CREAF will contribute its science to two international projects on biodiversity and forest fires, promoted by the governments of Catalonia and California

Catalonia is launching two international projects to address the impacts of climate change in bioregions with a Mediterranean climate. CREAF will assume the scientific direction of both projects, which were presented this week during the second annual meeting of the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP), held in the Western Cape (South Africa). The first results are expected to be presented at COP30 in Brazil.

The first project, co-led by Catalonia and California, will study the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in regions with a Mediterranean climate. It will analyze phenomena such as the displacement of species, phenological changes, hydrological alterations or modifications in ecological relationships. Scientific institutions from both driving regions, such as the University of California, Berkeley, are also participating.

The second project focuses on the prevention of large forest fires through the creation of a shared information system. This system will include risk mapping, fuel reduction planning, use of controlled burns and tools for risk prediction and mitigation. In this case, the main partners are Catalonia, California, the Western Cape (South Africa) and New South Wales (Australia).

Both projects are being developed within the framework of MCAP, an alliance between regions with a Mediterranean climate around the world to jointly address environmental challenges. They include territories such as Emilia-Romagna (Italy), Occitania and the Southern Region (France), Central Greece, Biobío and Santiago (Chile), Baja California Sur (Mexico), Eastern Morocco, Rabat-Salé-Kenitra and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (Morocco), South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales (Australia), California (USA) and the Western Cape (South Africa).

“CREAF will lead the scientific part of both projects, providing ecological knowledge and coordination between international research teams,” explains Alicia Pérez-Porro, head of Institutional Relations and Political Interaction at the center. “It is an opportunity that coincides with a new way of working within CREAF itself, where our science not only provides useful knowledge for public policies, but also does so at the service and under the direction of the governments of an entire bioregion”.

For his part, Marc Vilahur, director general of Environmental Policies and Natural Environment, states that “we want to know what trends are common and how we can best prevent or mitigate them. This will allow us to provide more effective responses to extreme climatic phenomena. Regarding fires, he stresses that “biodiversity conservation and prevention are not only compatible, but can be synergistic. This project will help move towards integrated management in areas that are particularly vulnerable to major forest fires”.

The projects receive an initial funding of 72,000 € provided by the Department of European Union and External Action, while the rest of the investment is assumed by the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition.