MED BIODIVERSITY TREASURES NEED PROTECTION
MED BIODIVERSITY TREASURES NEED PROTECTION
(ANSA) - Rome, November 5 - The Mediterranean is a precious source of biodiversity that requires special protection, the Italian branch of environmental organization Greenpeace warned on Thursday.
A study by Greenpeace Italia, published at an international ministers meeting in Marrakech, highlighted the unique nature of the Mediterranean.
It pointed out that temperate and subtropical climates meet and combine in the Mediterranean, ''thereby producing elevated levels of biodiversity''.
In particular, the organization singled out the stretch of water between Sicily and Tunisia, the Strait of Sicily, and the area south of Spain's Balearic Islands.
''These are two hotspots for productivity and biodiversity in the Mediterranean,'' the report noted.
According to Greenpeace, the Mediterranean represents just 0.7% of the world's oceans but is home to around 9% of all known marine life - around 12,000 species in total.
Pollution, destructive fishing practices, coastal development and climate changed were cited as the main threats to this biodiversity.
Ensuring a network of marine reserves is in place across the Mediterranean by 2012 would provide an important boost to those seeking to tackle this decline, the group said.
It pointed out that despite a major drive to set up conservation grounds at sea in recent years, just 1% of Mediterranean waters currently enjoy any real protection.
Greenpeace produced the report for a three-day conference of ministers from countries party to the 1976 Barcelona Convention for Protection against Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.
Debate at the meeting has focused predominantly on the impact of climate change, with reports from a series of bodies suggesting that the entire Mediterranean region will be one of the areas worst affected in the world.
The chief concerns highlighted include rising water temperatures, acidification of the water due to carbon dioxide absorption, rising sea levels, changing currents and damage to marine life.
The resulting destruction of biodiversity and fragile ecosystems would also have a knock-on effect on the agriculture, fisheries and tourist industries, which rely heavily on the Mediterranean's treasures, the meeting noted.
Delegates hope to agree on concrete measures and policies aimed at helping the Mediterranean adapt to the results of climate change and minimize damage, noting that even if all emissions targets were met there would still be a major impact on the region in coming years.
