The Xunta recently presented the green infrastructure strategy for Galicia and advances in its execution with the publication of the first aid and money certificates, for municipal projects that are carried out in this area
The total item amounts to 2 million euros and local entities may request contributions of up to 60,000 euros during the month of February To improve your green and river environmentsincrease the biodiversity of urban spaces and boost climatic shelters at the local level, among other actions.
Green infrastructure for Galicia
The Galician Green Infrastructure Strategy and Ecological Connectivity and Restoration (EGIVCRE) officially entered into force and the Xunta will begin to take the first steps for its practical application, with the publication, next week, of the call of the first order of aid to support municipalities in the promotion of projects for the impulse of green infrastructure in urban and peri -urban spaces.
This was advanced this morning the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Ángeles Vázquez, who during the closing of the presentation day of the strategy explained that this line of pioneer aid seeks to promote green spaces and other nature -based solutions to prevent the effects of climate change.
With a global budget of 2 million euros and a maximum amount of 60,000 euros per project, among the types of subsidable initiatives it is necessary the “heat island” effect; the creation of new spaces such as facades, covers, walls and green balconies as well as vertical gardens for increase urban biodiversity; or the conditioning and improvement of green infrastructure (paths, parks etc) and blue (rivers) that surround these areas, among others.
Accompanied by the territorial delegate of the Xunta in A Coruña, Belén do Campo, the Minister explained that these grants They will also serve to boost the local network for the weather, An initiative that the Xunta launched last year to involve Galician municipalities in the shared challenge of consolidating Galicia as a resilient community in the face of climate change.
In this regard, he recalled that the purpose is to directly imply the municipal administrations in the achievement of the great climatic objectives since their efforts and achievements on the local scale have very positive effects also globally.
Resilience and Climate Refuge
Likewise, the Minister took advantage of her intervention to highlight the importance of promoting connectivity with the urban areas of the natural spaces with the highest environmental value of Galicia, since they are A key element when reinforcing your resilience and climate refuge condition. To preserve them and contribute to their value, he recalled that the Department is promoting a comprehensive action plan in the Galician Network of Natural Parks, with investments committed for 18.5 million euros until 2026.
In fact, Ángeles Vázquez influenced the transverse character of the strategy presented today, which goes in line with European, state and Galician regulations and aspires to assume a paradigm shift in territorial planning and in the commitment to the protection of the nature in the face of the challenges of global warming through a combination of actions to be executed from the triple perspective of the territory, natural heritage and climate change.
The day was attended by around 150 people among technicians, municipal representatives, researchers from the three Galician universitiesmembers of different professional associations, entities and companies, public positions and officials of several departments of the Xunta, among others.
A continuous territorial network
The Galician Green Infrastructure Strategy aims to create a continuous territorial network of spaces and elements, estimated in More than 1 million hectares, which improve resilience Given climate change, they contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and benefit the populations of environments.
It is a unique planning instrument in Spain that covers the community as a whole, but that makes special emphasis on cities, because they are the ones estimated that They emit between 40% and 70% greenhouse gases.
Therefore, cities must have urban green spaces that have an impact on the reduction of emissions to the atmosphere and improve the quality of life of citizens, achieving a transformation of Galician villas and cities in friendly spaces to live, more comfortable and that positively result in the health of their residents.
With the promotion of the so -called green infrastructure, what is sought is to minimize the presence of cement equipment and infrastructure and increase vegetation in cities as it helps mitigate The effects of climate change on the planet And, at the same time, it has direct benefits for people.
Green infrastructure against climate change
At the same time, through the green infrastructure the position of Galicia will be reinforced as a climate refuge and green and sustainable tourist destination and will contribute to place the community in an advantageous position to be able to capture European funds oriented to environmental recovery since institutions Community are promoting initiatives in order to restore the health of ecosystems, stop the loss of biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change while driving a more sustainable economy.
As pilot and in line experiences with the objectives of the EGIVCRE, it is necessary to remember that the Xunta already participates, through the Institute of Territory Studies (IET), in two European projects related to green infrastructure.
They are, specifically, the Green GAP for the Galicia-Norte Euroregion of Portugal, financed through the Poctep 2021-2027 and that seeks that local administrations play a more relevant role in promoting green infrastructures in this cross-border area, and The Gift project, coordinated by the IET and with 10 European partners, which put special emphasis on forests and landscapes that house these territories, seeking the recovery of Ecosystem services related to biodiversity, weather or water.