The main objective of the DESP-OB Strategic Network is to build a common interdisciplinary observatory on depopulation and population decline, including case studies, covering the entire country. A standardized set of indicators and verified sources will enable the preparation of reports and the development of action proposals aimed at public institutions as well as private and third-sector entities committed to the demographic challenge.

This proposal aligns with the recommendations of the European Commission regarding the problematic effects of demographic change. It is also consistent with the Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda: Towards a Spanish Strategy for Sustainable Development, developed by the Spanish Government, which includes the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, as well as with the Spanish Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2021-2027, which addresses the effects of aging.

The network, by its very establishment, already fulfills a notable function: it brings together a wide range of research groups, institutes, and centers from across Spain that, by working in coordination, can generate new capacities for the characterization and approach to the problems arising from depopulation at different scales.

DESP-OB also represents an asset for the social transfer of knowledge. The creation of an open observatory and periodic reports will allow immediate consultation by institutional leaders, entities involved in rural recovery, science and communication professionals, and the general public. The study of case studies and the compilation of best practices in endogenous development will make it possible to create a catalog of experiences combating the effects of depopulation and abandonment of these areas. 

Alongside this transfer dimension, a specialized scientific network like this will offer its services to public institutions and private entities in the form of consultancy. It will be available to regional ministries, provincial councils, associations of municipalities, local action groups, or foundations through contracts supported by Article 60 of the LOSU.

The network will be able to promote applications for projects under the State R&D Plan, various types of networks, or unique infrastructures from both the State Research Agency and different Autonomous Communities. Necessary contacts will be established to participate in European calls under the Horizon 2020 program, specifically regarding priority research lines, as well as in RISE, LIFE, or COST actions.

Finally, international cooperation projects will be promoted, as rural abandonment and desertification processes are also observed in various regions of Africa and Latin America. The network will contribute to informing policies that address the demographic challenge and to disseminating the findings of the collaborative work of researchers, groups, institutes, and chairs involved in the network beyond national borders through publications and participation in conferences.