History - Fundación Biodiversidad

We are part of the history of biodiversity in Spain.

Despite the time that has passed, its mission, the conservation, study and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural heritage, is more relevant than ever, given the message of urgency conveyed by the most recent scientific reports on the environmental emergency.

Its knowledge of environmental issues and the specifics of project management in this area, as well as its network of contacts and partners, have been very valuable in the current stage of significant budget growth and the promotion of projects to transform society and the economy.

1998-2018

The foundation was created on December 22, 1998, under the name "Fundación Centro de Estudio y Conservación de la Biodiversidad" (Center for the Study and Conservation of Biodiversity Foundation).

From that time, Anthos remains, the result of the first inventory efforts on flora. An information platform on the plants of Spain where more than one and a half million records can be found.

In 2001 the first call for proposals was published and we began to manage the European Social Fund.

The First Green Circular Day was born in 2015 and that same year the Foundation received international awards from the European Commission and the European Institute of Public Administrations.

In 2016 we achieved 100,000 followers on social networks and reached 8,000 members of the Emprendeverde Network.

In 2017 we initiated the management of the largest marine conservation project in Europe, LIFE-IP INTEMARES, and the Pleamar Program was born to work on the protection of marine biodiversity and the practice of more sustainable fishing and aquaculture activities.

In 2018, coinciding with our 20th anniversary, we stopped occupying an institutional office building to settle at street level. The new headquarters, a garage rehabilitated with sustainability criteria, reflects a close, transparent, innovative and sustainable public entity. The space enhances teamwork, the fluidity of communication and is a real meeting point to build synergies with other agents in the environmental sector and with the general public. That year the Foundation received the Gold Medal of the Spanish Red Cross for its trajectory.

Main milestones

Pioneers in the designation of Marine Protected Areas. We have improved the conservation status of emblematic species such as the Iberian lynx, brown bear, imperial eagle, loggerhead turtle or posidonia. We have promoted the green economy, managing European structural funds.

Years 1998 - 2003
Years 2004 - 2008
Years 2009 - 2013
Years 2014 - 2018

Cerrar

From 1998 - 2003

Entity creation

It all begins on December 22, 1998. We didn't reach ten people or call ourselves as you know us now. There were few of us with a very long name: "Fundación Centro de Estudio y Conservación de la Biodiversidad"

From 2004 - 2008

Institutional image

In 2004 we launched an institutional image, the organization became more professional by expanding the human team with specialists in different areas and we began international cooperation.

We sign agreements

With the main Spanish and international conservation organizations and also with the media.

We created a Land Stewardship Platform

The Land Stewardship Platform seeks to become a meeting place for all the land stewardship networks and entities that carry out their activity in Spain, providing them with support and encouraging them to continue working in this line.

We launch the Empleaverde Program

The Empleaverde Programme of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge is the initiative of the Biodiversity Foundation for the promotion and improvement of employment, entrepreneurship and the environment.

From 2009 - 2013

First LIFE Project

We won our first major LIFE+ INDEMARES project, which has contributed to the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in Spanish seas through the study, characterisation and inclusion of sites in the Natura 2000 Network.

Emprendeverde Network

In 2011, the #Emprendeverde Network of the #Empleaverde Program was born. It is the largest green entrepreneurship network in Spain.

Biodiversia Platform

Virtual space to inform citizens of the Spanish Inventory of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity.

ECOSAFIMED

Project whose objective is to contribute to the Action Plan for the Integrated Maritime Policy in the Mediterranean (Directive 2008/56/EC) by promoting sustainable fishing practices on benthic communities and exchanging information on good practices among stakeholders to achieve habitat conservation.

IEEB

Spain, as a signatory member of the CBD, promoted the Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative in 2013 through the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. Its objective is to integrate natural capital into business policy and management, to highlight the contribution of large companies to the conservation of natural heritage and to channel private financing to conserve biodiversity.

Advisory Council

In 2013 we launched a project for the promotion of sustainable fishing ECOSAFIMED and launched the IEEB (Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative). Also in that year we launched an Advisory Council.

From 2014 - 2018

First Green Circular Day

The First Green Circular Day was born in 2015 and that same year we began to receive international awards from the European Commission and the European Institute of Public Administrations.

Emprendeverde Network

The Emprendeverde Network (ReV) offers a set of free services to help create and consolidate Spanish green companies. In 2016, this network reached 8,000 members. Currently, it exceeds 11,000.

LIFE-IP INTEMARES

In 2017 we began the management of the largest marine conservation project in Europe, LIFE-IP INTEMARES, and the Pleamar Programme was born to work on the protection of marine biodiversity and the practice of more sustainable fishing and aquaculture activities.

New headquarters

In 2018, coinciding with our 20th anniversary, we opened a new headquarters and stopped occupying an institutional office building to settle at street level.

Gold Medal of the Spanish Red Cross

In 2018, the Biodiversity Foundation received the Gold Medal of the Spanish Red Cross for its career.