Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Vizcaya, Basque Country.

Geographic scope:

España

Line of research:

Development of green infrastructure, connectivity and ecological restoration

Execution date:

2025

Duration:

15/09/2025 - 31/08/2028

Total budget:

400.000 €

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

160.000 € (40%)

Coordinating entity:

University of the Basque Country

MERIA represents a key initiative for the restoration and conservation of forest ecosystems in Bizkaia, aligned with the European Regulation on Nature Restoration (EU 2024/1991), the National Green Infrastructure Strategy and the Strategic Plan for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity to 2030. The project will develop an innovative methodological framework that integrates structural and functional parameters, together with remote sensing technologies and sensors, to assess the health of Iberian-Atlantic acidophilic oak forests in the Natura 2000 Network. Its results will make it possible to prioritize restoration areas, improve resilience to climate change and guarantee the provision of ecosystem services.

Develop a methodological framework to determine the states of degradation of the EUNIS G1.86 habitat and propose measures for ecological restoration to achieve its good condition. The development of MERIA will facilitate both at the level of the Basque Country and the State, inside and outside the RN2000, the recovery of the structure and functionality of the EUNIS G1.86 habitat, which refers to the acidophilic forests dominated by Quercus robur oaks and is considered a Habitat of Regional Interest, which develop in poor and acidic soils under Atlantic climates.

The project carries out the selection of parameters to define the level of degradation and the determination of maximum and minimum reference values to construct a degradation index. It also selects spots from the EUNIS G1.86 habitat and assesses their condition in order to identify priority areas for restoration. It also compiles restoration measures applied in forest habitats and prepares a catalogue of model measures, the feasibility of which is assessed before implementing a pilot study aimed at verifying the real effectiveness of the proposed actions.