Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2021

Project web page:

https://www.ecosociedad.es/

The human population and the demand for ecosystem services (ES) in Spain are growing steadily, and particularly in the coastal areas of the Natura 2000 Network of the Rías Baixas, an area that is especially relevant from the point of view of the management and conservation of marine biodiversity.

According to the entity, a recent report by the WWF identifies the RN2000 spaces in Galicia as “seriously lacking“. These areas contain a great diversity of ecosystems with some of the most valuable natural habitats in Europe.

In this context, the ECOSOCIEDAD project aims to contribute to the optimization of the use of the ES associated with RN2000 areas and to the conservation of marine resources through a social participation project that allows establishing the degree of knowledge that society has, in terms of natural capital and ES, its information needs and how they could take part in decisive processes for conservation. In this way, the initiative is aligned with the objectives of the LIFE INTEMARES Project.

The main objective of the project has been to promote the conservation of marine biodiversity through the design of a strategy for social and business participation in the planning and use of ecosystem services in Natura 2000 Network areas.

The specific objectives were as follows:

• To analyze the state of the art with respect to research, programs and policies related to the social and business contribution to the valorization of ecosystem services and conservation of natural resources in RN2000 areas.
• To increase knowledge about the natural capital and ecosystem services associated with RN2000 areas and to know the socioeconomic interactions between human activities and the types of habitats and species of community interest.
• Generate a greater degree of social and business commitment to the conservation of marine ecosystems, through the design of a participation strategy (young people and business).

• Design of the participatory business programme: Natura 2000 Network Spaces, ecosystem services and business fabric “Promotion of natural capital RN2000”. The purpose of this programme has been to promote the coordination and participation of the business sector in the management and implementation of activities in the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network of the Rías Baixas, through consultation and information exchange mechanisms.
• Implementation of the participatory program and business advice.
• Preparation of an Action Plan for the conservation of marine and coastal resources in RN2000 areas from the business sector through the valorization of ecosystem services.
• Design of the school program “Ecosystem Services and Spaces RN2000”.
• Implementation of the school program in 5 educational centers in Pontevedra, with the total participation of up to 405 primary school children.
• Bibliographic review of existing information on ecosystem services, programs and policies related to the social and business contribution to the development and operation of ES in RN2000 areas. A total of 408 documents have been analysed, including scientific articles, press releases, research projects, etc.
• Study and analysis of information collected on ecosystem services from study spaces, interactions and the impact of certain human activities, as well as social and business actions around ecosystem services.
• Dissemination and communication of the project through the creation of a specific website and publications on social networks, the conduct of surveys or the writing of a scientific article.

The ECOSOCIEDAD project has contributed to the conservation of marine biodiversity through the participation of schools and the business sector. In addition, it has sought to improve society’s knowledge about the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Natura 2000 Network spaces of the Rías Baixas, thus generating a greater degree of commitment to the environment.

In order to increase knowledge in terms of natural capital and ecosystem services, a scientific article and a technical report have been published that reflect the state of the art regarding the social and business contribution in the use of the services provided by marine ecosystems in the area of influence of the Natura 2000 Network in the Rías Baixas.

Through a social participation strategy, through surveys and two participatory workshops with representatives of companies, the socio-economic interactions between human activities, habitats and species of community interest present in the study area have been analysed . As a result of these workshops, an Action Plan has been drawn up for the conservation of marine and coastal resources in Natura 2000 Network areas through the valorisation of ecosystem services.

Finally, an educational programme (“BluEscola”) has been implemented in 5 schools in the province of Pontevedra in which a total of 405 schoolchildren have participated and a didactic unit has been developed to support teachers.