PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change emphasise the importance of addressing climate change through the effective management of Natura 2000 sites. It is necessary to integrate adaptation to climate change in biodiversity policies, including those that relate to Natura 2000 site management.
Some 27% of Spanish territory is part of the Natura 2000 network and thus legally protected for nature conservation purposes. One of the goals of the 2014-2020 work programme of Spain’s National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change is the “development of guidelines for integrating adaptation into instruments of management of natural resources and planning and management of protected areas".
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE_Redcapacita2015 project aimed to improve the management of forests in the Spanish Mediterranean regions included in the Natura 2000 network, incorporating biodiversity conservation objectives and adaptation to climate change. It planned to achieve this aim by training Natura 2000 managers and developing management tools for Natura 2000 forest areas that harness scientific knowledge and expertise. Specifically, the project aimed to:
- Provide benchmarks for evaluating the conservation status of Mediterranean forest habitats – the project planned to identify a network of forests that could serve as a reference of good conservation status for different types of forest habitat, based on a system of indicators agreed between researchers and managers (This network should be available to final users on an online collaborative platform);
- Incorporate criteria for biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change in forest planning and management – the project aimed to identify and disseminate good practice regarding the inclusion of conservation and adaptation criteria in forest planning and management, and to develop demonstrative forest conservation pilot plans and management actions; and
- Ensure the transfer of knowledge to the target audience and stakeholders through improved capacity building (training, exchange of expertise, enhanced access to information) – the project would provide managers of state forests with tools for new management approaches and engage key stakeholders in the management of Mediterranean forests (private owners, policymakers, and others), taking into account biodiversity and climate adaptation objectives.
RESULTS
The LIFE_Redcapacita2015 project provided forest agents and managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to manage Mediterranean forests habitats listed in the Habitats Directive with a focus on conservation and forest maturity. Such tools included reference models for assessing the conservation status of Mediterranean forests habitats. The project also established a framework of cooperation and monitoring to facilitate the transfer the knowledge and to help define the conservation status of mature forests in Spain. An online catalogue was created of well-preserved mature forests habitats of reference and stands that will be further enhanced in the future.
To promote the incorporation of preservation of biodiversity and adaptation to climate change in forestry planning and silvicultural management, the following results were achieved:
- Best practices in forestry planning and management following conservation and adaptation criteria were identified (27 in total) and published online;
- Protocols for the design and implementation of silvicultural actions in Natura 2000 sites aimed at conservation and adaptation were disseminated, including a protocol for implementing the forests of reference network (indicators and joining procedure);
- Natura 2000 sites management plans compliant with the results of the project were completed for 877.37 ha of forests, with actions carried out on more than 12.8 ha; and
- 13 public administrations have set up processes for the identification and characterisation of old-growth stands following the Red Bosques project methodology, including the planning projects for more than 26 000 ha of woodlands in four Spanish autonomous regions.
To ensure the transfer of knowledge to the target audience and stakeholders, the following results were achieved:
- 57 forestry and Natura 2000 site and protected areas managers (target audience) improved their level of training;
- Three courses attended by 75 Natura 2000 network professionals in total;
- Distribution of "Mediterranean Old- Growth Forests: Characteristics and Management Criteria in Protected Areas” to 1,726 stakeholders.
- Three videos produced and made accessible online.
The Red Bosques network is continuing to operate in EUROPARC-España woodlands. Its directory contained more than 1 700 contacts at the end of the project. The reference group was composed of 123 contacts, all from the target audience. Efforts to establish a network of reference forests had identified 43 forests at project end, while 169 candidate forests to form part of the network of reference had been identified. The RedIris Forum continues to be a valuable information source of the project. Finally, the project contributed to the development of a new European strategy for adaptation to climate change and a new European Forest Strategy.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
