LIFE Project: LIFE Olivares Vivos + Increasing the impact of Olivares Vivos in the EU

Type Project
Status In progress
Execution 2021 -2026
Assigned Budget 7.031.291,00 €
Scope Europeo
Autonomous community Madrid, Comunidad de
Main source of financing LIFE
Project website Web del proyecto

Description

The LIFE Olivares Vivos+ project seeks to halt biodiversity loss in the EU by accelerating the expansion of the Olivares Vivos (OV) model and increasing its replication potential. The aim is not to preserve a specific species, habitat, or group of species, but rather the taxonomic and functional biodiversity of olive groves. The project focuses on birds, terrestrial insects, pollinating insects, weeds, and woody vegetation, used as ecological indicators.

Contextual description

In the EU, olive groves occupy more than 5.3 million hectares, including 420,000 hectares within the Natura 2000 network. Olive trees are the most representative crop in the Mediterranean region, being one of the main crops in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Due to their size and environmental and socioeconomic values, olive groves represent a strategic crop for halting biodiversity loss in the EU and preserving our natural capital.

A previous project, LIFE Olivares Vivos (LIFE14 NAT/ES/001094), has demonstrated:

The importance of olive groves for biodiversity conservation.
An agri-environmental scheme that can, among other things, improve biodiversity, halt soil loss, and reduce pesticide use, thereby lowering production costs.
A certification scheme that increases awareness and profitability of the biodiversity gains achieved.

Objectives

Increase the impact of VO in achieving the objectives of the LIFE programme and, in particular, in EU strategies to halt biodiversity loss.
Consolidate OV certification as a tool for incorporating the added value of biodiversity into financial decision-making, validating bioeconomic strategies as a successful path to preserving our natural capital.
Achieve better integration of the results and lessons learned from the previous LIFE project into the design of the EU's green architecture, strengthened cross-compliance requirements, and the planning of the Green Plans and climate and environmental measures of the new post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Gain a better understanding of the medium-term effects of biodiversity restoration measures (debt recovery) in order to adapt the certification system and the regulations for the certification seal.
Increase the replicability of the Andalusian OV territory management plan to other regions of Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy.
Ensure the replicability of the OV model and certification in areas particularly sensitive to climate change;
Promote the creation of green jobs as a result of the new employment niches generated by the VO model.
Extend the OV model to the table olive sector.
Strengthen the capacities of olive growers through specific training to better utilize the ecosystem services of biodiversity and transfer them to farm income statements.
Improve the training of technical staff in environmental consulting and certification to meet the demand for OV applications.
Expand production and distribution options for OV oils to facilitate the added environmental value of the oils reaching the market and consumers.
Improve the competitiveness of the olive oil sector and increase its resilience through differentiation strategies based on added value.
Increase farmers' awareness of biodiversity conservation and organic farming practices.
Make OV a benchmark for consumer empowerment and biodiversity conservation.
Design a strategy for replication of the OV model for other Mediterranean countries in the EU.
Design of a transferability strategy for other woody crops, with a special focus on vineyards.

Results

An average increase in fauna and flora species of 10% over three years on the new OV-certified farms is expected, with a much greater increase expected in the medium/long term (to be evaluated in the original demonstration olive groves from the previous project).
Significant increase in the area occupied by OV-certified olive groves for the production of olive oil (at least 10,000 additional hectares).
20 olive groves with OV certification for the production of table olives.
At least 500 new applications from olive growers interested in the OV model.
Reduction of at least 50% in pesticide use on OV farms.
The eco-schemes in the post-2020 CAP will integrate measures tested by the OV that have proven effective in restoring biodiversity.
Inclusion of restoration measures to increase biodiversity in olive groves and other permanent crops derived from OV in rural development plans under the second pillar of the CAP.
An optimized certification framework based on the best available knowledge of the medium- and long-term effects of the measures implemented in restoration plans.
At least three biodiversity recovery action plans for olive groves located in areas particularly sensitive to climate change, and at least 18 biodiversity recovery action plans for "transfer olive groves" (i.e., the demonstration olive groves of the new project).
New green job opportunities (at least 150 people trained in the design and management of restoration plans, specialized workers in agrosystem restoration, specialists in bioindicator monitoring for certification, etc.).
The number of consumers aware of the added value of used vehicles has tripled.
7% annual increase in olive oil market demand from 2021 (from consumers, intermediaries, and exporters).
Increased internationalization of olive oil: at least 50 olive oil importing countries by 2026.
Strategic plan to transfer the OV model to other permanent crops.
Replication plan to adopt the OV model in three EU countries (Portugal, Italy and Greece).
Approximately 25% increase in net ecosystem CO2 exchange due to the maintenance of herbaceous vegetation cover in the new OV forests.

Contact information

Coordinator/entity name: Asunción Ruiz
Postal address: Melquiades Biencinto nº 34, 28053, Madrid,

Coordinators

Sociedad Española de Ornitología

Collaborators

HAO(Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos - DIMITRA)
DREAM(D.R.E.AM Italia)
UéVORA(University of évora)
JVILAR(Juan Vilar Consultores Estratégicos S.L.)
CSIC(Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)
DIPUJAEN(Diputación Provincial de Jaén)
UJA-E(Universidad de Jaén. Departamento de biología animal, biología vegetal y ecología. Grupo de investigación PAIDI RNM-354)
UJA-M(Universidad de Jaén. Departamento de Organización de Empresas, Marketing y Sociología. Grupo de investigación PAIDI SEJ-315 Marketing UJA)

Otros links

LIFE Project: LIFE Olivares Vivos + Increasing the impact of Olivares Vivos in the EU

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