The project aims to integrate adaptation to climate change into the public service provided by the nurseries of Valverde de Leganés, Don Benito (in Badajoz) and Huelva.

The project “ADAPTA-BIOFILIA: local measures for adaptation to climate change in green areas of the province of Badajoz” is a completed initiative of the Provincial Council of Badajoz that has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition through its call for grants. The project has aimed to integrate adaptation to climate change into the public service provided by the nurseries of Valverde de Leganés, Don Benito (both towns in Badajoz) and Huelva.

To this end, the current supply of plant species in nurseries has been reviewed from the point of view of adaptation to climate change. Which species can best adapt to climate change have been identified and a plan for the introduction of new, better-adapted species into nurseries has been envisaged.

This has culminated in the description of parameters related to the adaptation to climate change of all the plant species available in the nursery, which have been developed in a new updated catalogue of plants of the Provincial Council of Badajoz accessible to anyone interested on the internet, and has also been disseminated through an informative brochure. In this way, the aim is to raise awareness among local governments and provide them with more and better information about plants and green areas so that they have sufficient criteria when choosing the species to plant in their villages.

On the other hand, an ‘adapted green space’ has been designed, which serves as a paradigm of adaptation to climate change and can be replicated in the rest of the municipalities of both provinces (Badajoz and Huelva, with similar climatic and soil characteristics).

A training course on climate change adaptation and mitigation through green areas has also been launched for professionals in the sector. This initiative seeks to train nursery staff, as well as municipal technicians, gardeners and sector professionals so that they can introduce criteria for adaptation and mitigation to climate change through vegetation.

Finally, a day of awareness and presentation of the results of the ADAPTA BIOFILIA project was held, aimed at local authorities and the general public, on the importance of considering adaptation in the choice of plant species.

The project has contemplated throughout the course of the actions, communication and marketing actions via the web, publications in the press and radio and activity on social networks, in order to publicize aspects of climate change adaptation and mitigation, clarify concepts, show climate scenarios, review vulnerabilities and provide municipal solutions and good environmental practices for adaptation in relation to green areas.