Transnational strategy for restoring Northern Iberian Natura 2000 high conservation value areas under a global change perspective

Background

The highest diversity areas in the Iberian Peninsula are located in the Northern part, with a joint presence in the three most vulnerable scenarios: coastal zone, continental wetlands, and mountain area. These priority habitats and species have small areas/populations, placing them in an unfavorable conservation status (CS). They are restricted to a few biogeographic regions and are highly vulnerable to invasive alien species (IAS), anthropogenic conditions, or the effects of global climate change.

General Objective

The general objective (GO) is to implement a transnational restoration strategy in 31 Northern Iberian Natura 2000 high conservation value areas across Spain and Portugal. This will be achieved through small-scale actions, covering an area of 1,321.53 ha, as a primary measure of adaptation to current global changes. The project aims to improve CS and resilience of:

1. 10 priority habitats
2. 3 priority species

These are considered representative of the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions and from the three highest conservation value scenarios.

Project Characteristics

The project holds great demonstrative and pilot characteristics, allowing for high transferability and replicability to other European territories where high conservation value areas are concentrated and isolated in very fragmented and vulnerable complex mosaics.

Specific Objectives

To achieve the general objective, a series of specific objectives (SO) are considered:

• SO1: Increasing the occupied area by targeted priority habitats, as well as the populations of targeted priority species.
• SO2: Control and elimination of IAS competition that is causing an impact on CS of priority habitats.
• SO3: Improving the structure, functionality, and future prospects of priority habitats and habitats for targeted priority species.
• SO4: Availability of updated and homogeneous information about targeted priority habitats and species in Northern Iberia.
• SO5: Informing and raising public awareness among the general public about the relevance, natural values, and ecosystem services provided by the targeted priority habitats and species.
• SO6: Transferring the measures developed in the project for their replicability at the EU level.