Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Castilla y León

Geographic scope:

España

Line of research:

Development of green infrastructure, connectivity and ecological restoration

Execution date:

2025

Duration:

01/10/2025 - 30/09/2028

Total budget:

253.000 €

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

151.800 € (60%)

Coordinating entity:

Catholic University of Ávila

Climate change and the fragmentation of the territory represent critical threats to the forest biodiversity of the Mediterranean region and, in particular, of Castilla y León. This project is of strategic importance in assessing the ecological connectivity of the forest habitats of the Natura 2000 Network in the face of different future climate scenarios, identifying vulnerable areas and priority corridors for their conservation and restoration. It aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the European Green Infrastructure Strategy, the Nature Restoration Regulation (EU 2024/1991), the Habitats Directive and the European Green Deal, providing innovative scientific tools to strengthen ecological resilience and guarantee ecosystem services.

Assess the current and future degree of ecological connectivity of Natura 2000 forest habitats, based on regionalised climate projections.

This project contemplates the modelling of climate change based on changes in temperature and precipitation, as well as the estimation of the potential distribution of the forest habitats of the Natura 2000 Network under different climate scenarios. It includes the analysis of ecological connectivity and the location of critical areas with greater fragmentation and lower habitat availability. The characterization of ecosystems and floristic diversity will also be addressed, along with morphological, dasometric and health studies of forest masses. Finally, statistical analyses will be applied to support the design of new forest corridors and propose silvicultural measures that reinforce biodiversity and adaptation to climate change.