SOSTPARK – Assessing the sustainability of protected areas in Spain

Good for nature... and people

Project summary

Protected Areas (PAs) can be considered the paradigm of sustainability as they are specifically dedicated to the long-term conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services while accounting for human welfare.  of its territory protected under different legal categories of protection. At the same time, it has experienced intense rates of destruction of natural resources, especially soil, due to expansionary policies of residential and infrastructure construction in recent times.  

SOSTPARK was an applied research project implemented between October 2015 and October 2018, financed by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness within the State Program of R & D oriented to the Challenges of Society. It sought to assess the integrated sustainability (environmental, social and economic) of different protected area networks in Spain.

The  assessment was achieved by an initial quantitative analysis of the degree of protection (environmental sustainability) conferred by five networks of terrestrial PAs in Spain: Nature Reserves, National Parks, Nature Parks, Sites of Community Importance / Special Conservation Areas, Special Protection Areas for Birds; and one marine PA network (Marine Reserves) and their perceived socioeconomic impacts (social and economic sustainability). A second phase assessed the comprehensive sustainability (environmental, social and economic) of some PAs in Andalusia and investigated the social impacts of environmental research in the region.

Our role

The principal investigator of the project, Dr. David Rodríguez-Rodríguez, while having double affiliation (IEGD-CSIC & ETC-UMA) was based at ETC-UMA facilities, where he coordinated most research and administrative activities.

Main outputs

Books

Sostenibilidad y áreas protegidas en España. Naturaleza, población y economía

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.

Sostenibilidad y áreas protegidas en España. Naturaleza, población y economía Book

CSIC-Catarata, Madrid, 2019, ISBN: 978-84-00-10476-4.

Abstract | BibTeX

Book Chapters

A Centennial Path Towards Sustainability in Spanish National Parks: Biodiversity Conservation and Socioeconomic Development (1918-2018)

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.

A Centennial Path Towards Sustainability in Spanish National Parks: Biodiversity Conservation and Socioeconomic Development (1918-2018) Book Chapter

In: Suratman, Mohd Nazip (Ed.): National Parks - Management and Conservation, Chapter 8, pp. 204-298, IntechOpen, 2018, ISBN: 978-1-78923-125-0.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Eficacia de las Áreas Protegidas de España como política de sostenibilidad territorial: el proyecto SOSTPARK

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.; López, I.

Eficacia de las Áreas Protegidas de España como política de sostenibilidad territorial: el proyecto SOSTPARK Book Chapter

In: Políticas públicas y sociales: globalización, desigualdad y nuevas insurgencias, pp. 197-208, PRENSAS UNIVERSITARIAS DE ZARAGOZA, Zaragoza, 2018.

Abstract | BibTeX

Journal Articles

Assessing the environmental effectiveness of the Spanish Marine Reserve Network using remote sensing

Merkohasanaj, M.; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; García-Martínez, M. C.; Vargas-Yáñez, M.; Abdul-Malak, D.

Assessing the environmental effectiveness of the Spanish Marine Reserve Network using remote sensing Journal Article

In: Ecological Indicators, vol. 107, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Social and economic sustainability of multiple-use marine protected areas in Spain: A mixed methods, multi-scale study

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Merkohasanaj, M.; López, I.

Social and economic sustainability of multiple-use marine protected areas in Spain: A mixed methods, multi-scale study Journal Article

In: Ocean & Coastal Management, vol. 171, pp. 47-55, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Bridging the research-management gap in environmental conservation: A case study from Andalusia, southern Spain

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Schröder, C.; McGlade, K.; Pascual, D.

Bridging the research-management gap in environmental conservation: A case study from Andalusia, southern Spain Journal Article

In: SDRP Journal of Earth Sciences & Environmental Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 579-588, 2019, ISBN: 2472-6397 .

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Socioeconomic effects of protected areas in Spain across spatial scales and protection levels

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; López, I.

Socioeconomic effects of protected areas in Spain across spatial scales and protection levels Journal Article

In: Ambio, vol. 49, pp. 258–270, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Effect of protected area networks at reducing land development across inland and coastal areas and climatic condictions of a rapidly developing country, Spain

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Sebastiao, J.; Tierra, A. R. Salvo

Effect of protected area networks at reducing land development across inland and coastal areas and climatic condictions of a rapidly developing country, Spain Journal Article

In: Land Degradation & Development , vol. 30, no. 8, pp. 991-1005, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Analysing subtle threats to conservation: a nineteen year assessment of fragmentation and isolation of Spanish protected areas

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.

Analysing subtle threats to conservation: a nineteen year assessment of fragmentation and isolation of Spanish protected areas Journal Article

In: Landscape and Urban Planning, vol. 185, pp. 107-116, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

A twenty year GIS-based assessment of environmental sustainability of land use changes in and around protected areas of a fast developing country: Spain

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.; Echavarría, P.

A twenty year GIS-based assessment of environmental sustainability of land use changes in and around protected areas of a fast developing country: Spain Journal Article

In: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, vol. 74, pp. 169-179, 2019.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

	Effects of Legal Designation and Management of a Multiple-Use Protected Area on Local Sustainability

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; López, I.

Effects of Legal Designation and Management of a Multiple-Use Protected Area on Local Sustainability Journal Article

In: Sustainability , vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 3176, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Effect of legal protection and management of protected areas at preventing land development: a Spanish case study

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J. (Ed.)

