Welcome to the blog of REMEDIA network (Scientific Network on GHG mitigation from the agroforestry sector in Spain). We have just had our first meeting in Bilbao http://www.bc3research.org/events/remedia/index.php?lang=en. The conclusions of the workshop were as follows:
- The high participation and large diversity in topics shown confirms that the areas of knowledge in Spain in relation to the issue of mitigation of GHG in agriculture and forestry have already been studied for many years. However, researchers have been only aware of its strategic dimension on recent years.
- Studies and groups in Spain working on this issue show some degree of fragmentation and isolation from each other both thematically and geographically. A need for integration has been identified as a working method in order to increase the added value of the studies and groups.
- The overall aim of the new network must be to promote synergies and complementarities between scientific groups working in this area from a multidisciplinary perspective. The network should also be a framework for the dissemination and transfer of scientific and strategic information on these topics for the government, the private sector and society in Spain, and internationally.
- The network specific objectives are:
- To be instrumental as a framework to coordinate national efforts with current international initiatives (mainly Global Research Alliance, FACCE JPI, ICOS ESFRI, LTER). Thereby, promoting the scientific relationships with other international networks.
- To include the possibility of involving more actively all stakeholders in relation to the issue (long-term objective).
- To promote holistic studies within the research area around GHG mitigation in the agricultural and forestry sectors.
- To promote consensus and cohesion in the language applied to the area of GHG mitigation in the agricultural and forestry sectors. The network can be used to develop a glossary of common semantics when dealing with the science that covers GHG mitigation in the sector.
- To identify and propose scientific activities sustained over time (eg long-term experimental platforms) for a proper understanding of different mitigation measures (e.g. soil C sequestration understanding requires long-term experiments), as well as to explore the compatibility with the adaptation to climate change (e.g. water and mitigation vs. adaptation; plant/animal breeding for adaptation and mitigation).
- To promote the exchange of information between groups and promote a meta-database on different outputs of research on this area in Spain (eg research groups, projects, publications, models, tools, infrastructures…).
- To foster relationships with other existing scientific networks in relation to the topic of REMEDIA.
- REMEDIA participants recognize the importance of being able to integrate in a balanced way:
- (i) All dimensions in relation to mitigation: biogeochemical/biophysical, socio-economic and political.
- (ii) The different sectors: forestry, livestock and agriculture.
And they have stressed the need to encourage greater participation in the network of researchers in the area of socioeconomics.
- The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment in Spain (MAGRAMA) recognizes the need for this initiative to contribute to improving the scientific basis for GHG inventory estimates in these areas and hopes that REMEDIA network consolidates. It was also highlighted the need to find ways/means to consolidate REMEDIA network.
The mitigation «wild bunch».
