The subdelegate of the Government in A Coruña, María Rivas, presented this morning the ambitious project “Ecocartographic Study of two areas of the coast of A Coruña”. The Government of Spain, through the General Directorate of the Coast and Sea of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, promotes this study with an investment of 3,349,374.38 euros financed by the Recovery Plan.
“The study seeks to obtain an in-depth knowledge of the coastal environment by combining physical, biological and cultural data with a clear objective that is to better understand the current state of the area and, above all, what is its possible evolution, as well as to value our heritage elements,” explained Rivas who added that “this type of complex studies with a high economic cost could not have been carried out if it were not for the funds of the Recovery Plan.”
The project, which has a duration of 24 months, covers the eco-cartographic analysis of two large areas of the Corunnese coast: from Cabo Prioriño Chico (Ferrol) to Cabo de San Adrián (Malpica), and from Cabo Fisterra to Cabo Falcoeiro (Ribeira), with a total area of 407 km. It is the first time that a study of these characteristics is carried out throughout the north of Spain and, currently, only a similar work is being done in Tenerife.
According to the deputy delegate of the Government of Spain in A Coruña, “this project aims to become a key tool for environmental planning and to have the capacity to react to climate change and its effects.”
The work, carried out by the UTE formed by GEHYM, TOPCAD INGENIERÍA, HIDTMA and EUROFINS IPROMA, includes a wide variety of technical and scientific works, among which stand out:
- Topographic and bathymetric surveys to generate digital models of the terrain and the seabed.
- Morphodynamic studies of beaches to analyze their evolution and vulnerability to climate change for which 1,140 samples will be taken.
- Characterization of sediments, benthic and planktonic communities, fundamental to assess environmental quality. A total of 803 sediment samples are planned, with a greater effort in the areas of ria and in front of the beaches. A total of 1,500 samples will also be collected to analyze the nature of the water column and its seasonal variability.
- Inventory of infrastructures, discharges and fishing grounds, in order to identify human pressures on the ecosystem.
- Studies of the natural, archaeological, historical and ethnographic heritage, which will allow to value the cultural and natural elements of the coast.
- Mapping of land uses and habitats, integrated into a high-resolution Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS will comply with the INSPIRE regulation.
- Environmental assessment system, which will allow the classification of areas of special ecological, landscape or heritage interest.
This plan, which was unveiled to coincide with Oceans Day on June 8, “is a very important bet of the Government, a pioneering project with which we are anticipating the consequences of climate change, knowing better our coast to be able to anticipate the consequences of climate change,” said the deputy delegate.
The study will thus contribute to environmental planning, coastal conservation and social awareness of the importance of protecting a natural space, beaches, which also acts as the first barrier against climate change.