SIGEVIT

IMPACT

Gaining resilience by managing variability

DESCRIPTION

Natural Capital represents the set of goods and natural resources on which society depends and impacts upon. Ecosystem functions, which can range from carbon sequestration to water regulation or biodiversity conservation, represent the production, regulation and cultural functions that ecosystems provide, as well as the possibility of co-creation of strategies between cooperating parties. Ecosystem services are the subset of those functions that have utility for human activities.

The most important habitats and ecosystems, either due to the presence of rare and threatened species, or to the existence of valuable biological resources, are not distributed homogeneously nor do they occur disconnected from the various occupations and uses given to the territory. The existence of high natural value (biodiversity with conservation value) or high ecological value (natural systems and wild resources with relevant socio-economic value) can be assessed and mapped to optimize their management and promote sustainable use.

Both in terms of agriculture and forestry or renewable energy production, the need to invest in decarbonization and to understand how ecological risk (e.g., loss of biodiversity, deregulation of ecological functions of crop protection) and climate risk (e.g., deregulation of the carbon sequestration cycle, change in seasonal patterns, forest fires, floods and droughts) work becomes essential to plan in the short, medium and long term the different phases of evolution and adaptation of the planning and management model.

Ecosystems, whether natural or managed by human activities, go far beyond 'landscape', they are sources of food, water, bioenergy production, among other goods and services, as well as the regulation of nutrient cycles, pollinator populations and natural enemies of crop pests, the risk of fires and natural disasters and are essential for carbon sequestration and related climate mitigation. In addition to all this, they also enrich us culturally, provide leisure and learning experiences and inspire us with their beauty and distinctive characteristics. We all recognize that many of these services cannot continue to be identified as zero-worth externalities to the economy.

The aim of this project is to carry out an exhaustive survey of biodiversity and ecosystem services to explore the possibility of integrating them into a local management system of the company's vineyards, with a view to using the natural-based economy in the sustainable operational planning and development of the company’s wine production, guided by the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.