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Barcelona’s 5 LAB on-the-ground initiatives

Zagreb, 17th October 2007

Margarita Parés & Helena Barracó

Barcelona City Council

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Location of Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of the

autonomous Region of Catalonia

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Barcelona City Rain: 598 mm

Area: 98 km2 Temperature: 16,5ºC

1.605.602 inhabitants ⇒ 16.384 ih per km2 Green area: 18m2 per inhabitant

Barcelona is a very dense mediterranean city

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View from Collserola to the sea

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Collserola from the city

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Local Agenda 21 as framework

• The first Objective of the Local Agenda 21 Commitment is:

“To protect open spaces and

biological diversity and

increase urban green space”

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Biodiversity urban strategy: knowledgement, dissemination and

flora & fauna management

• The strategy elaboration is a project included in the 2008-2011 mandate, being part of the Municipal Actions Programme (PAM), now being set-up with a citizen’s participatory process. The PAM will be approved by the Plenary Council.

• The strategy will have 4 main working lines:

– Management oriented knowledgment

– Support and conservation

of species & habitats

– Dissemination and participation

– International Commitment

and exchange

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Barcelona’s 5 LAB on-the-ground initiatives

1. Green urban corridor Ciutadella-

Collserola development

2. Montjuïc cliff protection

3. Support to the urban birds

related to buildings

4. Biodiversity dissemination

actions

5. Barcelona’s international

commitment in biodiversity

conservation

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1. Green urban corridor Ciutadella-Collserola development

Anella Interior

Collserola - MontjuïcCollserola - Ciutadella

Collserola - Forum

Corredor Litoral

Anella Interior

• Project within the green urban corridor network proposal

• Included in the PAM

2008-2011

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1. Green urban corridor Ciutadella-Collserola development

• Several departments are involved in the project: Zoo, Parks and Gardens, Urban Ecology Agency

• Biodiversity and social benefits are expected

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2. Montjuïc cliff protection

• Montjuïc is a 173 m hill in the Barcelona sea front

• The cliff protection is included in the project “Montjuïc as the green lung of the city”

• Legal protection of the cliff in process, based on its natural values in the urban context.

• Included in the PAM 2008-2011

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3. Support to the urban birds related to buildings

• Previous experience: Swallow project that includes species

support, better knowledgment of the swallow population and

participation and comunication experience.

• Recorded a population of about 200 pairs of House Martins

(Delichon urbica), and 40 pairs of Common Swallow (Hirundo

rustica). The support of the species has been improved thanks

to the knowledge acquired.

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3. Support to the urban birds related to buildings

• Fostering the protection of the birds related to the urban

buildings, specially those in rehabilitation.

– Working together with Urban Landscape Institute (building refurbishment experts) and the Regional Government

– Training rehabilitation experts

– Technical support during rehabilitation

adressed to avifauna protection

– Finantial aid for commited owners

– Awareness-raising brochure

– Calendar adaption to seasonal changes

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4. Biodiversity dissemination actions

• Disseminationmaterials

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• Reinforce urban biodiversity in the Local

Agenda 21 website.

• Catalogue of sites of natural

interest in the city of Barcelona

+ ecologic map

• Peregrine falcon

• LAB Barcelona biodiversity report

4. Biodiversity dissemination actions

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5. Barcelona’s international commitment in biodiversity

conservation

• Barcelona’s commitments towards biodiversity conservation and experiences exchange:– Local Action for Biodiversity

– Countdown 2010

– Red de Gobiernos Locales

2010 España

– Barcelona UICN

Congress 5-14 oct.’07

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Thank you for your attention!

www.bcn.cat/agenda21

hbarraco@bcn.cat mparesr@bcn.cat