Mediterranean

Este documento en tres lenguas pretende revisar los programas y las redes para las zonas protegidas en la región del Mediterráneo. Se concentra en la gestión, puntos débiles, puntos fuertes, carencias y sinergias, intentando destacar las zonas en las que se precisa trabajar más. Su objetivo primordial reside en analizar la labor realizada hasta el momento más que en los planes de futuro.

Fires are a natural phenomenon. However, over 90% of all wildland fires today are due to human action causing significant forest loss between 6-14 million hectares of forest per annum. This leads to enormous economic losses, damage to environmental, recreational and amenity values, and loss of life. There is strong recognition that action is needed to catalyse a strategic international response to forest fires.

With almost 5000 island and islets, the Mediterranean comprises one of the largest groups of islands in the world. With its wealth of species, high degree of endemism, long history and tolerance of all kinds of disruptions, it is of extremely high value to global biodiversity. However, over the last few decades, major socio-economic changes have increased the negative impact of human activity in the region and today, the islands are extremely vulnerable.

Limits to expansion of protected area systems underline the importance of seeking new ways to conserve biodiversity. There are many examples where traditional rural communities have shown their capacity to maintain high biological and cultural diversity.