LIFE Project Number LIFE15NAT/EN/805 Mid-term Report Covering the project activities from 01/09/2016 1 to 30/04/2019 Reporting Date 2 <15/06/2019> LIFE PROJECT NAME or Acronym LIFE OREKA MENDIAN Data Project Project location: SPAIN: Euskadi FRANCE: Pyrénées-Atlantiques Project start date: 01/09/2016 Project end date: 01/11/2021 Total budget: €3,743,705 EU contribution: €2,246,223 (%) of eligible costs: 60% Data Beneficiary Name Beneficiary: Fundación HAZI Fundazioa Contact person: Mr Mikel de Francisco 1 Project start date 2 Include the reporting date as foreseen in part C2 of Annex II of the Grant Agreement Postal address: Granja Modelo s/n 01192 Arkaute SPAIN Telephone: +34 945003240 E-mail: [email protected] Project Website: www.orekamendian.eu 2 Mid-term report LIFE OREKA MENDIAN 1 Table of contents 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 3 2 LIST OF KEY-WORDS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................... 5 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................ 5 3.1 General progress ................................................................................................................................ 5 3.2 Assessment as to whether the project objectives and work plan are still viable ................................. 7 3.3 Identified deviations, problems and corrective actions taken in the period ....................................... 8 4 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Background, problems and objectives ................................................................................................ 8 4.2 Long-term results are expected. ....................................................................................................... 11 5 ADMINISTRATIVE PART...................................................................................................................................... 12 6 TECHNICAL PART .................................................................................................................................................. 14 6.1 Technical progress, per Action .......................................................................................................... 14 6.1.1 Action A1. Technical principles for the unified management of grazing habitats ............................................... 14 6.1.2 Action A2. Planning of the conservation actions in ZECs..................................................................................... 19 6.1.3 Action A3. Network for monitoring grazing production in different habitats of community interest ................ 22 6.1.4 C ACTIONS: Conservation actions in 15 ZECs....................................................................................................... 25 6.1.5 Action C1. Conservation actions in Armañón ...................................................................................................... 28 6.1.6 Action C2. Conservation actions in Ordunte ....................................................................................................... 29 6.1.7 Action C3. Conservation actions in Urkiola ......................................................................................................... 30 6.1.8 Action C4. Conservation actions in Gorbea ......................................................................................................... 31 6.1.9 Action C5. Conservation actions in Izki ................................................................................................................ 33 6.1.10 Action C6. Conservation actions in Aizkorri-Aratz .......................................................................................... 34 6.1.11 Action C7. Conservation actions in Jaizkibel .................................................................................................. 36 6.1.12 Action C8. Conservation actions in Aiako Harria ............................................................................................ 38 6.1.13 Action C9. Conservation actions in Pagoeta................................................................................................... 39 6.1.14 Action C10. Conservation actions in Hernio-Gazume .................................................................................... 40 6.1.15 Action C11. Conservation actions in Aralar .................................................................................................... 41 6.1.16 Action C12. Conservation actions in Izarraitz ................................................................................................. 42 6.1.17 Action C13. Conservation actions in Entzia .................................................................................................... 43 6.1.18 Action C14. Conservation actions in Arkamo-Gibijo-Arrastaria ..................................................................... 44 6.1.19 Action C15. Conservation actions in Sº Toloño-Cantabria ............................................................................. 46 6.1.20 Action D1. Monitoring the impacts of the actions on the project’s objectives .............................................. 47 6.1.21 Action D2. Assessment of the socio-economic impact of the project on the local economy and population 52 6.1.22 Action D3. Evaluation of the project’s impact on ecosystem services ........................................................... 55 6.1.23 Action D4. Monitoring of scrubland development in mountain pastures using LIDAR .................................. 57 6.1.24 Action D5. Monitoring and measurement of specific LIFE indicators ............................................................ 59 6.1.25 Action D6. Historical analysis and future trends of grazing habitats and landscapes .................................... 60 6.1.26 Action D7. Monitoring the effects of actions included in the SCIs/SACs in the French Basque Country for the unified management of grazing habitats .......................................................................................................................... 62 6.1.27 Action E1. Communication plan ..................................................................................................................... 64 6.1.28 Action E2. Local participation and dissemination .......................................................................................... 70 6.1.29 Action E3. Participation, dissemination and technical-scientific training ...................................................... 76 6.1.30 Action E4. Outreach across Europe ................................................................................................................ 80 6.1.31 Action F1. Coordination and follow-up of LIFEOREKAMENDIAN project ...................................................... 85 6.2 Main deviations, problems and corrective actions implemented ..................................................... 87 6.3 Evaluation of Project Implementation .............................................................................................. 89 6.3.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 89 6.3.2 Results ................................................................................................................................................................. 91 6.3.3 Exchange of experiences ..................................................................................................................................... 94 6.3.4 Communication ................................................................................................................................................... 94 6.3.5 Political implications ........................................................................................................................................... 94 6.3.6 Added value of the EU. ........................................................................................................................................ 95 6.4 Analysis of benefits .......................................................................................................................... 96 6.4.1 Environmental benefits ....................................................................................................................................... 96 3 Mid-term report LIFE OREKA MENDIAN 6.4.2 Qualitative environmental benefits. ................................................................................................................... 96 6.4.3 Economic benefits ............................................................................................................................................... 97 6.4.4 Social benefits ..................................................................................................................................................... 98 6.4.5 Replicability, transferability, cooperation ........................................................................................................... 98 6.4.6 Lessons on best practices ...................................................................................................................................