On a permanent basis, the XCN supports the work of organizations that develop environmental volunteer programs. Specifically:

• We promote campaigns and initiatives that promote the involvement of citizens in environmental volunteering
• We provide visibility, training and advice to organizations that have environmental volunteer activities and programs

Citizen involvement in environmental volunteering

To involve the public in environmental volunteering, various actions are promoted:

• Through the website www.voluntariatambiental.cat, environmental volunteering proposals which are organized by environmental entities are exposed. The activities are open to everyone’s participation.
• An environmental volunteer newsletter is sent out periodically.
• Occasional campaigns are carried out to promote environmental volunteer activities.

Training and advice

We work to support environmental organizations that promote environmental volunteering, so that volunteer activities are carried out with the right quality, stability and professionalism.

To achieve this, we perform different actions:

• Advice and support in the drafting and implementation of Volunteering Plans.
• Training about the Law of Volunteering and application of Volunteering Plans.

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.

The stewardship inventory of the territory is a collection of stewardship initiatives, both public and private, existing in Catalonia. It has been published by the Network for the Conservation of Nature since 2003 and with a periodicity of 2-3 years, thanks to the disinterested collaboration of the custodians, who provide the necessary data for its elaboration.

The main objective of the inventory is to analyse the current situation and the temporary progression of the movement of land stewardship in Catalonia. It is aimed mainly at land stewardship entities and public administrations, but also at other third sector entities, owners and managers of rural properties, as well as citizens interested in nature conservation.

Stewardship inventory 2019

Here are the most relevant data from the 2019 inventory

700 stewardship initiatives	447 private	253 public
63 entities	42 private	21 public
39.339 ha in stewardship	56,1% in private property

174 new initiatives with respect to 2017

Area of the initiatives	5,4 ha (*)	Between 0,01 ha and 5.464 ha
Duration of the contracts/agreements	10 years (*)	Between 1 and 99 years
Nº of initiatives per entity	3 initiatives (*)	Between 1 and 78 initiatives

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.

The Health and Nature Table is a pioneering platform in our country that works for the conservation of nature as a guarantor of our health and well-being. At the same time, it works on its promotion as a health asset in a wide range of fields, both in terms of prevention and therapy.

The Table has a driving force formed by the Departament de Salut and the Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Advisory Council for the Sustainable Development (CADS), the Diputació de Barcelona, ICTA-UAB, ISGlobal, the Nature Conservation Network (XCN) and DKV insurance.

The Table has a broad vision and support from organizations, with a high interest in getting involved in the various working groups and pilot tests. Work is currently underway to advance the implementation of pilot tests related to the different areas of work.

Environmental Donor is a platform that facilitates donations to environmental organizations and conservation projects carried out in Catalonia.

With the hashtag #josócdonantambiental it transmits the ability of people to contribute to the defence of nature, getting involved in time in the form of volunteering (redirected to the portal www.voluntariatambiental.cat) or making financial contributions, materials or services provided.

The initiative was launched in 2016 by the Obrador del Tercer Sector Ambiental de Catalunya (O3SAC) and has been managed by the XCN since 2018 with the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya.

• Environmental Donor offers a showcase of projects with which citizens and companies can decide to get involved by making a donation. 

• It presents successful experiences of donations, collaborations between citizens, companies and entities.

• Encourage donation campaigns, such as creating charity events or tracking online campaigns.

• Ultra Clean Marathon, Nature Lunch and Giving Tuesday are experiences linked to Environmental Donor.

With the hashtag #josócdonantambiental it transmits the ability of people to contribute to the defence of nature, getting involved in time in the form of volunteering (redirected to the portal www.voluntariatambiental.cat) or making financial contributions, materials or services provided.

• Webpage: www.donantambiental.cat
• Contact: scarrera@xcn.cat
• Contact person: Sandra Carrera – Anna Parisi
• Tweet hashtags:  #josócdonantambiental #donantambiental

The Ultra Clean Marathon is a sport challenge that aims to raise awareness and citizens mobilization, reduce waste in natural spaces and promote nature conservation measures, while seeking the commitment of people who practice sports in nature in order to take care of the environment, both individually and when participating in organized competitions, which must be sustainable.

At the same time, it also wants to recognize the work of environmental organizations working in the country.

It is organized jointly by the Xarxa per a la Conservació de la Natura, l’Agència de Residus de Catalunya i el Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat.

2020 Edition

The 2020 edition of the Ultra Clean Marathon will be held on the 6^th of June. It will be a one-day race of 60 km, from Terrassa to Barcelona.

Registration will be by teams, with a maximum of 10 people (taking replacement in sections). A minimum of 2 runners must participate for each section.

The registration of the teams will go entirely to the environmental entities.

2019 Edition

The 2^nd edition of this race was held in 2019. A total of 4,000 people took part in this edition, collecting almost 3 tonnes of waste. The race lasted 7 days, in which various sports were combined (running, cycling and kayaking). It passed through different demarcations of Catalonia, combining mountain, inland and coastal landscapes. Each stage was organized with the support of schools, local governments and businesses, as well as environmental organizations working in the area.

The UCM also highlights the daily work of more than a hundred environmental organizations in Catalonia in favour of nature.

Edition 2018

The 1^st edition of the UCM was weld between the 13 and 19 of May. During 7 days, there were 7 marathons running and collecting waste (295 km in total). Albert Bosch and Nicole Ribera, ambassadors of the race, completed the 7 stages of the UCM.

In this edition it participated around 2,000 people, who collected a total of 2 tons of waste.

The race passed through areas of high value in Catalonia in terms of landscape and nature, highlighting the environmental organizations that work in the area to conserve the spaces.

What is it?

The Week of the Nature is a campaign aimed at promoting activities throughout Catalonia to raise awareness of the importance of caring for our nature and our territory.

When is it?

It is celebrated annually to coincide with World Environment Day (June 5). It usually lasts about 10 days.

Who does it involve? Who can participate?

The Week of the Nature seeks the involvement of everyone, because we can all act for nature. During the week there are activities for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest.

The 2019 edition

In the 2019 edition, which took place from 1st to 9th June, more than 400 activities were organized throughout Catalonia, with the help of more than 260 organizations.