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In late 2019, an outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus started in China (Graham and Baric, 2020; Hu et al., 2020; Maxmen, 2021). A global pandemic was declared in March 2020, as COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus (World Health Organization, 2020b), escalated outside China (World Health Organization, 2020a). In mid-2021, when vaccination campaigns began to show positive effects on the control of the disease in several countries (Kaur and Gupta, 2020), the COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of infections (Dong et al., 2020). To fight the pandemic, governments reacted with measures designed to contain the spread of the virus, especially through measures aimed to reduce social interactions, including lockdowns (Wilder-Smith and Freedman, 2020), travel restrictions (Chinazzi et al., 2020), and limiting people’s access to non-essential activities (Storr et al., 2021). Humanity suffered a notable impact as a result of the pandemic, including losses of jobs and an abrupt disruption in global demand of goods and services (Barua, 2020; McKibbin and Fernando, 2020; Nicola et al., 2020). The pandemic further degraded the quality of life of the most vulnerable people, particularly those with mental health problems (Brooks et al., 2020), victims of domestic violence (Usher et al., 2020), children (Singh et al., 2020), or indigenous populations (Lane, 2020). As a result, an increase in economic inequality and worldwide poverty is expected, especially in developing countries (World Bank, 2020), and a peak in the suicide rate (Kawohl and Nordt, 2020). On the other hand, global reduction of human activities has had some positive effects on the global environment, especially for air and water quality (Rutz et al., 2020), and noise reduction (Zambrano-Monserrate et al., 2020). Marine ecosystems for example experienced less impacts derived from commercial fishing due to disruptions in large markets such as the United States (White et al., 2021a) or the European Union (Prellezo and Carvahlo, 2020; Coll et al., 2021). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

La pesca artesanal es aún una importante fuente de alimento, empleo y renta en Europa, así como un activo cultural y de identidad. Sin embargo, la información disponible sobre las flotas artesanales es escasa, lo que dificulta el diseño y evaluación de medidas de gestión y ordenación sostenibles. El Principado de Asturias, donde al menos el 75% de la flota se considera artesanal, constituye un caso paradigmático. El objetivo de esta tesis es mejorar el conocimiento de las características socioeconómicas de flota artesanal asturiana y del papel que juega en la economía regional, tanto en términos absolutos como comparados respecto a las flotas industriales y la pesca marítima de recreo. Esta disertación también explora cómo modelos económicos habitualmente usados para orientar las políticas pesqueras deberían considerar ciertas características de estas flotas.

Parte de los trabajos desarrollados en el marco del Proyecto Interreg-SUDOE “SOS Praderas” se centran en el diseño de una ayuda específica de la Política Agraria Común (PAC) dirigida al fomento de los prados de siega de montaña, en riesgo de desaparición en el territorio del sudoeste europeo. Para ello se analizan los antecedentes sobre una revisión de los instrumentos de la PAC utilizados hasta ahora para tal fin en distintos países europeos, sobre el estado de conserva-ción actual de los prados en el área de estudio y sobre la identificación de las buenas prácticas agrícolas para su gestión y manejo ganadero. Las alternativas de diseño varían según la ayuda se oriente a la obtención de resultados de biodiversi-dad o al cumplimiento de unos compromisos de manejo sostenible por parte de los ganaderos. En cada caso se discuten las mejores medidas de la PAC a elegir, las áreas de aplicación, el sistema de evaluación de los resultados de biodiversi-dad, el tipo de compromisos y la cuantía de los pagos. Se concluye con una propuesta de cuatro opciones para la modula-ción de la ayuda. Finalmente se realizan una serie de consideraciones sobre el papel de otras acciones de fomento en la conservación de estas comunidades herbáceas.

Hay meadows represents agro-ecosystems maintained by secular extensive management of rural communities throughout Europe. Their progressive disappearance (especially in mountain areas) represents a significant loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This study aimed at carrying out a general diagnosis of ecosystem services (ES) provided by hay meadows in the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on mountain areas located in the North of Spain and Portugal, most of which are currently protected areas or/and Natura 2000 sites. The conceptual framework developed in the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment has been applied to characterise and assess the most relevant ES, as well as to analyse their evolution and driving forces in the last decades, based on published data and expert opinion. As the area of hay meadows has been decreasing notably over the last 60 years in this area, a general loss in the supply of fundamental ES for the well-being of our society is taking place. The study also briefly discusses possible responses to tackle this decline. Authors thank C. Aguiar and J. Pires (Inst. Pol. de Bragança), M.A. Álvarez and T.E. Díaz (Univ. of Oviedo) for their contributions, and the EU Interreg Sudoe Programme and ERDF 2014-2020 for cofinancing this study under the SOS PRADERAS Project. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Resumen de la contribución presentada en el congreso., SER Europe Conference, Restoration in the Era of Climate Change (11th, 2018, Reykjavick), Se incluyen 2 archivos: resumen de la ponencia y póster de la misma., VERBATIM: In the Iberian Atlantic Region, there are several landscape change processes (changes in the land use, presence of invasive species, activities regarding public use, intensification of agricultural and livestock farming, climate change) and phytosanitary problems (alder diseases caused by Phytophthora ssp.) that, currently, are threat factors of river corridor habitats. These factors are deteriorating and fragmenting them, and having a relevant impact on their functionality. The LIFE Fluvial project aims to mitigate these consequences, to improve the conservation status and to develop sustainable management measures of river and fluvio-estuarine corridors. Selected areas in the project are Natura 2000 sites belonging to several river basins located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). To this aim, LIFE Fluvial has designed the following actions: A detailed analysis of the current status and implementation of a trans-national model for the sustainable management of river corridors to reduce the negative impact caused by the threats and to avoid their spread towards other UE territories. Design and implementation of restoration projects to improve conservation status of the natural habitats of interest, connectivity and to reduce fragmentation. Control of invasive flora species that pose a threat to the conservation of river corridors, and improvement of their phytosanitary state by removing trees infected by Phytophthora Dissemination of the environmental relevance of river corridors and social awareness in terms of socioeconomic benefits and ecosystem services provided. Improvement of training/education and technical empowerment of the stakeholders involved in the management and conservation of river corridors. The project lasts four years (2017-2021) and includes a system to monitor the impact of the actions on habitats and ecosystem services provided by river corridors., El proyecto LIFE Fluvial (LIFE 16/NAT ES/000771) está cofinanciado por el programa europeo LIFE (2014-2020).

