With the abandonment of traditional agricultural activities, two thirds of the Catalonian territory have ceased to be part of the productive economy. In order to recover natural capital, it is necessary for it to become part of the productive economy again. How can the concept of ecosystem services facilitate opportunities in this area? The cycle “Cyber-forum on ecosystem services and collective intelligence. A way to recover natural capital?” will address this issue.
Currently, around a third of the territory of Catalonia is included in the Natura 2000 Network, but its management can be improved; while another third of the Catalonian territorial surface is not productive as a consequence of the traditional abandonment of crops.
This means that two thirds of Catalonia need to be properly managed with taxes as the only source of income, and with the public administration as the only administrator.
Landscapes with a high natural and cultural value such as the Costa Brava coast are experiencing loss of attractiveness and increased fire risk as a result of this process. Likewise, most of the initiatives promoted from the private sphere encounter legal obstacles and cultural prejudices that see with difficulty the usefulness of the concept of ecosystem services.
How to effectively promote economic activity and biodiversity conservation
In order to offer a vision on the viability of private initiatives that promote economic activity and the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services the “Cyber-forum on ecosystem services and collective intelligence. A way to recover natural capital? ” has been organized by SGM Urban Planning & Ecosystem Services.
Webinar 1: "European vision on ecosystem services"
The cycle took place on June 18 at 4:00 p.m. and was moderated by Brigitte Kramer, journalist who collaborates with Süddeutsche Zeitung i Bayerischer newspaper. The first webinar is dedicated to the European vision of the ecosystem services, in which Mark Rousenvell, Professor of Land Use Change at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Institute of Geography and Geoecology) and head of the IFU´s Land Use Change Research Group will participate. Rosenvell is also co-chair of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) of the regional assessment for Europe and Central Asia.
Paul Mahony, coordinator of the platform OPPLA, a repository of Nature-based Solutions from the European Union that provides a knowledge marketplace for stakeholders, will also participate in the session.
Webinar 2: "Legal obstacles? Is there room for interpretation?"
The second webinar that will take place on June 30 at 4:00 p.m. is focused on addressing «Legal obstacles? Is there room for interpretation? ”, with the presence of Pablo Molina, law degree at Pompeu and Fabra University of Barcelona, urban planning technician by the School of Public Administration and partner at J&A Garrigues; and Rafael Fernández, lawyer, Doctor of Law and partner at PwC Spain.
Webinar 3: "Is it possible to earn money and recover natural capital?"
The three experts who will share their experience with cyber forum participants on whether “Is it possible to earn money and recover natural capital?” are Agustí Jover, graduated in Economic Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and founding partner of Promo Assessors Consultors; Miquel Morel, Bachelor of Economics from the UAB, Master of Business Administration from Esade and partner of Promo Assessors Consultors; and David Álvarez, executive director of Ecoacsa and member of the Advisory Board of the European Commission Business @ Biodiversity (platform B@B).
The webinars are aimed at urban planners (professionals and academics), lawyers, and decision makers and public administration officials.
Image: National Park of Aigüestortes. Source: Pixabay.com
No Comments