In the context of the celebrations held by the Official College of Biologists of the Valencian Community for its 25th anniversary, and as a result of the Nature and Biodiversity Photography Competition that culminated in the awards ceremony, the College is pleased to announce that the exhibition of works selected by the jury remains open to the public.

At the opening, the Dean, María Diago, presented the event, accompanied by the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Valencia, Francisco Pérez Sánchez.

In addition to making special mention of the specific work carried out in relation to the DANA storm, the dean of the COBCV (Official College of Biochemists of the Valencian Community) highlighted the fundamental importance of acting to protect biodiversity to guarantee survival. She emphasized that, concerning the situation in the Valencian Community, the latest catalogue of threatened species reflects a 42.8% increase in endangered species and a 12.0% decrease in vulnerable species. Regarding fauna, an analysis of approximately 100 species shows a decrease of 12 in the vulnerable category and a corresponding increase in the number of endangered species. In any case, the involvement of all social, political, and economic sectors is necessary to achieve the implementation of the Valencian Community's Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

The participant who received the most awards (1st and 3rd place) was Xavier Mas Ferrà. Among the gifts obtained for the awarding of the first prize was a photography day organized at the Buixcarró estate, in the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park and managed by the Victoria Laporta Foundation which, in this edition and in previous ones, has collaborated with the COBCV selflessly to provide the contest with a unique recognition that the College expressly appreciates.

The second prize went to Sergio Montagud Alario. In addition, the jury selected 15 more works for their outstanding quality, which will complete the collection of 18 pieces whose exhibition was inaugurated at the same event and which will soon begin a traveling exhibition.

Currently, the exhibition can be seen at the Biohub VLC Building, in the Marina of Valencia. It is advisable to contact the College to arrange a visit.

The number of plant species considered amounts to nearly 400. After the technical evaluation and review of submissions, the new Catalog (Order 2/2022, of February 16) represents a 10.6% increase compared to the previous one (2013), due to the increase in Endangered species (42.8%), combined with a decrease (12.0%) in Vulnerable species. Regarding fauna, nearly 100 species have been analyzed, leading to the proposal:

Maintaining the number of listed species (69), with a decrease of 12 species in the Vulnerable category and an increase of the same number for those classified as Endangered.

It should also be noted that the Ministry of the Environment established a maximum threat category: “critically endangered species.” Of the 7 species declared as critically endangered for all of Spain (Order TEC/178/2018, of September 28), 3 are found in the Valencian Community: the Cartagena rockrose (Cistus heterophyllus), the marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), and the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis).

The Valencian Community is characterized by its high degree of uniqueness and diversity of wild flora and natural vegetation types. With regard to flora, its richness in endemic, rare, and threatened vascular plants is particularly noteworthy. This led to the pioneering proposal, around 1990, by the current Wildlife Service and Natura 2000 Network of the Valencian Regional Government, of a unique conservation designation: the Flora Microreserve (MRF). MRFs are sites of less than 20 hectares in area, with a significant concentration of rare, endemic, or threatened plants, which are protected to ensure their study and conservation. Currently, the Valencian Community is home to 312 MRFs covering 2,468 hectares, containing more than 25,000 populations of at least 2,023 species (Figures 42, 43). These figures mean that around 58% of Valencian flora—69% in the case of native flora—is represented in these protected areas, which comprise just over 1% of the Valencian territory. The representation of rare, endemic, or threatened wild flora in the MRF network notably complements that found in the network of naturales27 parks.

Among the many attendees who made this such a special occasion were Margarita Soler, president of the Consell Jurídic Consultiu of the Valencian Government; Eva del Amo, from the Cantina de Russafa, who formed a solidarity group for those affected by the floods; Joaquín Martín, trustee of the Fundación del Olmo, which has been promoting Aras de los Olmos as a university town since 2010; Manuel Portolés, president of the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Valencia; Sandra Amorós, from the IVAM (Valencian Institute of Modern Art); as well as three of the four photography professionals who made up the competition jury: Alfonso Lario, Rosa Isabel Vázquez, Víctor Escuín, and Adrià López-Baucells.