The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) recognises the Barbanza Ecosocial Lab as one of the 39 exemplary initiatives of the Recovery Plan
The Barbanza Ecosocial Lab has been recognised by MITECO as one of the 39 exemplary initiatives in the implementation of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), selected from among more than 1,000 funded projects across Spain.
12 September 2025 – The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) yesterday recognised the Barbanza Ecosocial Lab as one of the 39 exemplary initiatives within the framework of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR). The project was distinguished in the Innovation category for its transformative character and pioneering approach to community- and science-based management, aimed at promoting sustainable territorial stewardship and increasing the resilience of Barbanza’s forests against wildfires.
The award ceremony took place on 11 September at the Official College of Architects of Madrid and was presided over by the Third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen, who opened the event and presented the distinctions. “We want to strengthen the axes that have proven effective and make full use of the PRTR funds,” she stated in her opening remarks.
The Barbanza Ecosocial Lab is an initiative promoted by the Fundación RIA in collaboration with the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Pablo de Olavide University, the Plataforma pola Defensa do Monte, the Montescola Foundation, and the Rianxo Council. Since 2020, it has been working hand in hand with the communal forest communities (Comunidades de Montes Veciñais en Man Común) of the Barbanza Peninsula to strengthen models of community governance and explore future alternatives in response to the abandonment of productive activities, loss of biodiversity, and wildfire risk.
Claudia de Sas accepted the award on behalf of all the partner organisations: “It is an honour to represent the network of entities collaborating in the project — all of them, and especially the communal forest communities involved, have played a crucial role in achieving this recognition.” The distinction from MITECO highlights the project’s capacity to connect scientific knowledge, community-based land management, and institutional coordination, offering a pioneering model for the multifunctional management of rural territories.
In February 2024, the Barbanza Ecosocial Lab received a boost of 2 million euros to advance sustainable land management in cooperation with local communities, after being selected under the call for forest bioeconomy projects of the Fundación Biodiversidad, part of MITECO. Since then, the project has progressed around three major strategic objectives, already achieving significant results:
Wildfire prevention and multifunctional forest management
Development of a joint management plan across six communal forests.
Biomass management work on over 200 hectares.
Planting of more than 3,000 chestnut and other broadleaf trees in Rianxo.
Creation of a shared herd of over 130 goats for landscape management.
Launch of a community energy initiative for renewable power generation.
Production of 30 m³ of compost and training sessions with eight communal forest communities.
Collective use of a mobile sawmill in five practical demonstrations.
Green job creation
Awarding of 11 forestry work contracts to six local companies, with a total value exceeding €500,000.
Direct employment of 10 people through the project, including positions in administration, forestry engineering, livestock management, tractor operation, and food processing.
Contracting of advisory services from four local organisations.
Research and community engagement
Active participation of local communities in studies on sustainable governance.
Creation of an experimental site for forest soil rehabilitation.
Participation of over 480 volunteers in 19 environmental restoration actions.
Engagement of more than 100 students from local schools.
Over 45 interviews conducted and 11 collaboration agreements signed with local stakeholders.
Barbanza Ecosocial Lab has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) of the Government of Spain, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Coordinated by Fundación RIA, the Barbanza Ecosocial Lab is a project dedicated to promoting the transition towards environmental sustainability and strengthening resilience in the territorial management of the Barbanza common land.