The Mediterranean-Macaronesian Basin hotspot, with an area of 2,085,292 km2, is the second largest hotspot in the world. The more than 12,000 islands and islets in the Mediterranean-Macaronesian Basin hotspot contain a unique constellation of ecosystems and species of high biogeographical interest, often rare, threatened or endangered on the near continent. Because of the unique biodiversity they contain, the islands and islets of the Mediterranean-Macaronesian basin seem to have a crucial role to play in conserving the biodiversity of the Mediterranean-Macaronesian coastline, and also as sentinels of global change because of the low level of human activity in some of them.
ACTIONS
The project, officially launched in January 2025, aims to demonstrate the importance of the role that small islands play in biodiversity, and to measure, across the Mediterranean and Macaronesia, the impacts of global changes on these micro-island spaces, in order to better protect them:
Science:
- Development of simple land and marine monitoring protocols to measure the effects of certain global changes (invasive species, climate change, habitat destruction and exploitation of resources, etc.).
- Training of managers in the implementation of these common protocols and in the use of banking tools.
- Technical and financial support for the implementation of these monitoring programmes.
Management:
- Support for the implementation of concrete management and conservation operations defined as priorities
Up to and including public policies:
- Scientific analysis of data on a Mediterranean and Macaronesian scale; Development of a scientifically robust argumentation to justify the orientation of resources and efforts towards the protection of the islands and islets of the Mediterranean and Macaronesia;
- Implementation of a set of innovative communication and advocacy actions aimed at repositioning the islands among the priority protection zones within the Mediterranean hotspot and internationally.
