Proposal of new Natura 2000 network boundaries in Spain based on the value of importance for biodiversity and connectivity analysis for its improvement

The aim of the Natura 2000 Network is to ensure the conservation of habitats and species in their natural areas of distribution. Connectivity is an essential part of this conservation. For this purpose, a value map of importance for biodiversity (V.I.B) was generated proposing 4 levels of protection and overlapped with the Natura 2000 network. New boundaries for the zoning are proposed adding 1.600.000 ha. Two connectivity indices (MSPA and PC) are calculated in the 4 different scenarios. With these indices it is possible to know the number of existing nuclei and connectors in each of the scenarios. New boundaries cover more areas of interest for biodiversity as well as zones of great importance in relation to connectivity. We propose a uniform method that can be extrapolated to any European territor

Evaluating European Conservation Areas and Proposal of New Zones of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. Application to Spanish Territories

The European Union (EU) ensures the conservation of biodiversity through the Natura 2000 Network, which establishes the classification and selection of protected areas at European level. Unfortunately, member countries cannot make the best zoning decisions for biodiversity conservation because there are no clear and uniform parameters to designate Natura 2000 sites. Due to this, it is convenient to evaluate the importance of the criteria for biodiversity conservation through a general assessment, which could establish relevant criteria that can be analysed through geostatistical methods combined in multicriteria analysis. This paper aims to consider biodiversity importance values taking into account land use, so that it is possible to develop a zoning proposal which verifies or corrects the suitability of the designated areas for the Natura 2000 Network in Castilla y León, Andalucía and Madrid (Spain). The choice of these regions allows us to compare areas with a high variability of population density, making possible to compare the potential protected areas with respect to the population living in each area. This assessment has been performed using basic and easily adaptable criteria of biodiversity conservation, so it could be applied in other European territories. In this way, clear and uniform parameters for zoning will be used, being possible to detect the best protected areas. One of the most important purposes of the Natura 2000 Network is to increase connectivity between territories; our work proposes new areas that could be linked to currently protected territories, to favour the achievement of this purpose of the Natura 2000 Network

Modelización y análisis de la conectividad para la conservación de la biodiversidad frente al cambio climático mediante indicadores ecológicos en Castilla y León

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Farmacia, leída el 27/10/2023. Tesis formato europeo (compendio de artículos)Esta tesis trata sobre varios aspectos relacionados con la conservación de la biodiversidad y la conectividad de hábitats en diferentes regiones de España, así como su afección por el cambio climático. La red Natura 2000 es una iniciativa de la Unión Europea que busca conservar la biodiversidad y proteger hábitats y especies en sus áreas de distribución natural. Sin embargo, los países miembros enfrentan dificultades para tomar decisiones de zonificación óptimas debido a la falta de parámetros claros y uniformes. Por lo tanto, se propone realizar una evaluación general de la importancia de los criterios de conservación de la biodiversidad utilizando métodos geoespaciales combinados en un análisis multicriterio. La primera parte de la tesis se centra en las regiones de Castilla y León, Andalucía y Madrid debido a su alta variabilidad en densidad de población, lo que permite compararlas áreas protegidas potenciales en relación con la población residente en cada área. Se utilizan criterios básicos y adaptables de conservación de la biodiversidad, lo que permite aplicar el método propuesto en otros territorios europeos...This thesis addresses various aspects related to biodiversity conservation and habitat connectivity in different regions of Spain, as well as their impact on climate change. The Natura 2000 network is a European Union initiative that seeks to conserve biodiversity and protect habitats and species within their natural distribution areas. However, member countries face difficulties in making optimal zoning decisions due to the lack of clear and uniform parameters. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of the importance of biodiversity conservation criteria is proposed using combined geospatial methods in a multicriteria analysis. The first part of the thesis focuses on the regions of Castilla y León, Andalusia, and Madrid due to their high population density variability, allowing for a comparison of potential protected areas in relation to the resident population in each area. Basic and adaptable biodiversity conservation criteria are used, enabling the application of the proposed method to other European territories...Fac. de FarmaciaTRUEunpu

Multi-Criteria Methodology for the Location of Photovoltaic Solar Energy Production Facilities in Tenerife (Spain)

This paper presents a multi-criteria methodology for the detection of optimal locations for solar photovoltaic installations connected to the electrical grid. The proposed methodology has been applied to the island of Tenerife, as it is one of the territories in Spain with the greatest solar potential. This methodology integrates an Aptitude Model (which covers variables such as connections to the electrical grid, accessibility, cloudiness, solar irradiation and slope) together with an Impact Model (which considers variables such as landscape vulnerability, land use and hydrology). Each one of the variables considered has been transformed into standardized decision criteria, which have been weighted by means of Saaty’s pair method, having also assigned them relative weights by means of expert consultation. The integration of both Models in a Hosting Capacity Model makes it possible to consider urban and environmental constraints in different possible scenarios. Finally, the Hosting Capacity Model generated is implemented through a Geographic Information System (GIS) on the island of Tenerife, so that it has been possible to detect the optimum locations for each municipality and region