and efforts made in collaboration with the different people and entities participating in this pilot action that has been developed for more than a year have been shown.
The initiative has mobilized 147 participants in the volunteer days, in which sampling and data collection have been carried out at 30 points located in marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network of Huelva, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada and Almería.
At these points, nine species that appear on the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and some of them in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species have been monitored.
Specifically, they have monitored the marine phanerogams Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera nolti and the limpets Cymbula nigra or Patella ferruginea, the latter in danger of extinction.
Some corals have also been monitored, such as the orange coral, Astroides calycularis, vulnerable to extinction, as well as various gorgonians and other species linked to the marine habitat of community interest known as “Reefs”, where a census of the biodiversity of different invertebrates has been carried out. In addition, monitoring of the invasive alga Rugulopteryx okamurae and its impact on marine biodiversity is included. The sampling methodologies, which have been agreed with the technical staff of the Sustainable Management of the Marine Environment Program of Andalusia, have been adapted to citizen participation. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AND SCIENTIFIC VALIDITY The data obtained will be reported to the CSIC’s Sea Observers platform, where they will be validated by the scientific community and will be transferred to the Nature Data Bank (MITECO), as well as to EMODNet Biology and the Global Biodiversity Information System (GBIF) to expand knowledge in an open way.
The information collected will also be shared with the Junta de Andalucía for validation and incorporation into the Andalusian Environmental Information Network.
The project thus seeks to contribute to the collection of updated data that will allow the marine Natura 2000 Network to be managed effectively and appropriately, based on the most up-to-date information coming, in this case, from citizen collaboration.
In this way, it is also intended to involve society in the monitoring and monitoring of marine species and habitats and to involve different agents and the general public in improving the management of marine protected areas. LIFE INTEMARES The LIFE INTEMARES project advances towards the objective of achieving an effective management of the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network, with the participation of the sectors involved and with research as basic tools. The Biodiversity Foundation of MITECO coordinates the project. The ministry itself, through the General Directorate of Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification, the Regional Government of Andalusia, through the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, as well as the Environment and Water Agency of Andalusia; the Spanish Institute of Oceanography of the Spanish National Research Council; AZTI; the University of Alicante; the Polytechnic University of Valencia; the Spanish Fisheries Confederation; SEO/BirdLife and WWF Spain. It is supported by the LIFE Program of the European Union.
