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ECL. Dairy ecosystems: promotion of biodiversity in dairy farms in northern Spain.

FEDER

The project contributes to reversing the decline of agricultural birds through a dairy farm management model that guarantees at least 10% of area of high value for biodiversity, selecting farms with agreements with Nestlé. To do this, it carries out habitat mapping, a study to reach that 10% and an assessment of biodiversity using birds as indicators. In addition, it promotes a Monitoring Plan for a network of 30 demonstration farms and an agri-environmental management model with indicators and evaluation of ecosystem services. With all this, the aim is to achieve results related to the improvement of habitats and biodiversity on farms: planting of 1 ha/farm with native species, planting of 500 trees and shrubs, 12,000m2 of restored area through the placement of biodiverse hedges, creation of ponds and watering holes, installation of 5 shelters/nests per farm and planting of flower strips for pollinators, along with the edition of the manual of good practices.

Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Principality of Asturias, Galicia (A Coruña and Pontevedra) and Cantabria.

Geographic scope:

España

Execution date:

2026

End date:

2028

Duration:

18/02/2026 - 30/09/2028

Total budget:

€1,041,394.64

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€624,836.78

The project contributes to the implementation of the European Green Deal, mainly its 2030 Biodiversity Strategies and Farm to Fork, and the Nature Restoration Regulation through its actions, focused on reversing the decline of pollinators and biodiversity, in general, on agricultural land. reforestation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. All this through the implementation of specific measures in dairy farms in northern Spain, which serve as a model for the entire sector. At the same time, a system of support for biodiversity is created from the agri-food industry (with a scientific-technical basis) working, in this case, with the network of Nestlé dairy farms in the north of Spain.

  • To contribute to reversing the decline of agricultural birds associated with the agricultural mosaic of the Cantabrian countryside.
  • To design a management model on dairy farms that allows reaching at least 10% of the area of high value for biodiversity in 100 dairy farms in northern Spain.
  • To extend good practices and increase the level of awareness and involvement of dairy farmers in the care and conservation of biodiversity.
  • Involve the agri-food industry in the enhancement of the bioeconomy through regenerative agriculture and the promotion of biodiversity, through the network of Nestlé dairy farms in northern Spain.
  • Contribute to the implementation and dissemination of EU environmental policies within the primary sector (PVE, CAP, Nature Restoration Regulation) in a context of rejection of them.
  • Selection of farms and signing of land stewardship agreements.
  • Evaluation and monitoring of multifunctionality and ecosystem services in dairy farms.
  • Design of a sustainable agri-environmental management model with scientific-technical methodology and preparation of action plans.
  • Improvement of pastures.
  • Agroecological restoration through the creation of biodiverse hedges.
  • Improvement of habitats and creation of multifunctional water points.
  • Actions to promote pollinators and pest reduction.
  • Increase shelters for birds and bats on dairy farms.
  • Communication plan and dissemination of good practices.
  • 30 farms applying measures to promote biodiversity and 30 land stewardship agreements signed; another 100 farms will join thanks to the preparation of the manual of good practices and the dissemination actions of the project and the involvement of Nestlé.
  • Increased knowledge of the biodiversity associated with these farms by mapping their habitats on 200 of Nestlé’s dairy radius farms.
  • Implementation of direct measures to improve biodiversity: creation of 30 water points, 30 hedges with 15,000 native trees and shrubs and 7,500m2 of wildflower strips, 240 nest boxes and refuge for birds and bats.
  • Contribute directly to the conservation of at least 25 species of birds in decline.
  • Creation of 3 full-time and 3 part-time jobs. As well as the hiring of at least 3 local companies for the execution of the measures in the 30 farms in which direct action will be taken.
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ECL. Dairy ecosystems: promotion of biodiversity in dairy farms in northern Spain.