Climate change in protected areas

Climate change in protected areas 

Climate change is a growing threat in the 21st century and a challenge for all of humanity. It affects all aspects of the environment and the economy and threatens the sustainable development of society. Marine protected areas as natural reserves of biodiversity, can play a significant role in detecting and adapting the environment to climate change. MPAs are areas of reduced human activity, areas of high nature protection and a zone in which workers and scientists have all the necessary tools and knowledge that are essential for the protection and preservation of natural values. Brijuni National Park is the area with the highest level of nature protection in the North Adriatic, according to its geographical position it is located in the northernmost and in the coldest part of the Mediterranean Sea. Its high level of nature protection makes this area an ideal for studying the impact of climate change on biodiversity.

Interreg MED project MPA ENGAGE

Since 2016, Public Institution Brijuni National Park has been intensively monitoring the impact of climate change. During Interreg MED project MPA ADAPT it started with monitoring species and habitats in the area and also networking with many other marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. Since 2019, continues to monitor the impact of climate change and implementing the project "MPA ENGAGE – Engaging Mediterranean key actors in Ecosystem Approach to manage Marine Protected Areas to face Climate change”. The project started on November 1st, 2019 and will last until June 30, 2022. It includes 14 partners from 7 different countries: Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Albania, Malta, Croatia and 31 associated partner institutions.

With this project, for the first time in our area, Citizen Science program is being implemented. In this program recreational divers, fishermen and the local stakeholders will play a significant role. With the professional support of employees of marine protected areas, stakeholders will collect data important for the protection and more effective management of marine protected areas. One of the additional goals of the project is to develop educational programs on climate change for school and kindergarten children and visitors of the park. Education is an effective tool for raising awareness of the big impact of climate change on everyday life.

Photo contest marine protected areas on Mediterrannean

Be inspired by the Mediterranean sea and join our first Instagram photo contest! The winners in the BRIJUNI MPA photo competition will also participate to a second-round contest among the best pictures took in different Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas, with additional awesome prizes to win!