General objective of the project

The general objective of the project is to define the necessary conditions, strategies and policies to increase the attractiveness of rural areas for the youth population, by identifying innovative practices in creating opportunities and jobs in the rural world, mainly through access to land and agricultural activity.

Specific goals

• Identify and define the circumstances and factors that determine the demographic and economically dynamic nature of certain European rural areas, and that facilitate their regeneration.
• Turn the identified circumstances and factors into policies and strategies that can be replicated in other rural areas currently in demographic and economic decline.
• Know the needs, desires and dreams of the new generations of young people in the rural world, and define policies that allow them to be realized.
• Identify and value innovative tools and strategies that make it easier for the new rural generations, and in particular the new peasantry, to carry out their personal and professional projects, and in particular access to land.

Planned actions

• Statistical analysis of relevant trends in demographic and economic regeneration of European rural areas
• Inventory of dreams of the new rural generations
• Quantitative and qualitative study of the new rural generations, and in particular the new peasantry
• Quantitative and qualitative study of the economic and legal mechanisms for access to land

Expected results

• Given the applied nature of the research project, it is hoped to gain the knowledge needed to define the most appropriate strategies and policies, both at local and regional level, for the regeneration of currently declining rural areas. In particular, a land support manual will be designed for local authorities and a good practice guide for the new rural generations and the new peasantry.

General objective of the project

The overall objective of the project is to implement forest management recommendations aimed at owners, natural space managers and administrations involved based on a better characterization of ecosystems of high ecological value and the network that guarantees their connectivity.

Specific goals

• Defining together, among all the regions involved in the Pyrenees, the forests of high ecological value and their connectivity.
• Contribute to improving the management of forests of high ecological value and the spaces that connect them, considering a participatory approach.
• Recommend forest management measures for forests of high ecological value and the space that connects them based on the studies carried out in the project.
• Identify tools and economic methods that facilitate the forest management of forests of high ecological value and the space that connects them.
• Integrate the results into public forest management policies and the strength of the participatory management.

Planned actions

• Identify and characterize forests of high ecological value and the network that guarantees their connectivity.
• Manage reservoirs and ecological connectivity.
• Integrate the results into public planning policies and strengthen the arranged management.

Expected results

• Improve the characterisation of forests of high ecological value and the spaces that connect them.
• Implement coherent intervention strategies on these forests and the spaces that connect them.
• Improve the territory’s capacity to adopt shared strategies for the management and protection of biodiversity, taking into account the challenges linked to forests of high ecological value and the network that connects them, linking it to the frameworks and practices of owners, managers and institutions.

General objective of the project

The general objective of the project is to develop the skills of farmers and agricultural technicians (knowledge, practical tools and know-how) in the conservation of non-productive areas of agricultural properties, in order to promote the implementation of conservation actions more direct and effective.

Specific goals

• Develop a free, open, quality, and practical Toolkit (quick guide, toolkit) to develop skills and empower farmers and their advisors and trainers (agricultural and conservation technicians).
• Improve collaboration between farmers, agricultural and conservation technicians as well as other stakeholders in the preservation of non-productive areas of agricultural properties, in order to make these areas more resilient in general terms.

Planned actions

• Create a quick guide for agricultural technicians and farmers to improve conservation on agricultural properties.
• Conduct face-to-face training for farmers and agricultural technicians on the management and creation of semi-natural habitats to promote biodiversity and resilience in the properties.
• Create video documentation for farmer training.
• Create joint conservation projects between farmers and agricultural technicians and implement them through volunteering.

Expected results

• To train farmers and agricultural technicians to improve the provision of ecosystem services in the non-productive areas of agricultural properties, while promoting the implementation of the most direct and effective conservation actions.

General objective of the project

The main objective of the LIFE ENPLC is to promote community and private conservation in the European Union by creating new tax incentives and new sources of funding, encouraging citizen participation in nature conservation through volunteering and citizen science, as well as providing technical and legal information for the improvement of conservation projects. This project gives continuity to the L.I.F.E. and ELCN.

Specific goals

• Bringing together the European Landowners’ Organization and the European Land Conservation Network under a single structure, creating the Conservation Landowners Coalition.
• Define the values ​​and potential of citizen science for conservation on community and private properties.
• Identify the most relevant fiscal instruments and financing mechanisms for conservation in community and private properties.
• Develop a manual for conservation on community and private properties.

Planned actions

• Form the Conservation Landowners Coalition and drive Private Land Conservation Ambassadors.
• Encourage citizen science as a tool for conservation in community and private properties.
• Investigate and test conservation instruments on community and private properties.
• Investigate fiscal instruments and financing mechanisms for conservation in community and private properties.
• Develop standards and practices for conservation on community and private properties.