Hay meadows, agri-ecosystems maintained by the secular actions of man, are disappearing all over Europe, and with them, large areas with high biodiversity. In recent years, this process has also affected significant surfaces of mesophile hay meadows located in South-West European (SW EU) mountain areas due to changes in land management and socio- demographic decline. Specific agri-environmental subsidies are one of the potential instruments to favour their conservation, but most of SW EU mountain areas lack them. This study aims to analyse how current agricultural payment schemes from CAP and Rural Development Programmes (RDP) can be used to enhance biodiversity conservation by promoting the maintenance/recovery of the traditional extensive management of mesophile hay meadows in Natura 2000 areas within SW EU territory. To reach this goal, an extensive review and characterisation of economic instruments and sectoral experiences applied to the conservation of these meadows in Europe has been carried out. In addition, a clustering and comparative analysis of their main features, transfer possibilities and implementation results have been addressed. As a result, this study proposes strategic guidelines to design and put into practice future economic measures to conserve mesophile hay meadows in different SW EU mountain protected areas. Authors thank EU Interreg SUDOE Programme and ERDF 2014-2020 for co-financing this study within the context of SOS PRADERAS Project (www.sospraderas.eu). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Hay meadows, agro-ecosystems established and maintained by human secular actions of extensive management, are disappearing all over Europe, especially in mountain areas where they represent key High Nature Value Farming systems for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In recent times, also mesophile hay meadows in South-West Europe, a European priority habitat registering a poor conservation status, have lost significant part of their area. This disappearance is due to abandonment, intensification or urbanisation, driven by changes in land management and rural socio-demographic decline. This study is aimed at assessing the loss of mountain hay meadows in the North of the Iberian Peninsula and its consequences for ecosystem services, focusing on selected pilot areas currently protected as Natura 2000 sites. A diachronic analysis of these habitats was carried out through detailed land use mapping for three different periods, from the 1960s to the present, representing areas covered by hay meadows over time. Once identified, land use changes during the time under consideration have been quantified and analysed, as well as the drivers responsible for those changes. The conceptual framework of the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment was then applied to identify and discuss the most relevant consequences of change on ecosystem services. Results showed that, over the last 60 years, some study areas have lost up to 74% of hay meadows progressively, although at a higher rate in the latest years. A relationship between abandonment and slope and distance to inhabited areas has been also observed. Findings suggest that the observed abandonment process may lead to a loss of biodiversity (domesticated species) and impacts in the supply of strategic ecosystem services such as genetic resources, safe and healthy food products, traditional knowledge or fire risk protection. Interactions between hay meadows loss, ecosystem services, demographic processes and agricultural structural changes are finally discussed. Authors thank EU Interreg SUDOE Programme and ERDF 2014-2020 for co-financing this study within the context of SOS PRADERAS Project (www.sospraderas.eu). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Congreso de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles (25º. 2017. Madrid, España), La Cordillera Cantábrica es la cadena montañosa más occidental de Europa y a lo largo de unos 480 kilómetros, en sentido longitudinal, alberga espacios de alto valor natural. Estos espacios naturales han ido adquiriendo diversas figuras de protección y se han dotado de instrumentos de ordenación de sus recursos naturales. En la actualidad existen doce Reservas de la Biosfera, las cuales, debido a su continuidad, conforman un conjunto susceptible de ser gestionado en el futuro mediante una única reserva de escala suprarregional. Como paso previo al reconocimiento de esa hipotética figura, que se denominamos Gran Cantábrica, hemos creído oportuno profundizar en el conocimiento de los aspectos sociales y económicos que la caracterizan con el objetivo de complementar los diferentes trabajos existentes que inciden sobre la componente natural. El análisis socioeconómico del conjunto se ha abordado a partir de varios indicados, obtenidos de los servicios estadísticos de las comunidades autónomas. Posteriormente, se ha evaluado la dinámica de estos espacios tras su declaración como Reservas de la Biosfera. El análisis de la dinámica socioeconómica del conjunto nos permite destacar las disparidades entre las diferentes reservas y la evaluación del grado de incidencia que ha tenido la declaración de Reserva de la Biosfera., Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la financiación prestada por el programa FPU del Ministerio de Educación. (FPU14/04710).

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los motivos por los cuales la economía española es especialmente vulnerable a los efectos del cambio climático y cuáles son las medidas a aplicar para tratar de reducirlos. En la primera parte, se presentan las peculiaridades de nuestra economía respecto a otros países de Europa, mostrando las principales consecuencias que deja el cambio climático en nuestra geografía y estructura productiva. En la segunda parte, el trabajo muestra los instrumentos económicos utilizados para combatir los efectos de este fenómeno, así como aquéllos aplicables en un futuro. Tras el estudio realizado se pude destacar que las medidas aplicadas han logrado mejorar la situación, pero no son suficientes para cumplir los objetivos a largo plazo, por lo que será necesario ser más ambicioso, tanto en las labores de mitigación como de adaptación, y hacerlo de manera correcta permitirá reducir impactos y potenciar oportunidades sectoriales y geográficas.