This spring we have reinforced our commitment to environmental awareness, technical knowledge and sustainability by participating in conferences and meetings in places such as Gijón, Bilbao, Murcia and Oviedo.
In collaboration with public administrations, research centers and companies such as Iberdrola, EDP or Windar Renovables, we have shared experiences on energy transition, biodiversity, invasive species and environmental assessment.
In this post we summarize our presence in five key quotes that reflect the active role of TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE in the environmental dialogue of the present.
A cross-cutting approach to promote the energy transition from Asturias
On June 25, we participated in a new Horizontes de Futuro conference, organized by Conecta. The meeting, held at the As5Hub building in Gijón, brought together professionals, companies and institutions to reflect on how to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable energy model.
Our colleague Cristina Cardín, head of the Environmental Impact Assessment Department at TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE, took part in a panel discussion focused on the role of renewable energies and territorial planning. She shared space with representatives of companies such as Windar Renovables, Exiom Group, IDESA and the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF), addressing the technical, social and regulatory challenges that accompany the deployment of energy infrastructures in Asturias.
Cardín stressed the need to simplify procedures, move towards greater environmental planning and strengthen the role of citizen participation. He also stressed the importance of having homogeneous criteria and clear guidelines to avoid contradictions between different administrations.
His intervention reflected a technical and realistic view on the current obstacles, but also on the opportunities that Asturias has thanks to its renewable potential. From TAXUS, we remain committed to knowledge, dialogue and rigorous evaluation as key tools for a truly sustainable energy transition.
Marine environmental assessment: commitment to sustainable development based on technical knowledge
On June 18, we participated in the technical conference organized by the Spanish Association of Environmental Impact Assessment (AEEIA) in Bilbao, focused on the challenges of environmental assessment in marine ecosystems. The event brought together representatives of public administrations, companies, research centers and consulting firms to share methodologies, experiences and proposals for improvement in this key area.
Javier Granero, director of TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE and member of the Consulting Group and territorial member in Asturias within the AEEIA, was one of the speakers at the conference. His intervention was dedicated to methodologies and lessons learned in marine environmental monitoring, a field in which TAXUS has been applying advanced tools for years.
Granero highlighted the value of this type of specialized meetings: “Certain commitments were reached to establish meeting points and improve future procedures, especially through collaboration between administrations, companies and consultants”.
The conference was attended by entities such as the Basque Government, the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO), Iberdrola Renovables, SAITEC, AZTI and the Center for Research in Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, among others.
During the event, issues such as the difficulties in the evaluation of marine projects, the human impact on the ocean, the importance of biodiversity monitoring or the role of offshore wind in future energy development were addressed. In the afternoon, the attendees visited the DEMOSATH offshore wind prototype, located near Bilbao.
TAXUS’ participation in this event reaffirms our commitment to rigorous environmental assessment, based on scientific knowledge and designed to protect marine ecosystems in the face of today’s challenges.
Early Detection and Applied Science: TAXUS at the National Invasive Species Congress
From May 28 to 30 we were present at the VII National Congress on Invasive Alien Species, held in Murcia and organized by the Biological Invasions Specialist Group, the Region of Murcia and the University of Murcia. The meeting has become a national reference for professionals, researchers and managers involved in the study, prevention and control of invasive species.
On behalf of TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE, our colleagues Álvaro Fueyo and Omar Sánchez, from the Area of Genetics and Environmental Laboratory, presented the work ‘Development and validation of DNA-based molecular techniques for early detection of invasive species Dreissena polymorpha and Corbicula spp.Development and validation of DNA-based molecular techniques for the early detection of invasive species Dreissena polymorpha and Corbicula spp.‘.
These contributions reflect TAXUS’ commitment to environmental management based on science and technology, which allows anticipating the impacts of invasive species and designing effective control strategies. The congress was also an opportunity for technical exchange with administrations, universities and other actors in the environmental sector, reaffirming the key role of eDNA and molecular biology in the conservation of ecosystems.
Industry and sustainability: a necessary conversation from Asturias
On May 21, at TAXUS headquarters in Oviedo, we hosted a conference organized by Conecta under the title “Natural Resources and Environment“. The meeting brought together representatives of the Asturian business community to reflect on how to reconcile economic growth with environmental protection, a conversation that is becoming increasingly urgent and necessary.
Javier Granero, Managing Partner of TAXUS, shared ideas with Ana Álvarez, Director of Environment at EDP Spain; Manuel Persa, co-founder of Laboratorio Biomimético; and Ana Isabel Menéndez, Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Pavitek, in a debate that brought to the table key questions about the future of development in Asturias.
During his speech, Javier defended that industry and sustainability are not opposing concepts, but can and should go hand in hand: “The key is to find a balance between economic development and environmental protection”.
Topics addressed included the potential of biomaterials as a biodegradable alternative, the need for more flexible regulations to accompany environmental innovation, and the role of environmental education and outreach as tools to facilitate the cultural change required by the ecological transition.
Opportunities were also discussed: decarbonization, new employment niches linked to sustainability and the role of SMEs in this process. In a context such as Asturias, with strong industrial roots and unique natural values, this type of debate helps to build viable and shared proposals for the future of the territory.
Science and innovation to bring the environment closer to the general public
On May 9th we participated in the 3rd Science and Innovation Fair of Asturias, held at the old Arms Factory in Oviedo. An event organized by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Employment of the Principality of Asturias, through FICYT, the Sekuens Agency and the CEEI Asturias, with the aim of making visible the R+D+i developed in the region and bring it closer to all citizens, especially the youngest.
More than 2,000 people attended this fair, which became a meeting point for institutions, companies and educational centers. From TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE, our team -formed on this occasion by Beatriz Villazán, Álvaro Fueyo, Álvaro Ortega and Cristina Fueyo-prepared an informative space focused on environmental biomonitoring and its role in the evaluation of the quality of aquatic ecosystems.
Through didactic materials and live demonstrations, we show how we apply tools such as remote sensing, state-of-the-art probes, molecular techniques and environmental DNA (eDNA) in our biodiversity studies. We also explain the difference between traditional methods -based on the taxonomy of aquatic organisms- and new technological solutions that allow us to obtain faster, more accurate and accessible data.
The experience was a success: students, teachers and the general public were interested in the work we do in the field of environmental sustainability and scientific innovation. From TAXUS, we remain committed to outreach as a key tool to raise environmental awareness from an early age and build a better informed and more committed future.
TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE will continue to be present in the spaces where ideas, data and solutions are shared to face the environmental challenges of the present. Conferences like the ones we have summarized here not only allow us to contribute our experience, but also to learn, collaborate and move forward together with other actors committed to a more sustainable development.
You can contact us at info@taxusmedioambiente.com, by phone at 985 24 65 47 or through our contact form.
