Project Interreg SUDOE – ValuePAM

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2016-2018. Valuation of medicinal and aromatic wild plants: Sustainable management of plant biodiversity and socio-economic development of rural space SUDOE- ValuePAM

The project of valuation of medicinal and aromatic plants “ValuePAM” started officially October 11th 2016, at the headquarters of the beneficiary of the project, the Associação de Defesa do Património of Mértola (ADPM) in Portugal.

The Forest Research Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) was a partner of this project, which was developed in protected areas and areas of the Natura 2000 network in Andalusia, Catalonia, Portugal and France. In addition, integrated partnering the Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio de la Junta de Andalucía, Fundación Espacios Naturales de Andalucía (ANDANATURA), the Centro de Excelência para a Valorização dos Recursos Mediterrânicos (CEVRM, Portugal), the Conservatoire Botanique National et des Pyrénées Midi-Pyrénées (CBNPMP, France) and the Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Catalanes (PNRPC, France).

Its aim was to improve the management, planning and enhancement of the PAM and its use as a tool for economic diversification and sustainable development of natural areas and rural areas, and transfer the results to the public and private institutions involved in resource management.

The project run until 2018 and will affect several protected areas in the regions SUDOE project partners: 24 spaces integrated into RENPA (Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Andalucía), the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana in Bajo Alentejo, Parc Naturel Régional des Pyrénées Catalanes; el Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, el Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu, el Parc Natural del Cadí Moixeró; as well as several natural areas included in the Natura 2000 network.

Therefore, the project will work on the characterization of MAPs in the areas concerned, as well as implement analyzes of species, creation of management plans and several pilot projects.

  • In the case of Catalonia, between 2017 and 2018, a characterization of MAPs in the areas concerned (Gentiana lutea, Jasonia glutinosa) was implemented, as well as analyses of species, creation of management plans and a pilot project in Catalonia and France to extrapolate model management of the collection of wild species such as gentian (Gentiana lutea).

  • 3rd Meeting in Capcir (France), from June 12 to 14, 2017. Evaluation of species characterisation, distribution mapping and methodology for the development of management plants and sustainable use. Visit to areas of wild exploitation of arnica, yellow gentian and narcissus.

  • 4th project meeting at Mértola (Portugal), de 16-17 gener 2018. 16-17th January 2018. Evaluation of the activities of analysis and implementation of pilot activities, and programming of the dissemination of results in the territory. Visits to Herdade de Vale Covo, in Corte Sines, in the Natural Park Vall del Guadiana; and the first transformation factory of CEVRM, partner of the project, in Castro Verde. These are experimental farms for the domestication of autochthonous wild species of MAPs, which have the double objective of maintaining biodiversity and improving the commercial profitability of these species, contributing to the local economy through the commercial valorisation of a autochthonous resource.

Transfer actions (more information in courses and days 2018)

  • Cluster presentation days. Alp and Sort, March 7 and 20, 2018. Technical seminar “Beyond the collection of gentian: development perspectives in mountain areas“.
  • Regional transfer day to public institutions. Barcelona, ​​April 18, 2018. Work session “Valorisation of wild aromatic and medicinal plants“.
  • Training workshops for transfer to business clusters:
  1. Solsona, 22 th May 2018. Technical Conference “Strategies for the trade in native aromatic and medicinal plants“.
  2. Ossera, Solsona and Barcelona, ​​11-13th June 2018. Meeting of the production and herbalist sector.
  3. Solsona, 19th October 2018. Technical Conference “Associationism: key in the development of the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants” sector.
  • Transnational day of transfer to public institutions: Transnational seminar of results presentation of the VALUEPAM project. Seville, 30th November 2018.

MAIN RESULTATS OF PROJECT VALUEPAM

The MAP group has mainly participated in the preparation of these documents:

  • Comparative analysis of the current situation of the medicinal and aromatic plants in the SUDOE regions of project’s partners. Spanish. French. Portuguese.
  • Methodology of evaluation of the wild collection of medicinal and aromatic plants: Spanish. French. Portuguese.
  • Study of the gentian and rocky tea’ value chain in Catalonia. Spanish
  • Study of diversification of the use of gentian and rocky tea in other productive sectors. Spanish.
  • Report of the results of the debate on the needs of association in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. Spanish.
  • Report of the results of the debate on trading strategies of native medicinal and aromatic plants. Spanish.
  • Report of the results of the debate on actions to be undertaken in the territory to generate economic activity from the gentian and other wild plants. Catalan. Spanish

And has collaborated with Conservatoire Botanique National des Pyrénées et Midi-Pyrénéees (CBNPMP):

  • Exploiter et préserver. Vers un plan de gestion durable de la Gentiane jaune dans les Pyrénées. Spanish. French.

More information: http://www.valuepam.eu/

ValuePAM project is funded 75% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the INTERREG SUDOE (Cooperation Programme INTERREG V-B Southwest Europe).