Mediterranean

Our work

IUCN-Med's strategic working lines

 

 

The strategy lines of IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation aim to address biodiversity loss and climate change impacts through innovative and targeted initiatives represented through the following six new key working areas and 2 topics of interest:

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

& CLIMATE CHANGE

tunis-wetland Photo: IUCN

Nature-based Solutions implemented in the Mediterranean through restoration and improving the conservation of ecosystems can help communities to address the climate and biodiversity crisis and societal needs.

Current Projects 

LIFE AdaptaMED  I  LIFE Blue Natura

NATURE CONSERVATION

& FOOD PRODUCTION  agriculture and nature conservation Photo: IUCN

 

 

 

 

IUCN-Med is working towards promoting and maintaining agricultural practices that preserve native biodiversity and ecosystem services. The goal is to aim human intervention to contribute to the conservation of natural resources. 

Current Projects 

Knowledge and Monitoring of Biodiversity Cultural Practices

ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE

& SPATIAL PLANNING ecosystem reslience and spatial planning Photo: IUCN

IUCN looks to safeguarding and enhancing the ecosystems' multi-functionalities by promoting biodiversity conservation, and climate data into spatial planning to influence decision making.      

Current Projects 

MEET NETWORK I DestiMED Plus I MedArtSal

 

MARINE BIODIVERSITY

& BLUE ECONOMY

blue economy Photo: IUCN

Developing and spreading a governance framework in the Mediterranean basin to better manage deep-sea ecosystems, coastal areas, and also lowering fisheries impact on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems.

Current Projects 

Monk Seal Conservation I Medbycatch I POSBEMED2

BIODIVERSITY KNOWLEDGE        & ACTION 

biodiversity standards Photo: IUCN

Protecting Biodiversity standards with tools such as the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA's) while preventing the unintentional introduction of Invasive Alien Species and mitigating their negative impacts.  

Initiatives

Status and trends I Species conservation

REGIONAL FOCUS:                     NORTH AFRICA North Africa Program Photo: iucnmed

 

Since 2009, a specific IUCN Programme has been regularly developed and implemented every four years, with IUCN members and partners in the region. The regional focus refers to the IUCN North Africa programme goals.

Projects & Initiatives

PPI-OSCAN Project 

Topics of Interest

URGENT TOPICS                                                         

Urgent topics Photo: IUCN

There are other urgent topics that the IUCN Med has focused on over the years. Two topics of special concern are the Invasive Alien Species in the region and the amount of plastic affecting wildlife, ecosystems, and humans.   

Current Projects 

Plastic Waste Free Islands Med Project I LIFE Invasqua I The MEDMIS initiative

EMERGING TOPICS                                                                            Emerging topics Photo: IUCN                              

Emergent topics refer to time-sensitive issues that require immediate attention. Two emergent topics that IUCN is focusing on is the Mediterranean Noble Pen Shell Crisis (Pinna nobilis) and the endangered Monk Seals in the Mediterranean.

Emergent Topics 

Monk Seal Conservation I Mediterranean Noble Pen Shell Crisis 
 

Our Approach

Since 2001, IUCN-Med is applying a unique approach which bridges between science, policy, management, and action to conserve nature and accelerate the transition to sustainable development.

"Our Approach" was created in order to maintain its value proposition among national and international organisations supporting the advancement of nature and people while establishing areas of Special Focus that highlight the programmes and activities in the region. 

Our approach Photo: iucnmed

Special Focus 

IUCN-Med addresses the goals in its approach by focusing on different sectors of special focus that are broken down between topics and a regional focus. 

The main topics regard three key economic sectors: Agriculture, fisheries and tourism in the Mediterranean specifically depend on the sustainable use of natural resources. IUCN-Med’s work focuses on mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into agricultural and fishing practices, as well as tourism planning, by creating knowledge and evidence-based content for informed decision-making towards a more sustainable development in the region.

Our special focus Photo: IUCN

 

IUCN-Med is looking for PARTNERSHIPS
to build alliances, fund and implement projects on:

  1. Coastal Area Climate Change Resilience through Nature-based Solutions
  2. Enhancing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes
  3. Building the Mediterranean Ecological Network
  4. Assessing tourism impacts on ecosystem services in coastal areas 
  5. Capacity Building Initiative for conservation
  6. Reduce the impact of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean islands
  7. Reducing the impact of fisheries on vulnerable  species and ecosystems
  8. Supporting conservation  actions through young environmental organisations in North Africa
  9. Mitigating Invasive Alien Species impacts in the Mediterranean region
  10. Mainstreaming critical freshwater biodiversity data into Mediterranean river basins management
  11. Developing Conservation plans for imperiled marine (sharks, rays, corals), and terrestrial (raptors) species
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