- The City of Oñati created the environmental scholarship four years ago. In this first call, studies of amphibians and reptiles of the environment of Oñati were carried out, in order to analyze their situation in the different ecosystems of the municipality. Two years ago, in collaboration with Goiener, the scholarship was awarded to work on renewable energies. This year, for its part, has dedicated itself to a very intense topic: in order to maintain the multifunctional character of agriculture and livestock, actions will be sought to analyze and reverse the abandoned agricultural lands in the municipality.
“In Oñati there are many dwellings and the rural environment is very broad, but in recent years we are seeing a decreasing evolution, and as the use of rural lands has been reduced, ecosystems have also been degraded,” says Oñati Environmental Councilor, Axier Iraeta. Aware of the benefits of the extensive activity of the farmhouse for the people and the environment, they want to analyze what can be done with the lands of the City Hall and with those of the unused private in recent years, to propose concrete practical actions in the future.
Due to the fact that there are several previous studies on this subject, the trainee should perform a small theoretical examination. In particular, it is a question of offering the scholarship to the approach of the practical actions to be carried out subsequently. “It is a question of analyzing why the effects of this sustainable and non-intensive housing model are positive in the rural environment and, on this basis, of proposing what projects can be put in place to recover or maintain the activity that is being lost in the village”. They want new approaches and alternatives that are adapted to current needs, combining the benefits of the old use of land with the current new forms of life.
Scholarship of EUR 12,000 for two years
This year’s environmental scholarship is aimed at people from Oñati or surroundings, as due to the chosen theme it is important to have contact with the locality and with local agents and baserritarras.
The beneficiary of the scholarship may be a single person or a work team and the possession of diplomas or higher graduates shall be required (in the case of groups, at least half of them shall meet this requirement). The deadline for the submission of applications shall be 1 August.