As part of the LIFE Wild Atlantic Nature project (LIFE18 IPE/IE/000002), the IBADER of the University of Santiago de Compostela hosted an international knowledge exchange workshop on blanket bogs on 9 and 10 June. IBADER-USC, NPWS and Coillte Nature, entities that participate as partners/beneficiaries in the LIFE INSULAR and LIFE Wild Atlantic Nature projects, participated in this event. The meeting allowed for the strengthening of the already existing cooperation relations between these teams and for the promotion of the transfer of knowledge between LIFE projects aimed at the conservation and restoration of Atlantic habitats of high ecological value.
The day combined technical sessions on the Lugo Campus with a field visit to the Serra do Xistral, one of the most relevant territories for the conservation of blanket bogs in the European Atlantic context. During the meeting, issues related to the ecological characterization, the diagnosis of the state of conservation, the restoration, the monitoring and the management of these priority habitats were addressed, as well as the transfer of knowledge between LIFE projects working on the conservation and restoration of vulnerable Atlantic ecosystems.
This workshop constitutes a milestone of particular relevance for the strengthening of the synergies between LIFE INSULAR and LIFE Wild Atlantic Nature, by allowing the direct exchange of experiences between technical and scientific teams with extensive experience in the conservation of habitats of community interest. The collaboration between IBADER-USC, NPWS and Coillte Nature reinforces a common line of work aimed at improving knowledge, identifying good practices and defining shared methodologies applicable to the restoration and monitoring of Atlantic natural habitats.
The holding of this meeting also represents a strategic opportunity to consolidate future international collaborations, establish new lines of work and advance in the creation of a stable network of cooperation between LIFE projects, environmental administrations and research centers. In this way, LIFE INSULAR continues to strengthen its commitment to knowledge transfer, technical cooperation and improving the conservation of island and Atlantic ecosystems of greatest ecological value.
