Spanish universities drive international research on climate‑tourism resilience and marine limpets

The University of Cartagena’s Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development took a leading role in the Erasmus+ ‘Climar’ project, a three‑year collaboration that linked universities across Europe and Latin America to strengthen research, education and knowledge transfer on climate change and tourism. Coordinated by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the network included partners from Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Argentina and Colombia. Unicartagena contributed to the design of a postgraduate module, a specialized training course and co‑authored a book on climate‑tourism resilience, securing its inclusion in UNESCO’s network of chairs on tourism and peace.

At the same time, the ECOAQUA Institute of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria participated in a global study of over 95,000 limpets from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Researchers from Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Mexico examined how marine protection, habitat characteristics and local factors influence limpets’ size. The findings showed no uniform response to protection measures, emphasizing the need for location‑specific conservation strategies. Results from the Canary Islands highlighted size reductions linked to exploitation pressures, underscoring the importance of tailored management.

Both initiatives illustrate how Spanish academic institutions are pivotal partners in international scientific efforts addressing climate adaptation in tourism and marine ecosystem conservation.