The Barcelona Zoo Foundation held the second edition of the Biodiversity Night at the auditorium of the Citadel Campus of the Pompeu Fabra University. The event, which was attended by a hundred experts from different disciplines related to biodiversity, was a recognition of the contribution made by institutions and professionals in the field of dissemination, research and conservation of biodiversity, especially in Catalonia.
The gala, which was hosted by the geographer and meteorologist Francesc Mauri, was witnessed by Enric Sala, marine biologist and resident explorer for National Geographic. In addition, Antoni Alarcón, director of Barcelona Zoo, took stock of the main research and in situ conservation projects that the Barcelona Zoo Foundation has developed and promoted between 2020 and 2022.
The Biodiversity Night aims to be a space of distinction in the active contribution made by entities and professionals for the defence of biodiversity, scientific research and the dissemination of information about wildlife and their natural habitats. The event aims to raise awareness of the need to conserve natural diversity and the existing threat to some species.
Track records of recognised prestige in the field of biodiversity research, conservation and dissemination.
This year, the award for institutional trajectory went to the Centre for Forest Science and Technology of Catalonia (CTFC), for its contribution to giving a relevant role to science in the field of sustainable forest management, biodiversity and the circular bioeconomy.
The recognition for the professional career in research and conservation of biodiversity has been awarded to Xavier Ferrer Parareda, PhD in Biology and professor in the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the UB and Antoni Ramis Salvà, PhD in Veterinary Medicine and Professor of Animal Health.
For her part, Cori Calero López, TV3 journalist and science communicator, was awarded the prize for her career in the dissemination of biodiversity.
This year, the Barcelona Zoo Foundation also awarded a special prize for its work in disseminating environmental and biodiversity awareness. It went posthumously to Mària Sánchez Ledesma, journalist and promoter of the renowned RTVE environmental programme "El escarabajo verde" (The Green Beetle). The award was collected by her colleague, also a journalist, Manel Lucas, who was accompanied by her two children.
A strong commitment to biodiversity research, conservation and education
The Barcelona Zoo Foundation launched the Research and Conservation Programme (PRIC) more than a decade ago, which supports research and preservation of the species that are most at risk. The PRIC annually awards grants to projects that work for the constant improvement of animal welfare, that contribute to conservation and research in the field of biodiversity, that produce quality science and disseminate scientific practice. This year, the Foundation has awarded eight grants to projects that focus on wildlife and biodiversity.
The New Zoo Model is firmly committed to conservation, scientific research and the dissemination of information about wildlife and their natural habitats. In this sense, events such as Biodiversity Night illustrate the need to highlight our own research and conservation programmes or those in collaboration with third parties, which are carried out to contribute to the protection of the most endangered fauna.
