The Spanish Capital of Biodiversity competition 2011 was launched at the end of January 2011. There were four categories of participation for the municipalities according to the number of inhabitants:

• Category A: less than 5,000 inhabitants
• Category B: 5,001-30,000 inhabitants
• Category C: 30,001-200,000 inhabitants
• Category D: more than 200,001 inhabitants.

To participate the municipalities had to fill up a questionnaire with 36 questions divided in five chapters: 1, use of land; 2, green areas; 3, agriculture, forest and water management; 4, communication, education and participation; 5, indicators.

27 municipalities participated in the competition 2011, which presented a total of 193 projects. The percentages of participants were: 44.4% of the municipalities who participated had a population less than 5,000 inhabitants; 33.3 % of the municipalities had 30,001-200,000 inhabitants; 18.5 % had 5,001-30,000 inhabitants; and only one city (3.7 %) had more than 200,001.

There were three winners per category - excluding Category D which was declared deserted -, two special prizes and one Spanish Capital of Biodiversity 2011. The Award Ceremony was in the head office of the Fundación Biodiversidad on 20^th July, and the winners were:

Category A:

1^st: PUEBLA DE SANABRIA

2^nd: EL OSO

3^rd: MONLERAS

Category B:

1^st: ASTILLERO

2^nd: PALAU-SOLITÁ I PLEGAMANS

3^rd: MIAJADAS

Category C:

1^st: GRANOLLERS

2^nd: LLEIDA

3^rd: OURENSE

Communication on Biodiversity Special Prize: LLEIDA

Restoration Special Prize: ASTILLERO

Spanish Capital of Biodiversity 2011: PUEBLA DE SANABRIA