Research in Doñana
Scientific research is a priority in Doñana since its declaration as a National Park (Law 91/1978). The Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) coordinates research, given its historical relationship with the protected area. This situation has been maintained in the subsequent regulations affecting the Doñana Natural Area (END).
The Research Committee (CTI), chaired by the Director of the EBD-CSIC and dependent on the Participation Council of the END, informs the Director of the END about new research proposals. It also assumes the functions of the Access Committee of the ICTS-Doñana. The CTI analyses the applicability of the proposals for the conservation and management of Doñana, their impact on wildlife and ecosystems, and their compatibility with other ongoing activities. The CTI may request modifications to the proposals before authorization.
Within the EBD-CSIC, the Research Coordination Office receives and processes applications, manages access, and monitors scientific activities (database of projects and publications, annual reports, usage statistics, etc.), in collaboration with the END.
Research application
For a new research project or activity in the Doñana Natural Area (National Park and Natural Park), a Request Form and a copy of the project's scientific report are required. Both documents are sent to coordinacion@ebd.csic.es for review before being sent to the Access Committee. After the Committee's report, the EBD-CSIC requests the necessary authorizations (except those for animal experimentation) for access and sampling within the protected area.
The application can be started at any time, but the Access Committee meets every four months. Even if you do not need to access the END for your research, to receive services from the ICTS-Doñana staff, the project must be approved by the Access Committee.
Request for access to END
For requests of overnight stays and other access permits, you should contact: ebd_reservas@ebd.csic.es (contact person: Pilar Bayón).
For more detailed information, you can consult the Welcome Manual.
It is important to remember that the granting of an authorization to research in Doñana entails the obligation to provide the results obtained annually and a complete report of results at the end of the project.
Funding
Normally researchers must have their own source of funding to execute their projects in Doñana.
On the other hand, most of the ICTS services are offered free of charge to authorized projects although they are priced within the CSIC Services Catalog. Occasionally calls for access to the ICTS-Doñana can be announced with availability of funds for pilot projects or short stays. If there are open calls they will be announced here.
Resolutions
In the resolutions of the Access Committee, the projects approved in each meeting are listed. The requests to consult the biodiversity databases, access to scientific collections or request for markings without an approved project are considered "on-demand access".
Projects
Within the ICTS-RBD and the END, more than 100 research projects are currently carried out each year. You can get an overview of the research projects currently underway in Doñana in our project database.