The government aims to carry out broad reform this decade to protect Spain’s natural heritage, as laid out in the draft Strategic Plan for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity by 2030. The public exhibition period for the plan concludes this Monday. The document outlines, among other measures, the complete removal of mink farms, the release of cetaceans from aquariums and dolphinariums, the ban on hunting lead ammunition, the planting of 120 million trees, and a rise in marine protected areas.
The strategic plan, to be implemented through 2030, sets out priority action lines, specific objectives, and urgent measures. Starting in 2022, it calls for a national system to monitor and manage biodiversity, allowing ongoing assessment of conservation status across the country.
Separately, the Environmental Education Action Plan for Sustainability (PAEAS) will promote outreach, education, and environmental awareness among citizens. Biodiversity will be addressed through the UN’s One Health approach, and Europa Press noted that a Biodiversity and Health Action Plan will be developed.
Saving extinct species and freeing marine mammals
In another strand, the draft includes an objective to prevent the extinction of at least 40 percent of species by 2030 through programs that reintroduce priority and threatened species to historical ranges. This involves coordinating ex situ conservation programs for the most imperiled species.
Facilities that keep marine mammals in captivity will be phased out. Beginning in 2023, reproduction or movement of captive specimens will be prohibited, and existing facilities will improve their conditions and aquatic environments.
In the marine environment, the government plans to designate new protected areas. It seeks to create eight new marine protected areas within the Natura 2000 Network, aiming for at least 18 percent of Spanish waters to be safeguarded by 2025 and reaching 30 percent by 2030, with progress anticipated between 2023 and 2024.
120 million trees in ten years
On pesticide management, the plan proposes halving the use of the most dangerous chemicals while promoting organic farming and animal husbandry, targeting that 25 percent of farmland to be under such practices this decade.
Another goal sets aside at least 10 percent of agricultural land as highly diverse in landscape. This will be achieved through protective belts, shrubs, diverse fallow fields, wild trees, water bodies, wetlands, or biodiversity islands that maintain ecological connectivity. This approach also aims to boost birdlife in farming landscapes.
By 2030, 200,000 hectares of new forest will be created. Achieving this requires planting at least 120 million trees.
What animals can be kept as pets
The draft also sets out a 2023 review to confirm the list of permitted pets, restricting ownership to species with proven environmental safety and sanitary suitability. A new regulation for breeders of wild fauna will also be approved that year.
To counter invasive species, the government plans a phased closure of American mink farms and campaigns to eradicate wild populations, with a target to complete the phase-out by 2030 at the latest.
Poisons and power lines
In terms of protecting species, the plan calls for a review and update of the National Strategy against illegal poison baits and efforts to prevent bird collisions with high voltage lines and electric shocks. Public administrations will shift away from funding repairs of old power lines as regulations change. By 2030, dangerous lines should be replaced in line with revised rules.
Guidelines will be issued to prevent animals from drowning in rafts and canals, and existing infrastructure will be adapted accordingly. Clean-up and decontamination of plastics and microplastics will be encouraged across sectors such as fishing, ports, navigation, and tourism, to reduce wildlife harm.
Lead-free hunting and fishing
On hunting and fishing, the plan proposes a national regulation before 2025 to ban lead in both fishing tackle and large game gear. By 2030 at the latest, the ban will extend to small game hunting and sport shooting as well.
Another measure involves reviewing subsidies that harm natural heritage and biodiversity. By 2025 these subsidies will be cut by half, and by 2030 they will be neutral or beneficial to biodiversity and natural heritage.
The construction sector is expected to participate, with a target to allocate at least 1 percent of the public works budget to fund actions that support natural heritage conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable use.
Finally, the drafting of the State Council for Natural Heritage and Biodiversity will be reviewed to strengthen the involvement of major professional, scientific, business, trade union, and environmental organizations.
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