Economia

ALMONTE, Spain – A collaborative initiative aimed at fostering sustainable innovation in the region surrounding Doñana National Park was formally launched Tuesday, backed by a 3.6 million euro grant from the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI) and support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

The project, known as Doñana Terra Innova, convened over one hundred attendees in Almonte, Huelva, including local officials, representatives from participating organizations, and researchers. Almonte Mayor Francisco Bella Galán, CTA Director General Elías Atienza, and University of Huelva Rector José Rodríguez Quintero inaugurated the event.

Doñana Terra Innova intends to position the area surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage site and Biosphere Reserve as a benchmark for socio-economic development and sustainable innovation. The two-year plan will focus on identifying and developing innovative initiatives, designing business plans, and implementing Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) schemes. Key areas of focus include water management, sustainable agriculture, and improving employment conditions within the agricultural sector.

The project is spearheaded by the Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA), in partnership with Asaja-Huelva, the Federación Onubense de Empresarios (FOE), the University of Huelva (UHU), and the agricultural cooperatives OnuCoop and Seprocoop. According to Atienza, the initiative represents CTA’s first major undertaking in 2026 as a strategic partner to the CDTI in Andalusia, reinforcing the organization’s role in supporting public administrations to accelerate research, development, and innovation processes.

“CTA assumes this challenge with responsibility and enthusiasm,” Atienza stated, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, sustainable innovation, and collaboration with local municipalities in building a prosperous future for Doñana and its inhabitants.

Several platforms are central to the project’s implementation, including the Observatorio Científico-Tecnológico Doñana 2030, the UHU-Doñana University-Business Chair, the Living Lab Doñana 2030, the Doñana Agricultura Sostenible advanced experimentation and testing center, and the Doñana Innovación Sostenible incubator and accelerator. Representatives from each partner organization participated in a discussion analyzing innovation as a driver of socio-economic transformation in the Doñana region.

Rector Rodríguez Quintero highlighted the University of Huelva’s commitment to the project, noting the relevance of its existing research in areas such as species modification, agrivoltaics, and worker housing to the initiative’s goals. Pilar González Gotor, Head of Institutional Promotion and Territorial Cooperation at the CDTI, outlined the context and objectives of the Doñana Dynamization call for proposals that funded the project, and indicated that further funding opportunities are forthcoming.

Concurrent with the launch of Doñana Terra Innova, the Fundación Moeve participated in a reforestation effort in the ‘Las Peñuelas’ area of Doñana National Park, alongside the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, and a group of young volunteers. The planting initiative is part of the ‘Doñana Renace’ project, aimed at restoring areas devastated by a 2017 wildfire that consumed over 10,000 hectares. To date, over 1.1 million trees have been planted as part of the restoration effort.

MADRID – Technology and sustainability firm NDD has planted 1.7 million trees as part of a carbon offsetting initiative, aiming to provide a verifiable and scalable model for corporate environmental responsibility. The company, which operates across Europe, Portugal, and Brazil, is expanding its operations with a new strategic hub in Madrid, according to CEO EMEA and APJ Richard Schulze.

NDD’s approach centers on direct management of reforestation projects, rather than simply purchasing carbon credits. The company owns and manages pine plantations, having planted the 1.7 million trees over the last decade, offsetting over one million tons of CO2. This direct control, Schulze explained, ensures adherence to strict quality standards and avoids the “greenwashing” prevalent in the carbon offset market.

“We quickly understood that our growth could not be detached from the environmental impact of the sector in which we operate,” Schulze stated in an interview. “We didn’t want sustainability to be a mere advertising addition, but a central component of our business model.”

The company’s reforestation efforts are regulated by Brazilian legislation and audited by the Brazilian National Forest Office (ONFB), ensuring compliance with international standards. A dedicated team of over 30 people manages the planting and maintenance of the forests. NDD provides clients with fully valid carbon compensation certificates, backed by audited data, allowing them to integrate the information into their annual sustainability reports.

NDD’s projects also utilize Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, which Schulze described as essential for legal compliance and effective forest management. The FSC standard ensures responsible forestry practices, including pest control and strategic pruning to maximize carbon capture. The company also integrates livestock grazing into its land management, aiding access, reducing fire risk, and fostering a diverse ecosystem.

“Traceability is the engine of trust,” Schulze said. “NDD develops climate awareness programs supporting companies that want to build a legitimate sustainable story. Our purpose is to facilitate reverse climate change with data, not intentions.”

Beyond its environmental initiatives, NDD is focused on providing secure and efficient data management solutions. Its NDD Orbix platform, developed in Spain with Brazilian roots, offers security, high availability, and data analytics for sectors like banking and healthcare. The platform centralizes the monitoring and management of printing devices and IT equipment, collecting data remotely and enhancing operational efficiency.

NDD Orbix’s billing system relies on continuous data transmission from devices, preventing revenue loss due to offline equipment. The platform also proactively monitors hardware to prevent technical failures, minimizing disruptions to productivity. The company provides direct support in Spanish, addressing a common barrier in the managed services market.

The new Madrid facility will serve as a logistical and technical support hub for NDD’s expansion into France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and as a launchpad for future ventures in Asia and Africa. Schulze acknowledged bureaucratic challenges in Spain, stating that administrative processes can hinder the agility required for global competition.

“For Spain to be the true technology hub that we are already projecting, We see essential that the Administration simplifies the procedures,” Schulze said. “The speed of the global market does not wait for the times of local bureaucracy.”

Schulze highlighted the difficulty in navigating regulations related to forestry projects, citing a lack of clear information and a complex administrative structure with multiple, often overlapping, authorities. He noted the “labyrinthine” nature of the Spanish administration as a disincentive to green investment.

NDD intends to export its integrated approach to responsibility as it expands into new markets, aiming to be recognized not only for its technological leadership but also for its commitment to environmental sustainability.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday he will raise tariffs on all goods to 15%, escalating a trade dispute just days after the Supreme Court curtailed his authority to impose such levies. The move comes in direct response to Friday’s ruling, which struck down a key element of his previous tariff policy.

“After a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on tariffs issued yesterday,” Trump stated, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision, “I will increase, effective immediately, the global tariff from 10% to the fully allowed and legally proven level of 15%.”

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled against tariffs enacted by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The decision marked a significant setback for the administration, according to reports from BBC News Mundo and CNN Español. The court found that the executive branch had overstepped its authority in applying the tariffs, a power reserved for Congress.

During a press conference following the ruling, Trump reportedly expressed anger towards the court and specifically criticized conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both of his own appointments. CNN reported that Trump described the decision as a “shame.”

While the Supreme Court invalidated the original tariffs imposed under IEEPA, Trump is now invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to justify the new 15% tariffs. This law allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for an initial period of 150 days. Still, any extension beyond that timeframe requires Congressional approval, as reported by Univision.

Trump reiterated arguments he made when initially imposing the tariffs, claiming that certain countries have been “stealing” from the United States for decades without consequence. He indicated that he intends to “determine and announce new legally permitted tariffs” within the next five months, aiming to “make America greater than ever before.”

The initial tariffs, imposed in April 2025 during what was termed the “Day of Liberation,” are now subject to the Supreme Court’s ruling, though tariffs on specific countries or products remain unaffected, according to BBC News Mundo. The legal battle over trade policy continues, with the administration signaling its intent to pursue alternative legal avenues to maintain protectionist measures.