The Mediterranean Sea is a World’s biodiversity hotspot. It harbours around 11% of all marine species in less than 1% of the global marine area (Bianchi & Morri, 2000). Furthermore, around 20% of those species are endemic (Coll et al., 2010). Nevertheless, Mediterranean marine biodiversity is under threat by a number of pressures including overfishing, pollution, introduction of alien invasive …
The recent report entitled “Mapping and assessment of the state of wetland ecosystems: a Mediterranean perspective” led by ETC-UMA, in the frame of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Community initiative co-funded by the EU Interreg Mediterranean programme, is the result of the collaborative efforts of EU and Mediterranean projects and partners that made available 23 input geo-spatial datasets including the WetMainAreas …
On the occasion of the workshop organized by IUCN and Région Sud in collaboration with its CPMR partner, the ETC-UMA Director, Dania Abdul Malak is presenting today 1 April 2022 a highlight on the wide range of actions required to fight marine litter and its impacts in the Mediterranean region. The call for action builds on the recent assessment on …
The new report developed by the ETC-UMA (University of Malaga), as partner of the European Topic Centre on Urban, Land and Soil Systems (ETC/ULS) has shed light on the role of healthy wetland habitats in the carbon cycle and the ways European instruments report and consider them. Entitled “Carbon pools and sequestration potential of wetlands in the European Union”, this …
An open database and spatial geoportal on current scientific knowledge related to marine litter and biodiversity interactions in the Mediterranean region.
WetlandsApplying an ecosystem-based approach to water and land interfacesCURRENT STATUSWetlands are key providers of water and essential services to life. Hotspots of biodiversity, they are also one of the fastest declining ecosystems worldwide. The threats against them continue to mount. An increase in the conversion of natural areas to urban and agricultural areas, infrastructure development, water diversion and pollution of …
Land and soilLiving on earthCURRENT STATUSLand is the solid part of Earth’s surface which hosts the majority of human activities; the main and essential component of land is the thin covering over it which we call soil. Although land-based ecosystem services are vital for life on the planet, pressures on land and soil continue increasing: the loss of land and …
GeotechnologySupporting environmental assessments with spatial dataCURRENT STATUSData are at the basis of decision-making. The evolution and amount of data gathering techniques and processing tools have exponentially increased data availability and the potential for different analyses. In this context, a sophisticated data management ecosystem is crucial to respond to complex environmental challenges. To serve its purpose, data harmonisation and integration are …
ForestsMiss the forest for the treesCURRENT STATUSForests are complex ecosystems providing multiple functions and services, beyond what wood supply, such as provision of freshwater, clean air, regulation of climate and nutrient cycling, recreational, etc. Nowadays, forests are threatened by a wide variety of factors. In addition to the deforestation of vast areas in the world, by unsustainable management and illegal …
Conservation and managementFostering science and practices to support environmental protectionCURRENT STATUSBiodiversity and the essential ecosystem services it provides – fertile soils, healthy foods, drinking water, clean air – are being seriously degraded as a result of unsustainable extraction, production and consumption patterns by an increasing human population. Humans are meant to share the Planet with millions of species; however, larger …
