@techreport{Schröder2024,

title = {Mapping the Impact of Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean: Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems},

author = {C. Schröder and A. Sánchez-Espinosa and A. Teixidor and G. Costa and R. Galán and L. Prieto and G. Balestracci and M.A. Kuhn and P. Marín and A. Martín and C. Numa and A. Sciacca},

url = {https://www.etc.uma.es/wp-content/uploads/Mapping-the-Impact-of-Blue-Tourism-in-the-Mediterranean-web.pdf},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-09-03},

abstract = {The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation with the support of ETC-UMA in the framework of the Blue Tourism Initiative, has released a comprehensive report entitled “Mapping the Impact of Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean: Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems.” This groundbreaking report reveals how tourism is affecting the Mediterranean’s coastal and marine ecosystems and provides actionable recommendations to promote sustainable blue tourism practices.



The spatial assessment identifies highly vulnerable regions in the Mediterranean, focusing on cumulative tourism pressures and the lack of protected ecologically sensitive areas. Regions such as Cádiz and Malaga in Spain, Antalya and Hatay in Türkiye, Girona and Menorca, Annaba Province in Algeria, and Trieste Province in Italy face high tourism pressures and low protection levels. Even regions with relatively high protection levels still experience significant tourism pressures, while Eastern and Southern Mediterranean countries with low protection levels are extremely vulnerable.



Among its key findings and highlights, we can find the threats to Posidonia oceanica, a unique Mediterranean seagrass, which is under significant threat from leisure boat anchoring. This vital habitat, covering approximately 19,482 square kilometers, provides essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and habitat provision. The report highlights the pressures from harmful fishing practices and anchoring, especially near major tourist centers. The analysis shows a seasonal increase in leisure boat traffic, with a notable rise in the post-pandemic period.



The report also addresses the threat of vessel collisions with whales in the Northwest Mediterranean. This area is critical for fin whales, hosting up to 70% of the Mediterranean population and significant feeding grounds. It also supports around 50% of the Mediterranean sperm whale population during the summer. The heavy maritime traffic, including goods shipping, passenger transport, and cruise tourism, significantly increases the risk of ship strikes.},

keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Mediterranean sea, Pressures, Tourism, Transboundary management},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{nokey,

title = {RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief: How can coastal wetlands help achieve EU climate goals?},

author = {M. del Mar Otero and A. Camacho and D. Abdul-Malak and E. Kampa and A. Scheid and E. Elkina},

url = {https://www.etc.uma.es/wp-content/uploads/R4Cs-Policy-Brief-EU-climate-goals.pdf},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-09-01},

urldate = {2024-09-01},

abstract = {The first RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief of RESTORE4Cs, “How can coastal wetlands help achieve EU climate goals?“, highlights the importance of European coastal wetlands for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions.



The key messages of the first RESTORE4Cs Policy Brief include:



1) Coastal wetlands are important natural carbon stores, given their capacity to sequester carbon efficiently while emitting relatively less methane – a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) with much higher warming potential than CO2 at medium term.



2) When well-preserved or restored, coastal wetlands deliver key ecosystem services and have positive impacts on the environment and society. The conservation and restoration of coastal wetlands in Europe is therefore a cost-effective climate mitigation strategy in line with the European Climate Law and can contribute to reach climate neutrality by 2050.



3) Robust carbon certification sche­ mes can offer additional tools to finance projects for protecting and restoring European coastal wetlands. Coastal wetland protection and restoration activities that contribute to reduce GHG emissions, sequester carbon and provide long-term storage should qualify and be recognised under the EU Certification Framework for Carbon Removals. These measures provide an opportunity for unlocking new financial sources for wetland conservation and restoration while ensuring ecological and social benefits with the necessa­ry safeguards in place.



4) Actions to protect and restore carbon sinks – including the sustainable management and restoration of wetlands – are qualified by the EU Taxonomy Regulation as ‘environmentally sustainable’ economic activities. These actions can create incentives for companies that aim to become more climate-friendly and attract new investments for restoration by labelling certain activities as ‘environmentally friendly’ or reducing their financial transaction costs.},

keywords = {Climate Change, Transboundary management, Wetlands},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}