Expected results

• Based on the characteristics of the project, it is hoped to improve alliances in community and private conservation throughout Europe, with special emphasis on the importance of citizen science for the conservation of these spaces. Special emphasis will also be placed on funding mechanisms for community and private conservation, while strengthening their role in nature conservation and biodiversity.

General objective of the project

The main objective of the project is to improve the biodiversity of the Mediterranean forest through the integration of specific measures and innovative practices into forest planning and management instruments, and through new financing and compensation mechanisms. The aim is to make biodiversity enhancement compatible with the economic sustainability of forest management, guaranteeing the persistence of the stands and their adaptation to climate change.

Specific goals

1. To improve the biodiversity of the most representative Mediterranean forests (pine forests and Quercus stands), making their environmental and socio-economic values compatible and fostering their capacity to adapt to climate change.
2. To demonstrate the applicability of innovative forest management measures through fieldwork, the effect of which is defined in detail during the project.
3. To develop new measures for enhancing forest biodiversity: (i) forest management models and manuals, including forestry concepts that are in touch with nature and criterion for preparing and establishing naturally evolving areas; (ii) the development and adaptation of a Potential Biodiversity Index adapted to the Mediterranean forest, which allows its state of conservation to be evaluated and measures to be proposed for its improvement.
4. To develop innovative financing mechanisms (including quantification methods and land stewardship tools) to remunerate forest owners for loss of income caused by the implementation of practices to encourage biodiversity.
5. To integrate the developed measures into regional policies and regulations governing Mediterranean forest management: (i) spatial and sectoral planning; (ii) forest ordinance instruments; (iii) guidelines for sustainable forest management.
6. To pass on the developed techniques, indicators and measures to the main actors involved in forest management (owners, managers, forest administration, enterprises) in order to further their adoption.
7. To disseminate the results to specific actors and raise awareness among society of the importance of enhancing biodiversity through sustainable and multifunctional forest management, preventing rural abandonment and fostering dynamic forests capable of generating ecosystem services (renewable products, recreation, landscape, soil and water protection, carbon storage) and providing habitats for a resilient and diverse ecosystem.

Planned actions

• Preparatory measures: Holding meetings with the owners of the selected stands and signing agreements for action; defining and aligning baseline biodiversity indicators; making an initial diagnosis of each stand, designing conservation measures and forestry interventions; and analysing innovative financing mechanisms.
• A compensatory measure for landowners by way of use rights.
• Conservation measures: Innovative management models for improving biodiversity and preparing for natural dynamics in Mediterranean forests dominated by Quercus ilex, Quercus humilis/faginea and Pinus halepensis; the application of the Potential Biodiversity Index and specific conservation measures; and the integration of biodiversity enhancement measures into regulations and policies governing the management of Mediterranean forests.
• Measures for monitoring the project’s impact: The creation of an expert advisory committee; evaluation of the areas concerned and those selected for natural dynamics from the perspective of forestry, biodiversity and other ecosystem functions; socioeconomic evaluation of the project as well as its progress; and economic valuation of the implementation of measures for the improvement of biodiversity and the design of compensation mechanisms for owners.

Expected results

• 208 ha of demonstrative stands between Catalonia (Spain) and Occitanie (France), in which innovative forest management is applied to enhance biodiversity, in the four main types of Mediterranean forest: holm oak (Quercus ilex – HIC9340); Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis – HIC9540), sub-Mediterranean oak (Q. humilis, Q. faginea and Q. canariensis – HIC9240); and cork oaks (Q. suber – HIC9330 in Occitanie), in different geographical areas. Out of this area, 48 ha are consistent with exemplary stands, selected for natural dynamics due to their stage of maturity.
• The implemented management models enhance biodiversity indicators and reduce competition and water stress, increasing the growth and vitality of forests, as well as their resilience, thus fostering their adaptation to climate change.
• Development of silvo-environmental compensation measures, including a methodology for calculating economic impact and the development of compensation mechanisms and their financing.
• Development of tools and indicators to integrate biodiversity enhancement into forest management: development of a Potential Biodiversity Index for Mediterranean forests and preparation of six technical guides and six technical-scientific articles to foster the adoption of these practices.
• New tools and models transferred to the forestry sector in order to apply a new form of management that fosters the conservation of such habitats: their incorporation into three different regulations, forest management and planning instruments in Catalonia; and at least 350 participants in the following activities: specialisation courses, instructive seminars and conferences, networking activities and a final seminar.
• Increased awareness among forest owners, managers and the general public of the issues addressed and the solutions provided by the project.