Priority issues in the Mediterranean Area

Priority issues in the Mediterranean Area

12.09.2018

                                   

Focus 2018
Reducing pollution in Mediterranean Area
Climatic changes, pollution, growing urbanization, increasing of maritime traffic. The natural heritage of the MED and its ecosystem services are at risk.
The priorities and needs will be discussed during the Ecomondo 2018
via a number of workshops and conferences
 
 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in the Mediterranean area (MED) there are 3.5 billion hectares of degraded land that could be used to grow non-food local biomass for the biobased industry.

Such ecosystems have intrinsic economic value and generate various products but it is currently unexploited and subjected to various threats, such as natural hazards (including wildfires), poor soil and difficult climatic conditions, and external threats.

Climate changes, the reduction of precipitation and increases of precipitation variability, are affecting remarkably the whole aboveground net primary production of the area, in particular the vegetation at arid and semi-arid sites (i.e., lower forage production) by putting under risk the long-term viability of the local biodiversity systems and of the agri-food and forestry production.

The MED sea is undergoing fast changes in response to both natural and anthropogenic pressures.
The priorities and needs mentioned above will be discussed during the Ecomondo 2018.
 
 
Marine Bioresources in a changing Mediterranean Sea
Marine Bioresources in a changing Mediterranean Sea

The effects of environmental changes in the Mediterranean area on the local fishery, aquaculture and aquatic biodiversity as well as on the seafood processing value chains and competitiveness will be discussed in this conference via a cross-topic dialogue sharing and discussing research, developments and cooperation opportunities in the area with the participation of Federpesca, The Italian Technology Cluster on Bluegrowth, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the EU Commission and of the BLUEMED Initiative.

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Single use plastics and Marine Litter in Mediterranean sea: problems and solutions

The major problems associated with the plastics in the Mediterranean sea and the possible alternatives and EU available policies on the subject will be discussed together with experts, policy makers and key representatives of industrial sectors, public institutions, the EU commission and the Parliament at the conference below.

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Single use plastics and Marine Litter in Mediterranean sea: problems and solutions
 
Water Scarcity in Italy and Mena Countries: challenges and strategies for Water Utilities
Water Scarcity in Italy and Mena Countries: challenges and strategies for Water Utilities

Water utilities in Italy and Mediterranean region are more and more facing similar challenges that need stronger collaborative strategies. Desalination, for example, is becoming of interest even in Italy and should be seriously considered as well as better water efficiency in water distribution. The seminar will outline the Mediterranean scenario, presenting innovative technologies applied in demo or full scale plants, then focus on the national context by analyzing needs and possible solutions to be addressed in the forthcoming future.

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Strategic actions on Coastal Protection to Develop a Sustainable Italian Blue Growth
Strategic actions on Coastal Protection to Develop a Sustainable Italian Blue Growth

The management and protection of the coasts, also in relation to the current climate changes, is a strategic issue for a country like Italy with about 7,500 km of coastline, both for the security of the internal territories, both for the conservation of habitats and coastal ecosystems, both for economic and social development mainly linked to coastal and maritime tourism and to the European strategy of "Blue Growth".

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Discover the complete conference programme