The DRYAD coordination team, led by University of A Coruña (UDC), undertook an important technical visit from 17 to 19 March to the Demonstration Region in Andalusia (Spain). Accompanied by researchers from the University of Córdoba (UCO) and Andalusian Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries, Food and Organic Production Research and Training (IFAPA). The mission aimed to assess on-site the progress of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) currently being implemented in the region, designed to enhance the climate resilience of Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystems.
Field activities in the Pilot Demonstration Areas (PDAs)
Over the course of the three-day programme, the consortium visited various Pilot Demonstration Areas (PDAs) located in the province of Córdoba, including strategic sites in Hinojosa, Pozoblanco and Villaviciosa de Córdoba.
These field visits enabled the coordination team to gain first-hand insight into the technical work being carried out by local partners. Specifically, they monitored the deployment of monitoring networks and hydrological measurement infrastructure. These systems are essential for collecting the data that will feed into the project’s models, which focus on testing strategies such as adaptive grazing management to address water stress and early detection of tree mortality.
Strengthening ties with local stakeholders: Visit to COVAP
A key pillar of the DRYAD project is the active involvement of stakeholders and the co-creation of solutions with local communities. In this context, one of the highlights of the agenda was a visit to the facilities of COVAP (Livestock Cooperative of the Valle de los Pedroches), an associated partner and a crucial stakeholder for the success of this demonstration region.
Members of the DRYAD team had the opportunity to tour the cooperative’s dairy facilities and gain an in-depth understanding of its working model. This face-to-face meeting with one of the region’s leading organisations in the agri-food sector enabled the consortium to discuss the synergies between industrial livestock farming and the conservation objectives for the dehesa ecosystem. Collaboration with stakeholders such as COVAP ensures that DRYAD’s solutions are viable, transferable and responsive to the region’s real needs.
The visit wrapped up at the University of Córdoba Campus, where technical meetings and workshops encouraged a rich discussion about the NbS Implementation and ways to improve our work and communication with the stakeholders and citizens.
Bringing DRYAD results closer to students: Seminar at UCO
Javier Samper and Maciej Lubczynski also had the chance to give a seminar to some of UCO PhD students, presented by Ana Andreu, during the last day of the visit. The seminar focused on the critical role of groundwater in the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum. The session provided students with direct insights into the project’s scientific approaches and fostered discussion on how DRYAD’s research contributes to sustainable management of Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystems:
- Javier Samper Calvete – Groundwater flow in fractured hard rocks
- Maciek Lubczynski – Integrated hydrological model of Trabadillo region
