Brussels, November 3rd, 2023. Did you know that in 2005, UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) granted the seal of Biosphere Reserve to the island of Gran Canaria?
This recognition highlights the island’s environmental quality and diversity, as nearly half of Gran Canaria’s geographic space (around 43%) was included under this seal.
Areas that comprise the Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve. Source: Web oficial de Turismo de Gran Canaria
The island’s continual effort to maintain a balance between environmental preservation and economic and social progress, promoting sustainable measures and harmonious integration between the population and nature, stands as an example of good practices aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the European Green Deal.
Biosphere reserves represent one of the main pillars of UNESCO’s mission as a United Nations agency dedicated to science. Each biosphere reserve fosters innovative local solutions aimed at conserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, addressing climate change, while simultaneously seeking to improve the livelihoods of the population and engaging them in raising awareness.
In this regard, the European project LIFE COSTAdapta fully aligns with these goals, as through its Tidal pool-reefs system, it presents a sustainable solution that will strengthen coastal resilience against climate change, favoring marine diversity and reinforcing coastal geodiversity.
Furthermore, this initiative seeks to promote sustainable tourism, attracting visitors interested in biodiversity and raising local awareness about environmental conservation.
As part of the European Union’s LIFE programme, our project aims to drive research and innovation, collaborating with partners and experts to transfer this methodology to other coastal regions facing similar challenges.
Today, on the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, we reaffirm our commitment to benefit the protection of marine biosphere reserves and their surroundings.
About LIFE COSTAdapta
LIFE COSTAdapta project aims to address the adaptation of the coast of Gran Canaria to sea-level rise through an innovative methodology. To achieve this, a progressive system of Tidal pool-reefs will be designed and tested, combining traditional tidal pool construction techniques with advanced solutions.
This will contribute to the gradual adaptation of the Gran Canaria coast to climate change, which is crucial given the high vulnerability of the Canary Islands to climate impacts, including sea-level rise. In addition to strengthening the resilience of coastal areas, LIFE COSTAdapta seeks to preserve the characteristic habitats of these areas and protect the local tourist economy. The project will ensure economic sustainability by providing solutions against flooding and maintaining the region’s tourist appeal, which in turn will favor coastal stability.
The project, with a duration of 7 years and a total budget of 3,409,864 EUR (2,045,818 EUR subsidized by the European Union through the LIFE Program), is coordinated by Consejo Insular de Energía de Gran Canaria (CIEGC) by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, with the support of its seven partners.