Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Cantabria

Geographic scope:

España

Line of research:

Development of green infrastructure, connectivity and ecological restoration

Execution date:

2025

Duration:

01/01/2026 - 31/12/2027

Total budget:

€372,834.39

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€223,700.63 (60%)

Coordinating entity:

Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria Foundation

The RIVACAN project is strategic to advance in the construction of Green and Blue Infrastructure Networks (RIVA) as a key tool in the face of the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Its meta-ecosystem approach, based on watersheds connected to coastal and marine systems, allows the conservation, restoration and provision of essential ecosystem services to be integrated. RIVACAN is aligned with the National Strategy for Green Infrastructure, Connectivity and Ecological Restoration, the European Restoration Regulation and the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, providing applied knowledge to plan more resilient and sustainable territories through nature-based solutions.

The overall objective of RIVACAN is to design the Green and Blue Infrastructure Network (RIVA) for the Cantabria region, with a focus on adaptation to climate risks and biodiversity conservation. Guided by the Methodological Guide for the Identification of Green Infrastructure in Spain, the project will identify the main current and future climate risks in the region and detect the hotspots in the landscape that will improve our capacity to adapt to these risks and strengthen biodiversity conservation strategies. In addition, it will guarantee their ecological connectivity. The project will analyse the distribution of key habitats for the provision of supply and regulation EW, species of conservation interest and unique elements, in order to prioritise conservation and restoration actions in the region. The project will have the active participation of key agents from the outset.

RIVACAN develops a set of nine integrated activities to advance in restoration and conservation in Cantabria. It includes the analysis of current and future climate risk, the updating of habitat mapping and the study of the distribution of species of interest, as well as the identification of priority areas for conservation and restoration. Ecosystem services for regulation and supply are modelled, and areas of action with good practices are prioritised. In addition, unique elements are analysed for inclusion in the RIVA, ecological connectivity with representative species is modelled and the involvement of key agents is encouraged through processes of co-design, communication, dissemination and knowledge transfer.