Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Execution date:

2022

End date:

2026

The Training Plan for the marine Natura 2000 Network contributes to achieving a more effective management of marine protected areas through the design and implementation of a training plan that responds to the programmes and objectives set out in the Training Strategy of the LIFE INTEMARES project.

Specific objectives:

• To ensure the long-term development of the Priority Action Framework (MAP) for the financing of the Natura 2000 Network in Spain, through the training of technical staff of the Administration, among other recipients.
• To encourage the recipients to have adequate knowledge on the conservation and/or management of the marine habitats and species of the Natura 2000 Network.
• Improve training and capacity building for the monitoring and surveillance of marine protected areas, especially the Natura 2000 Network.
• To raise awareness of the marine Natura 2000 Network as an instrument of conservation among a diversity of audiences so that they understand the importance of supporting the conservation of the sea and its resources and that more and more people get involved in conservation.
• Ensure the availability of quality training resources, aimed at the sustainable management of the Natura 2000 Network in marine areas and facilitating permanent training during the life of the project and once it has ended.

The training plan of the marine Natura 2000 Network carries out training actions aimed on the one hand at managers of the marine Natura 2000 Network and on the other hand, at different users, such as teachers or companies dedicated to activities related to the sea; for example, whale watching.

1. Training plan aimed at managers of the marine Natura 2000 Network

Contents:

• Regulations and legislation applicable to the marine Natura 2000 Network
• Raising awareness and highlighting the socio-economic benefits of the Natura 2000 Network.
• Conservation: knowledge of species and habitats, impacts, collisions with cetaceans, underwater noise, habitats of community interest and maritime traffic.
• Surveillance and follow-up. Fight against marine pollution.
• Application of techniques and tools that promote collaborative work and governance to generate a climate of alliances and cooperation through the creation of synergies between groups. Training in the operation of marine stewardship networks and successful cases.

Recipients:

1. Staff of Public Administrations competent in the application of the MAP and the management of the marine Natura 2000 Network.
2. Personnel with competences in the monitoring and surveillance of the EMPS (AMAS, SEMAR, SEPRONA, SASEMAR, among others).
3. Legislators, judges and prosecutors.
4. Other users or operators related to the management of marine resources such as conservation-oriented NGOs, tour operators or environmental consultancies.

2. Training plan aimed at other users of the marine Natura 2000 Network

Contents:

• Raising awareness and highlighting of the benefits of the Natura 2000 Network, its ecosystem services and the relationship with the well-being and health of all.
• Principles and elements necessary for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in schools, related to the marine Natura 2000 Network, through the programming of actions and awareness campaigns.
• Design of self-guided and guided interpretive itineraries adapted to the marine Natura 2000 Network and applicable regulations.

Recipients:

• Teachers of university and non-university education.
• Educational and environmental dissemination and volunteering centres.
• Staff of Public Administrations competent in educational matters.
• Companies or workers engaged in marine activities (shellfish and fishing sector, diving schools, among others).

To date, a total of 52 trainings have been carried out in which approximately 1600 people have participated. Of these trainings, 19 have been aimed at managers of the marine Natura 2000 Network. Of note are the two courses held on the identification and recognition of vulnerable marine species aimed at the AMAS and the technical staff of the Sub-Directorate General of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity of MITECO of all marine demarcations, as well as the staff of the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard. Also noteworthy are various trainings that are being implemented in terms of regulations and legislation in the marine Natura 2000 Network aimed at the State Security forces (the Navy, the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard and SEPRONA), as well as other tour operators, such as recreational entities for whale watching for their involvement in achieving more sustainable tourism with conservation, or the specific training that has been offered to the Attorney General’s Office and to the prosecutors of the different Units with competence in the Environment.

In the training plan aimed at other users of the marine Natura 2000 Network, a total of 33 trainings have been given with a total of 1069 people trained:

• Shellfish gatherers and fishermen from different guilds in Pontevedra on the training itineraries of the marine Natura 2000 Network.
• Technicians from the Ministries of Education of the different Autonomous Communities and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MEFP).
• Primary school teachers from different Autonomous Communities with the collaboration of the MEFP carrying out face-to-face and/or specific training in Galicia, the Valencian Community, Castilla La Mancha and Melilla.
• Teachers and students of the University of Coruña.
• Environmental educators from all over Spain with the collaboration of CENEAM.

In addition, the environmental education project has been developed as an opportunity to green schools through the integration of content on the marine Natura 2000 Network. This project is a working tool with a participatory methodological approach that provides educators with resources and materials, as well as learning situations, which promote the acquisition of skills and knowledge related to the conservation of the marine environment through research and play.

It is planned to develop other contracts in 2025 to be able to address other contents:

• Training of managers for the analysis of climate change risk in marine protected areas and the design and implementation of adaptation measures.
• Training and education in the marine Natura 2000 Network aimed at different sectors and users related to marine protected areas.
• Organization of two workshops aimed at diving school staff and other personnel responsible for the surveillance and monitoring of marine protected areas on the decalogue of good diving practices in marine protected areas.
• Training for managers and technical staff of the different reporting units on improving knowledge in the assessment of repercussions and impacts on protected species and marine Natura 2000 sites.