SCALABLE achieved three main results:
1. Advancing the understanding of effects of rural abandonment on biocultural diversity, as well as their drivers and effects on well-being in rural areas of South of Spain. SCALABLE has explored main drivers for rural abandonment. Among main results, human-nature connectedness has been identified as main factor in rural areas and influencing rural abandonment and depopulation. In particular, SCALABLE’s results identified: local communities are highly connected with their rural and natural environment and recognize the multiple human well-being components provided by the rural environment; ii) the connection between people and nature in rural Spain is explained by the capacity of locals to form relational values in rural environments, and the existence of philosophical worldviews and emotional attachments to rural lifestyle; iii) barriers to not abandoning rural environments include the lack of professional and economic opportunities. Our results suggest that the mitigation of depopulation in rural areas in Spain requires actions to foster land stewardship, address socio-economic imbalances and the reconsideration of good quality of life.
2. Consequently, following objective was to identify and map the biocultural diversity elements emerging from this human-nature connectedness in rural areas. Results showed that local population from (both women and men) widely perceive and recognize the biocultural diversity provided by the rural environment, identifying multiple examples. However, gender differences emerged regarding the dimensions of biocultural diversity mentioned and also in the different areas mapped. For instance, women identified broader areas in the map to locate elements of biocultural diversity, while men used reduced areas in the map to locate biocultural elements. Additionally, gender differences emerged toward the value attached to the different biocultural elements and practices.
3. Future scenarios for the conservation of biocultural diversity were identified as the last objective of SCALABLE. Results indicated an overall agreement to preserve biocultural diversity. However, significant gendered differences emerged in relation to the future strategies proposed to achieve the ideal futures. For instance, men were able to identify strategies oriented to larger actions in the landscape (such as the need for a swamp to ensure water supply for crops) while women identified strategies oriented to collective actions (such as the creation of working groups or cooperatives).
These results are covered by publications currently under review and in preparation.
