The UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya) – Internet Interdisciplinary Institute’s (IN3) TURBA Lab (Urban Transformation and Global Change Laboratory) in collaboration with Altekio association, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences have organized a workshop on October 9th and 10th. Fifty-one people met online over two days to reflect on five possible future scenarios for the Sierra de Guadarrama. The decision-makers of Sierra de Guadarrama National Park and members of major environmental associations, sports organizations, local development groups, town councils, farmers and even representatives of the arts, education and research, among others, gathered for collective reflection. On the basis of a common assessment of the current socio-ecological conditions and the factors driving change in recent years, they weighed up what could happen in the next twenty years. The various stakeholders discussed how and whether the area might continue to contribute to the quality of life of those who currently enjoy the ecosystem services it provides. Further, by identifying the advantages and disadvantages of the envisioned futures scenarios, it was jointly assessed who would lose or gain in the respective future scenarios. The group prioritized several strategies to guarantee a solid future for the Sierra. Among the strategies are: (1) education and awareness-raising regarding socio-environmental issues, including a communication strategy for social change; (2) sustainable mobility planning, fostering public transport over private; and (3) the promotion of sustainable farming activities with a positive impact on the ecosystem, as well as placing the focus on local produce.
More information:
https://in3.blogs.uoc.edu/sierra-de-guadarrama-reflects-on-its-future/
https://www.parquenacionalsierraguadarrama.es/es/parque/blogs/item/591-sierra-gudarrama-reflexiona (full-text in Spanish)
Authors: UOC team