Defending biodiversity has its reward Campus Terra

Poñer en valor a diversidade biolóxica ten premio no Campus Terra

IBADER has worked hard to achieve the distinction of Biosphere Reserve for Ribeira Sacra, and the Oribio and O Courel Ranges

Lugo

Friday, October 8, 2021

You have probably heard cinema be referred to as “the seventh art”, as it is an expression of information, values and feelings. In the same way that the big screen obtained this recognition more than a hundred years ago, the Campus Terra just reached a new milestone after contributing to the designation of Galicia’s seventh Biosphere Reserve.

This achievement was possible thanks to the work of several parties, including the project leader, the Institute of Agricultural Biodiversity and Rural Development of the USC Lugo Campus, and the support of the Galician Government and the Juana de Vega Foundation. After four years of hard work and a long process that had the support of public institutions, the more than 306,500 hectares of territory that spread over the Ribeira Sacra, and the Oribio and O Courel Rangeshave been declared (under this name) as Biosphere Reserve by the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MaB).

This international recognition highlights the natural beauty, and the cultural and ethnographic richness of these geographical areas. It also underlines the need to continue working to reconcile biological and cultural diversity with the economic and social development of the territories.

In this sense, the territory included in the Biosphere Reserve of the Ribeira Sacra and the Oribio and O Courel Ranges, with a population of over 75,000, is officially part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, now that it has joined the other six in Galicia with this seal.

Thus, 35% of the Galician territory is now under this designation: Terras do Miño; the Allariz area; Os Ancares Lucenses and Montes de Cervantes; Navia and Becerreá; Eo River, Oscos and Terras de Burón; Gerês-Xurés; Mariñas Coruñesas-Terras do Mandeo; and, of course, the new area that just received the seal. In fact, 42% of Galicia is under some form of protection, which attests to the richness of our natural heritage.

The favourable report from UNESCO, together with its compliments on the excellent quality of the project, are the result of the excellent job done by IBADER —which is on Campus Terra— over the years. Without a doubt, it serves as an impetus to continue rowing in this direction.