The project corresponds to the second phase of the project “Responsible agriculture and the Natura 2000 Network”, which began in 2011, and with this new phase it is intended, on the one hand, to consolidate the information, awareness and advice work, which was established in the autonomous communities of Madrid, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. And also, to expand territorially the advisory network to the autonomous communities of the Principality of Asturias and Catalonia. In this second phase, it covers a greater part of the Spanish territory.

The project corresponds to the second phase of the project “Responsible agriculture and the Natura 2000 Network”, which began in 2011, and with this new phase it is intended, on the one hand, to consolidate the information, awareness and advice work, which was established in the autonomous communities of Madrid, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. And also, to expand territorially the advisory network to the autonomous communities of the Principality of Asturias and Catalonia. In this second phase, it covers a greater part of the Spanish territory.

The aim is to implement an information and advice network in the territory to answer the most important questions about the European network of protected areas, aimed directly at Spanish farmers, ranchers and foresters, who are the group most affected by this designation.

The objective of this project is to provide agricultural professionals with technical-economic and environmental information, duly contrasted and of an impartial nature (inclusion of plots within the space, status of approval of SPAs, period of allegations if applicable, agronomic limitations, justification and environmental awareness, characteristic fauna of the area, improvement of cultural processes, etc.) with the maximum guarantees.

Likewise, relations between farmers and ranchers, on the one hand, and those responsible for the declaration, conservation and management of the spaces included in the RN2000, on the other, will be favored; seeking negotiation and understanding, avoiding tensions.

The project will defend the correct development and management of the RN2000 so that, in addition to conserving biodiversity, it represents an opportunity for the improvement of agricultural holdings in these areas and will achieve behavioural changes that translate into concrete environmental results as well as social results linked to employment.

The recipients are all agricultural professionals in the geographical area of study who have their economic activity within an RN2000 area. Likewise, the service is extended to any professional who is interested in finding out about the European network of these protected areas (current situation, environmental values, agricultural activity, etc.).

The expected results are the training of 40 recipients, although the project will reach 1,000 workers; the creation of 4 new agricultural companies in sectors related to the environment; and the conversion to organic agricultural production of 8 conventional farms.