2020 was the target date for achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, including those related to the effective and equitable declaration and management of protected areas. These spaces, in addition to being strategic places to protect biodiversity and other heritage values, contribute to the general well-being of people and provide crucial opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation and for the promotion of environmental education for sustainability. The evolution of all protected areas in Spain has been analyzed in the EUROPARC-Spain Yearbook series since 2002.
In this regard, this project has updated the basic information useful for the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversityand relevant cases have been provided which show the contribution of protected areas to combating climate change and promoting human health. In addition, specific recommendations have been collected to support their role as tools for environmental education for sustainability.
The overall objective of the project has been to show the contribution of protected areas in Spain to climate change adaptation, human health and environmental education for sustainability.
The specific objectives were as follows:
The ADAPTASALUDEA project has made it possible to study the state of protected areas in Spain by analyzing a set of indicators related to the number, typology, planning and management of these areas in the period 2019-2021. The results show that, in 2020, Spain reached 36.2% of the protected land area and 12.3% of the protected marine area. It was also verified that it is the European country that contributes the most to the Natura 2000 Network, with more than 22 million hectares, which represents 27.4% of the country’s surface area.
This analysis has also shown significant progress in planning, as 93% of national parks and 88% of natural parks already have their own planning system, with 93% of the national parks and 88% of the natural parks having their own planning system. Guiding Use and Management Plan (PRUG)while 83 % of the Natura 2000 Network sites have management tools approved. Finally, the analysis carried out allows us to affirm that Spain complies with many of the international commitments by having more than 27% of the land area included in the Natura 2000 Network, more than 36% when biosphere reserves are taken into accountand more than 12% of marine protected waters.
In addition, in order to disseminate the benefits of protected areas and to generate behavioral changes in society, concrete cases have been identified to illustrate the contribution of protected areas to the fight against climate change and their role in health. Thus, a total of 9 demonstrative experiences in the fight against climate change in different protected areas and 4 other cases of good practices in these areas have been compiled. In addition, a list of 20 recommendations has been established that highlight the contribution of protected areas to environmental education for sustainability.
All of this has been included in the 2020 Yearbook on the state of protected areas in Spain and, in a more summarized and informative way, in a summary booklet and a map. The following web platform has also been created
WIKIREDEUROPARC
has been created to create a repository of the aforementioned demonstrative experiences and cases of best practices, in addition to scientific material in an informative format that illustrates the role of protected areas in climate change, health and environmental education. This platform was created with a vocation of continuity and remains open so that new good practices can be incorporated.
Finally, the project has been disseminated to the public. with the objective of transmitting the benefits of protected areas to society, both to key agents in conservation and protected areas (conservationist network and competent authorities), and to the general public through various channels, such as the issuance of press releases and participation in different radio and television programs.
Contribution of Protected Areas to Climate Change Adaptation, Human Health and Environmental Education for Sustainability (ADAPTASALUDEA)