Strategies & action plans
Effective conservation can only be considered successful when the needs of species and people are balanced.
Biodiversity conservation is increasingly understood as key to human well-being. Strong partnerships have become critical to halt the decline of species and support the conservation of landscapes, hence strategies for Mediterranean species conservation actively build and maintain effective partnerships as a key part of their planning process.
How We Act
Bringing people together to catalyze positive conservation change.
Action plans and strategies
Monk Seal Conservation
It's estimated that around 250-400 Mediterranean Monk Seals remain in the Mediterranean. IUCN-Med is coordinating efforts with Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to build a knowledge base to identify the main threats in the region as well as the population structure. See the ongoing project: Monk seal conservation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Shark Conservation
Currently, experts estimate at least 53% of sharks, rays and chimaeras from the Mediterranean to be at risk of extinction. IUCN-Med focuses on bringing together experts to find ways to reverse the threat against sharks in the Mediterranean.
Cuvier’s Gazelle
IUCN-Med has published a Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for 2017-2026 to help stop the decline of this Cuvier's Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) a highly emblematic species in North Africa.
Great Bustard
The Moroccan Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is a Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. For urgent conservation action, IUCN-Med created a Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for 2016-2025 that describes how to better manage areas where the Great Bustard survives.
Barbary Macaque
The Barbary Macaque was once widespread in the Mediterranean. Today it survives with only small populations in the forests of Morocco, Algeria and the Rock of Gibraltar. IUCN-Med developed a Conservation Strategy and Action Plan to protect this species in Algeria.
Barbary Sheep
The Barbary Sheep or Aoudad is a mountain ungulate endemic to North Africa. The species is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In collaboration with Tunisian authorities and CSOs, IUCN-Med created a Strategy and Action Plan for 2018-2027 species conservation.
Iberian desman
The Iberian desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a small semi-aquatic mammal, exclusive to the Iberian Peninsula, which is classified as Endangered according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Med has started the participatory process for the development of a transboundary conservation strategy which will span across the four countries covered by the desman's range (Spain, France, Andorra y Portugal).
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