Research and Innovation for the sustainable use of water
Green infrastructure refers to natural or semi-natural spaces, such as urban parks, managed wetlands or green areas, designed and managed to contribute to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. In addition, they improve resilience to climate change through aspects such as rainwater storage and management or temperature regulation. With the aim of highlighting the value of these spaces and promoting greater implementation across the Mediterranean arc and other semi-arid regions worldwide, the BIOVERA project has been launched.
BIOVERA will identify, quantify and monetize ecosystem services —that is, the environmental, economic and social benefits provided by an ecosystem— from three pioneering green infrastructures related to the integrated water cycle. In addition, it will develop recommendations on suitable locations and adaptation measures for the future implementation of green infrastructure, with the aim of maximizing the provision of ecosystem services.
The sites to be studied include the Clot del Galvany, a wetland managed with reclaimed water in Elche; the La Marjal floodable park in Alicante, which, in addition to serving as a recreational area, stores stormwater to prevent flooding in the surrounding neighborhood; and a set of artificial aquifer recharge basins located in the Baix Llobregat area (Barcelona).
The BIOVERA project, led by Cetaqua – Water Technology Centre in collaboration with the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), will develop an interdisciplinary, robust and standardized methodology. This will include monitoring the ecosystem services provided by these spaces through sensors, in situ sampling, satellite imagery and citizen science, as well as the economic valuation of the environmental and socio-economic benefits of these infrastructures. The project will also assess future climate scenarios and their impact on the provision of ecosystem services.
According to Helena Torres, project coordinator and researcher at Cetaqua, “BIOVERA is a highly relevant project because, for the first time, we will be able to demonstrate all the benefits that these green spaces provide to fauna, flora and society. This will make it easier for more public administrations to implement green infrastructure in their territories.”
BIOVERA aims to provide useful tools to help public administrations manage, adapt and plan green infrastructure. For this reason, it is essential to involve key stakeholders in the development of these tools. Throughout the study, several Communities of Practice (CoP) will be organized to exchange relevant information, both generated within the project and contributed by the participating actors themselves, including their perceptions, needs and preferences regarding green infrastructure.
BIOVERA is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), through co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
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