CSS Macaronesia - Loro Parque Fundación
Based on Tenerife Island, the Center for Species Survival Macaronesia (CSSM) was established in 2022. This Center aims to assess the current situation of biodiversity in Macaronesia, a geographical region that comprises five archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean: the Azores, Madeira, the Selvagens Islands, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. This region is a biodiversity hotspot with a large number of endemic species, and therefore important for conservation strategies and priorities. By understanding the extinction risk and threats of Macaronesian species, the CSSM aims to promote the conservation of key species and be part of the Reverse the Red movement to ensure the survival of wild species and reduce biodiversity decline.
The Center for the Survival of Species Macaronesia (CSSM) in partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and Loro Parque Foundation (LPF) aims to provide assessment, planning and action for species conservation in the biogeographic region of Macaronesia. This region is a biodiversity hot spot with a high level of endemism in flora and fauna. From a marine perspective, is characterized by the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME). The CCLME is one of the four major upwelling systems in the world and creates 8% of the primary production in the world ocean. This primary production supports many species of marine mammals, fishes and birds and other organisms. All these characteristics make Macaronesia a key region of great importance for the conservation of both marine and terrestrial organisms.
Supporting the Species Conservation
To understand the extinction risks of species in Macaronesia the first step of the CSSM was a review of the assessments carried out by IUCN.