Effect of legal protection and management of protected areas at preventing land development: a Spanish case study Journal Article

In: Regional Environmental Change, vol. 18, pp. 2483-2494, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Protected area effectiveness against land development in Spain

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.

Protected area effectiveness against land development in Spain Journal Article

In: Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 215, pp. 345-357, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Representation and protection of the threatened biodiversity by the largest Spanish regional network of protected areas

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.

Representation and protection of the threatened biodiversity by the largest Spanish regional network of protected areas Journal Article

In: Endangered Species Research, vol. 35, pp. 125-139, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Rapid assessment of protection and ecological effectiveness of the Spanish Fishing Reserve Network

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.

Rapid assessment of protection and ecological effectiveness of the Spanish Fishing Reserve Network Journal Article

In: Marine Policy, vol. 90, pp. 29-36, 2018.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Assessing recent environmental sustainability in the Spanish network of National Parks and their statutory peripheral areas

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Martínez-Vega, J.

Assessing recent environmental sustainability in the Spanish network of National Parks and their statutory peripheral areas Journal Article

In: Applied Geography, vol. 89, pp. 22-31, 2017.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

More about it

David Rodríguez Rodríguez

Territorial sustainability assessment - Protected areas

davidrr@uma.es

David Rodríguez Rodríguez holds a European-mention PhD in Conservation Biology, an MSc in Ecological Restoration, two BScs: in Biology and in Environmental Sciences, and one University Specialist Degree in GIS and Remote Sensing...

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Our partners

Institute of Economy, Geography and Demography, Spanish National Research Council (IEGD-CSIC), Spain

University of Zaragoza, Spain

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SOSTPARK was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (CSO2014‐54611‐JIN)


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RESTORE4Cs 1st Policy Brief: How can coastal wetlands help achieve EU climate goals?

The first RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief of RESTORE4Cs, “How can coastal wetlands help achieve EU climate goals?“, highlights the importance of European coastal wetlands for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions. The key messages of the first RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief include: Coastal wetlands are important natural carbon stores, ...
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Mapping the Impact of Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean

The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation with the support of ETC-UMA in the framework of the Blue Tourism Initiative, has released a comprehensive report entitled “Mapping the Impact of Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean: Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal and Marine ...
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StrategyMedFor Presented at Annual Medforval Meeting 2024

StrategyMedFor was prominently featured at the Annual Medforval Meeting 2024, held from June 5-7 in Fontecchio, Italy. The event brought together 25 practitioners  from national parks and natural reserves across 9 Mediterranean countries, providing a valuable platform for StrategyMedFor to ...
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Celebrating leadership in environmental management: an interview with Dania Abdul Malak

From designing integrated ecosystem assessments in Europe and the Mediterranean to transforming outcomes into evidence-based recommendations for regional stakeholders, the European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA) stands as a flagship for territorial cooperation. At the forefront of ...
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Save the date! Unlocking solutions for coastal conservation in Europe

How can coastal wetlands respond to major European Union objectives such as climate neutrality, biodiversity protection, and pollution reduction? What key role do coastal wetlands play in achieving EU commitments for climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation? The European Topic Centre ...
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Towards a Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Forests (StrategyMedFor)

The StrategyMedFor project, co-financed by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, was launched at the University of Malaga during a two day meeting that took place on March 18 and 19, 2024. The European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA), ...
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As UNEP MAP partner organization, ETC-UMA recently engaged in the organization of a session with Mediterranean institutions under the topic of climate change, entitled: From COASTAL to FOREST ecosystems: Mediterranean Nature-based Solutions to tackle climate change and ensure the Resilience ...
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Tools for conserving the Spanish coast

On the initiative of the Instituto Universitario Hábitat Territorio y Digitalización (iHTD) of the University of Malaga, around 70 representatives of Spanish public administrations, researchers, architecture and environmental science players and civil society signed up to the second debate on ...
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GreenEye System: a cloud-based system to monitor wetlands in Andalusia

Developed in the frame of the LifeWatch INDALO project cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the study of biodiversity and global change in Andalucia, GreenEye System, this new cloud-based monitoring system, provides useful tools for wetlands’ assessment, ...
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Looking back and forth to Mediterranean Forests

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More space for innovative Mediterranean forest data partnerships

The report entitled A knowledge baseline on Mediterranean forests supported by innovation launched in July by ETC-UMA provides a highlight of what Mediterranean countries and institutions are doing to integrate new digital, satellite and Artificial Intelligence technologies into forest monitoring ...
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The Earth from Space shown by ETC-UMA at FANTEC 2023

Students from 80 centers from all over Andalusia came together on Friday 19 May 2023 at the High School of Industrial Engineering of the University of Malaga to participate, one more year, in the Andalusian Technology Fair 2023. Antonio Sanchez ...
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ETC-UMA launches new technologies applied to ecosystem knowledge

Built on the Google Earth Engine cloud computing platform, the new wetland monitoring system based on remote sensing data, developed by ETC-UMA and presented in April 2023 at the National Centre for Environmental Education (CENEAM by its acronym in Spanish) ...
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Celebrating and calibrating Mediterranean forests

The Mediterranean basin is the third-richest hotspot in the world in terms of plant biodiversity  and one of the greatest sources of endemic plants on Earth. Its plant diversity accounts for 25 000 plant species, 60 percent of which are ...