Despite the international and national efforts to fight climate change with mitigation actions, the stabilization of the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases is still out of hand. That is why climate change adaptation actions are considered absolutely necessary and complementary to mitigating ones. In Andalusia, three emblematic protected areas - Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Park and the Nature Areas of Sierra Nevada and Doñana - will benefit from various research and management actions to be carried out through the Life ADAPTAMED project to assist these nature areas in their adaptation to the effects of climate change and so protect the ecosystem services they offer.

The Life ADAPTAMED project accepted by the European Commission last year has started its activities in 2016 for the development of tools to enhance the adaptation capacity of the most vulnerable Mediterranean ecosystems to climate change, a key for the wellbeing of local communities and biodiversity. Ecosystems found in these protected areas include pine and cork oak groves, Mediterranean scrublands and jujubes (vegetation dependant on groundwater) and contribute to the provision of essential services i.e. soil retention, pollination, sustenance of grasslands and biodiversity, temperature regulation, water provision and also fire prevention and the fight against desertification.

The actions carried out in the framework of the project will produce data, experience and tools for other managers, owners and stakeholders facing similar threats. These measures also mean to consolidate a Network of Global Change Observatories in Andalusia in the long term.
The project is led by the Andalusian Department of Environment and Land Planning (Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio) in partnership with research and academic institutions: the University of Granada through the Interuniversity Research Institute on the Earth System in Andalusia; the Doñana Biological Station, dependant on the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC); and the University of Almeria, through the Andalusian Centre for Global Change Assessment and Monitoring. Also, the Consortium of Parque de las Ciencias will support namely environmental education and awareness actions and the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation will ensure the engagement of the project at international level, mainly in the Mediterranean.

Other participants in this project include the Environment and Water Agency (Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua), a public company attached to the Andalusian Department of Environment and Land Planning, and the water company Aguas Font Vella y Lanjarón, S.A., which provides funding support. Other collaborators are stakeholders in the areas concerned including stockbreeders and representatives of the tourism and business sectors among others.
This initiative has an approximate budget of euro 5.5 million over a five year period.

More information: Rut Azpizúa

Photo: Doñana protected area. © Eloy Revilla