PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The link between the provision of key ecosystem services (e.g. soil retention, temperature regulation, pollination) and socio-ecosystems (e.g. mountain Mediterranean scrub, coastal dune forests) in three Mediterranean Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) is well established on the basis of long-term management experience and scientific knowledge. Habitats in the NPAs, however, are being increasingly and negatively affected by climate change, and these impacts can provoke changes in their capacity to provide ecosystem services.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE ADAPTAMED project aimed to protect key ecosystem services in three representative Mediterranean NPAs of socio-economic importance by increasing their climate change adaptation capacity:
- A Mediterranean wetland: Doñana Nature & National Park (and Biosphere Reserve);
- A Mediterranean high mountain range: Sierra Nevada Nature & National Park (and Biosphere Reserve); and
- A subdesert Mediterranean coastal area: Cabo de Gata Nature Park (also a Biosphere Reserve).
The project would focus on developing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and disseminating adaptive management measures. It would use an ecosystem approach and address socio-ecosystems identified as key for the provision of, among other services, soil retention, pollination, pastures (net primary production), temperature regulation, water provision, prevention of forest fires and desertification.
It aimed to implement and test actions and tools in different representative Mediterranean ecosystems that are especially sensitive to climate change (e.g. scrublands, mountain areas and subdesert areas) in order to provide data, experience and tools to other decision-makers, land managers and stakeholders facing these threats.
The project would also produce six “Good practice manuals” covering climate adaptation management practices for shrubs, pine woods, pre-desert scrubs, mountain forests and for combating cork oak pests.
All the project actions would be assessed using the project’s specially-developed tools and methodologies: A first set of indicators would enable the assessment of progress during their implementation; a second set of indicators would assess their effectiveness.
RESULTS
The LIFE ADAPTAMED project carried out measures to protect the key ecosystem services provided by three Mediterranean Natural Protected Areas in Andalusia (Doñana, Sierra Nevada and Cabo de Gata) and to increase their ability to adapt to climate change.
The project focused on the naturalisation of pine forests, sowing and planting plant species suitable for high mountain, semi-arid and Mediterranean woodland areas. It also carried out selective thinning and pruning of mountain holm oak and Pyrenean oak forests, along with the restoring of traditional ‘careo’ channels -an ancient system for ‘water sowing’ to extend the availability of water in the mountain throughout the year- and the installation of a network of piezometer-equipped wells, nest boxes and shelters for birds and bats. The team also assessed measures to prevent livestock from entering areas that are already heavily grazed, while restoring traditional dry-stone retention walls (balates), among other actions. Experts and managers worked closely together on the design of these actions, as well as in their monitoring and assessment.
The project results were disseminated widely through a range of activities and information materials, including online deliverables, two didactic units and a volunteer manual about adaptation to climate change and six best practice technical guides. Additionally, a traveling exhibition was created along with two temporary exhibitions (Window to Science) at the Science Museum. The project also organised a symposium, attracting scientists, stakeholders and managers, and volunteer camps.
Finally, the project developed a publicly available online information system in collaboration with the Andalusian Global Change Observatory Network. The online system forms a key part of the project’s after-LIFE strategy, showing the results achieved in the framework of the project and facilitating future collaborative action on climate. While much of the expected impact of the project was not visible in the short term, the project has advanced a co-management approach to protected areas.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
