In Europe, agriculture and the agri-food industry represent 6% of the EU's GDP, 15 million companies and 46 million jobs. More than 77% of the EU territory is considered rural area: 47% of agricultural land and 30% of forest land. Approximately half of the population resides there, dedicated to agriculture and other activities. On the other hand, the loss of Biodiversity is one of the main environmental problems on the planet. The health and environmental crisis have highlighted the urgency of adopting measures to stop the loss of biodiversity, mitigate climate change and promote food security. At the same time, it is important to improve the training of professionals in the primary sector to ensure their full development in these and possible future situations. The EU, within the International Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted an ambitious strategy with 6 goals and 20 actions to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020. The mid-term review of the strategy assesses progress, highlighting failure in two areas: Objective 3: "Increase the contribution of agriculture to the maintenance and improvement of biodiversity" - there is no significant progress towards the goal; and for objective 4: "Ensure the sustainable use of fishing resources and achieve good environmental status": there is progress, but at an insufficient level. The NAT-Helpers strategic partnership is focused on the Mediterranean area (Greece, France, Italy, Malta and Spain). The project has generated training materials to contribute to the achievement of objectives 3 and 4 of the European Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and improve training to achieve the objectives of the European Agriculture and Fisheries policies. The main objective was to train the primary sector towards sustainable practices that allow them to achieve quality products and high market value. Provides examples of how biodiversity and ecosystem services help in primary production, and the effects of climate change on the sector. The results of the NAT-Helpers project are aimed at: 1. Farmers, livestock farmers, and fishermen. 2. Experts or trainers in environmental education who work with the primary sector. 3. Networks of organizations that work with the primary sector. 4. General public, especially the population from rural areas. The project has achieved all the expected results: • A collection of 42 fact sheets “breaking myths” about the species of fauna and flora that are considered harmful, and which really are beneficial, as well as keys to coexisting with them and their conservation. • A collection of 17 videos where the protagonists are farmers, ranchers and fishermen who explain the importance of developing their activity in a sustainable way and the effects of climate change. • A guide for trainers and other actors working with the sector with information about the benefits of working with biodiversity in the sector, and the marketing of sustainable products within the European framework; and proposals to use the previous cards and videos in training sessions. All these results have been very well received in the multiplier events developed. Beyond the life of the project, they continue to be presented at fairs aimed at the primary sector and workshops. The project has allowed us to share experiences, improve training in digital technologies for education and training, as well as the development of practices that benefit the sector and support European biodiversity and climate change strategies. In addition to knowing clear examples of professionals in the sector who carry out their activity in a sustainable way. The participating organizations have also improved their competencies and skills in management and implementation of European projects and in the field of adult education.
NAT-Helpers is a project focused on the Mediterranean area (Greece, France, Italy, Malta and Spain), to promote creativity linked to the primary sector, creating training tools that strengthen the sector as well as to environmentally improve its production and therefore therefore the marketing of its products (based on environmental improvement to position itself in the market). The project seeks to stimulate creativity in the training of adults; through non-formal training of farmers and fishermen to contribute to the achievement of objectives 3 and 4 of the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and to achieve the objectives of European agriculture and fisheries policies. NAT-Helpers has the ultimate objective of facilitating the training of the primary sector through examples of sustainable practices that allow them to achieve quality products and high value in the market. To contribute to the implementation of European policies in matters of Education, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biodiversity. In addition, it seeks to strengthen partner entities and promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences to create training tools that integrate the diversity of the participating countries.
In Europe, agriculture and the agri-food industry represent 6% of GDP, 15 million companies and 46 million jobs. More than 77% of the EU territory is considered rural area, where approximately half of the population resides. The current crises highlight the urgent need to adopt measures to halt biodiversity loss, mitigate climate change and promote food security. The EU, within the International Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted an ambitious strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 2030. Identifying actions where there is no progress: "Increase the contribution of agriculture to maintaining and improving of biodiversity" and "Ensure the sustainable use of fishery resources and achieve good environmental status." Nat-Helpers plans to improve the training of professionals in the primary sector to ensure their full development in the current and future situations (associated with the effects of the loss of Biodiversity and climate change), promoting preventive work in the socio-educational action of the adults to improve their well-being in the rural world and accompany the European environmental strategy.