The Contribution of Local Management to Biodiversity Conservation: An Analysis of Specific Cases in the Region of Madrid (Spain)

Pedro Molina-Holgado, Nieves López-Estébanez, Ana-Belén Berrocal-Menárguez, Fernando Allende-Álvarez and Miguel del Corro-Toro
Additional contact information
Pedro Molina-Holgado: Department of Geography, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Nieves López-Estébanez: Department of Geography, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Ana-Belén Berrocal-Menárguez: Department of Transport Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Fernando Allende-Álvarez: Department of Geography, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Miguel del Corro-Toro: Tragsatec, Calle Maldonado 58, 28006 Madrid, Spain

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: In line with the Urban Agenda for the EU, this article highlights the importance of local actions in the conservation of biodiversity, both through specific activities and by increasing the availability of information. As such, the policies and projects related to the conservation of biodiversity have been analyzed here at different levels and, in particular, the initiatives undertaken in the Madrid Region, Spain. Consequently, two cases are presented that demonstrate the role that local administrations can play in improving the biodiversity database, and hence, in the effective protection of areas of significant environmental value. First, we will examine the effects that creating an environmental inventory of vegetation, flora and landscape has had in Torrelodones. Second, among the more recent environmental policies implemented in the municipality of Madrid are those that resulted in the environmental recovery of the urban section of the Manzanares River. Both these actions demonstrate how local authorities can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity at relatively low expense and in line with EU guidelines. Notably, this occurred despite the fact that competences in environmental matters in Spain are not municipal. In this context, the paper reflects on the untapped potential of the General Urban Planning Plans (PGOU) in deep knowledge and sustainable and responsible management of municipal environmental values.

Keywords: biodiversity; public policies; local management; biodiversity database; renaturation plans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:11:p:462-:d:447680

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