page last edited on 23-07-2010

Recommendations of the participants of the European Platform
 for Biodiversity Research Strategy meeting
 held under the Spanish presidency of the EU
 in Almeria, Spain, 11 - 13 May 2002

concerning

“European heritage under threat: Biodiversity in Mediterranean ecosystems”

Whereas

1.   the Mediterranean Basin is one of 25 biodiversity hotspots of the Earth with exceptional concentrations of endemic species;

2.   the Mediterranean ecosystems show large spatial and temporal variability and interdependence whose sustainable management requires large-scale and long-term planning;

3.   the biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal habitats depends on the features and management of the coastal terrestrial belt and vice versa;

4.   Mediterranean biodiversity and the ecosystems that support it are particularly sensitive to pressure from anthropogenic sources, for example through tourism, agriculture, urbanisation, fire, overharvesting, pollution, habitat loss or fragmentation and the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species;

5.   there is a need for guidelines and methods to optimise the design of networks of nature reserves, to manage conflicts over land and water use, and to preserve species, ecosystems and landscapes;

6.   biodiversity in the Mediterranean is closely linked to human, social and cultural diversity and its conservation, restoration and sustainable management require close co-operation of natural and social scientists, policymakers and stakeholders from all Mediterranean countries;

7.   valuation of ecological goods and services is one important means to translate ecological data into useful information for decision makers;

8.   the interaction between research and society, in particular science communication needs to be improved;

the participants of the meeting agreed that the following key issues and action points have high priority:

1.   better understanding of processes of biodiversity change and their effects on marine and terrestrial ecosystem function in the Mediterranean;

2.   better understanding of the large-scale and long-term dynamics of biodiversity, including its relation to the functioning of ecosystems across succession stages;

3.   further knowledge about the effects of the connectedness, ecological context and critical size of habitat fragments and the process and history of fragmentation on the ecological quality of fragmented landscapes;

4.   development and testing of scientific management and policy tools to control invasive species;

5.   development of adaptive, integrated strategies incorporating climate change and land use scenarios and socio-economic aspects for the management, restoration and conservation of terrestrial, wetland and marine Mediterranean ecosystems;

6.   strengthening and expanding taxonomic competence, particularly in relation to the conservation and use of biodiversity;

7.   providing free-of-charge online services and tools for the protection, conservation, sustainable use and management of marine and terrestrial biodiversity;

8.   developing appropriate methods for ecosystem restoration including both science communication and environmental education.