Can human societies and nature grow together? This is the question running through the new series produced by the BBC, the United Kingdom’s public service broadcaster that provides radio, television and internet services, and which is endorsed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) This brand-new series Living Legacy explores how nature conservation and protection can help lower emissions, support economies and improve people’s lives. The Basque Country’s work in adapting the territory to the effects of climate change has been one of the experiences selected for be featured in the series, which is being unveiled today at COP30, the Climate Summit being held in the Brazilian city of Belém from 10 to 21 November. 

The Living Legacy series is endorsed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has been filmed in 15 countries 

Filmed in 15 countries, Living Legacy showcases conservation stories and inspirational solutions for environmental problems from personal experiences. From the villagers protecting the mangrove forests in Kenya to the whale shark researchers in the Pacific, the series spotlights the communities striving to safeguard, restore and reconnect with the natural world. Using a nature-centric film narration, Living Legacy invites the audience to reflect on how engaging with nature can help to build a more resilient future. 

The trailer is narrated by the late Dr. Jane Goodall, the renowned ethologist, who offers an overview of what can be seen in each chapter of this new series, highlighting the people and communities who work in harmony with nature.  

The episode on the Basque Country was filmed in Bermeo and focuses on the transformation of the Tonpoi area as part of the Life Urban Klima 2050 project, as an example of coastal adaptation to the effects of climate change

In the words of the UICN Director General, Gretel Aguilar, ‘inspirational story-telling has the power to move us, unite us and bring about change that transcends borders. This series shows us that nature conservation really works, as it provides real and tangible benefits for people and ecosystems. It also highlights the unique network of life on Earth of which we are all part and it inspires us to work together to protect it’.

Restoring Tonpoi, Bermeo

The episode that will feature the Basque Country’s work as an example of climate adaptation, was filmed in Bermeo; it explores the restoring of the Tonpoi area as a good practice of coastal restoration. 

Tonpoi – located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and bordering on the Natura 2000 Network – has been transformed from a degraded area using a coastal restoration model adapted to climate change. Thanks to the intervention, the cliffs have been restored with native species, the biodiversity has been improved by creating microhabitats, and pedestrian paths have been set up to offer the local community an accessible green space that is resilient to the effects of climate change. 

The new series seeks to explore how human societies and nature can grow together and showcases inspirational solutions 

This intervention has been rolled out as part of the Life IP Urban Klima 2050 project, under the aegis of the Basque Government through Ihobe, and with the support of a score of entities. The outcome is that this periurban green infrastructure has been restored as a climate shelter that balances social and environmental needs. 

The Tonpoi intervention has been designed using natural materials and sustainable practices, and includes planting nearly a hundred native trees and 1,200 bushes. Microhabitats have been created to foster local biodiversity, in addition to regenerating three habitats: the coast line, the Atlantic countryside and the Cantabrian holm oak groves. The intervention also includes laying paths so that the public can access and enjoy the coastal coves. 

All the stories are available on http://livinglegacycollection.com.