16/10/2026
If you missed our earlier post, Bioup Communities for Biodiversity is an Erasmus+ project we’re part of that helps rural communities understand, protect and value the biodiversity around them, across four regions in Portugal, Italy, Latvia and Spain.
This week, we were proud to host the BioUP Communities for Biodiversity transnational workshop at Juntos Farm. Over three days, partners from all four countries came together to explore how local communities can play an active part in protecting the nature on their doorstep.
The theme of the workshops was citizen science, and it marked the start of BioUP’s second phase, in which we explore how we can connect local communities with research projects on their native species and launch citizen science initiatives in each region.
Some highlights from the week:
- A round table with the scientific community, the Universitat de les Illes Balears, the Consell Insular d`Eivissa and others, exploring why scientific initiatives often struggle to connect with local communities, and where those barriers lie.
- A morning in the Cala Xarraca forest with Regenera Natura, exploring their forest restoration work, interpretive trail and ecosystem monitoring tools.
- An inspiring online talk with Astrid Vargas, award-winning conservation biologist and former lead of the Iberian lynx conservation programme.
Thank you to our partners, Herdade Da Contenda, ADC Moura, Sugo Design, LA Bricula Odv, and Vidzemes plānošanas reģions / Vidzeme Planning Region, and to Ibiza & Formentera Preservation, Creatives For the Planet, and Biodival, who joined us and shared their knowledge.
BioUP is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union ( European Commission)