Satellite event: Rural Climate Forum 2024: Biodiversity, climate & rural youth

Rural Climate Forum 2024: Biodiversity, climate & rural youth

Goal: In 2022, the 1st edition of the Forum focused on analyzing the challenges of rural Spain and in particular the Ribera del Duero region regarding the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity and rural depopulation. In 2023, the 2nd edition jumped into action, focusing on rewilding as part of the systemic solution, explaining the concept and presenting tangible projects already underway across the country. In its 3rd edition, the Rural Climate Forum 2024, recognised as a satellite event of the European Climate Pact, aims to explore the nexus among biodiversity, climate and rural youth; in order to create opportunities so that the youth can return to rural areas to safeguard and value their biodiversity, in order to generate climate resilience and social equity through a nature-based economy. The end goal is to promote coexistence with mutual reinforcement among rewilding, climate action and productive activities such as agriculture, livestock farming, forestry management or other rural jobs.

Organizers: NBSCLIMATE, Ribering

Collaborators: European Climate Pact Spain, EUROPE DIRECT Castilla y León Rural, Aranda de Duero City Council, Caja Rural de Burgos Foundation, San Gabriel, JEARCO/ASEMAR, ADRI Ribera, Neighborhood Association of Aranda’s city center

Date: Friday, 17 May 2024

Event venue: Ribering, Bajada al Molino 15, Aranda de Duero (Burgos), Spain

Program and speakers (to be confirmed):

• (10:00 - 10:15) Introductory presentation: organizers and collaborators
• (10:15 - 11:00) Panel 1 “Biodiversity in rural areas: land stewardship and regenerative agriculture”: Héctor Ibáñez (ADRI Ribera), Juan Hernández (EU Climate Pact ambassador), Óscar Prada (Land Stewardship Platform of Biodiversity Foundation - Ministry for the Ecological Transition & Demographic Challenge). Moderation: Sara Peláez (NBSCLIMATE)
• (11:00 - 11:45)Panel 2 “Rural youth and nature-based economy: challenges and opportunities”: Isabel Silva and Victoria Cuesta (EU Climate Pact ambassadors), Rodrigo Casado (JEARCO, Excelvid). Moderation: Claudia Sánchez (NBSCLIMATE)
• (11:45 - 12:00) Coffee break
• (12:00 - 12:45) Panel 3 “Communicating the benefits of rewilding and climate in rural areas”: Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente, Noa Simón (BeeLife European Beekeeping), Isabel Moreno (EU Climate Pact ambassador). Moderation: Jesús Iglesias (NBSCLIMATE)
• (12:45 - 13:30) Open debate: “How to value biodiversity for the youth to return to rural areas?” Moderation: Ana Bartolomé and Abdel Rahman El-Mahdi (NBSCLIMATE)
• (13:30 - 15:00) Ecological and local catering