More than 700 people have been involved in the LIFE AMAR sailing campaign in Spain to raise awareness of the Natura 2000 Network values

The sailing campaign launched by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), in coordination with the Spanish regions involved, has ended with the participation of more than 700 people in the activities carried out.

This campaign has covered a total of eight ports and 25 marine sites of the Natura 2000 Network in the Mediterranean with the aim of raising awareness of the ecological value, benefits and opportunities offered by protected marine areas, as well as involving the population in their responsible and sustainable use.

ACTIVITIES

The sailing campaign started on 8 May in the port of Cabo de Palos (Cartagena) and ended on 6 June in the port of San José, in Cabo de Gata (Almeria), travelling through Xàbia (Valencia), Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca (Balearic Islands), L’Estartit (Girona) and L’Ampolla (Tarragona). It took place on a sailing catamaran, which made 8 stops in ports located in protected areas or very close to them.

Guided tours will be offered at each stopover with the objective of raising awareness of the natural values in Natura 2000 marine areas. Participants will be provided with information materials on the natural area visited and the Natura 2000 Network. In addition, training and participatory sessions will be held with socio-economic agents and the local population.

Within the framework of this European project, 15 citizen science workshops will also be held until September, as well as new training activities.  The actions of the LIFE A-MAR project in Spain are promoted by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

LIFE A-MAR

The LIFE A-MAR project is coordinated by the Italian Federation of Parks and Nature Reserves (Federparchi – Europarc Italia), with partners including Triton Research, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and Lipu. Co-financing partners include Asinara National Park, the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, and the Cinque Terre National Park. It receives financial support from the European Union’s LIFE Programme.

The Natura 2000 Network marine protected sites in which activities will take place are Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila (Cartagena) in the Region of Murcia; Montgó-Cap de Sant Antoni (Xàbia, Valencia) in the Valencian Community; Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera (Ibiza and Formentera) and Sa Dragonera (Mallorca) in the Balearic Islands; Parc Natural del Montgrí, Les Medes i El Baix Ter (Girona) and Delta de Delta de Sant Antoni (Mallorca) in the Balearic Islands; Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera (Ibiza) and Sa Dragonera (Mallorca) in the Balearic Islands; Parc Natural del Montgrí, Les Medes i El Baix Ter (Girona) and Delta de l’Ebre (Tarragona) in Catalonia; as well as Cabo de Gata-Níjar (Almería), in Andalusia.

In addition, the sailing trip has also passed through other areas where images have been taken, and wildlife sightings have been made.

Among the activities, 17 guided tours were carried out for the local population and tourists, as well as 7 sessions in which diving and nautical companies, public bodies, tourism sector and conservation organisations, among others.  In addition, information on the Natura 2000 Network has been provided with some materials, which are available on the Fundación Biodiversidad website.

LIFE A-MAR

The LIFE A-MAR project is coordinated by the Italian Federation of Parks and Nature Reserves (Federparchi – Europarc Italia), with partners including Triton Research, the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and Lipu. Co-financing partners include Asinara National Park, the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, and the Cinque Terre National Park. It receives financial support from the European Union’s LIFE Programme.