Biodiversity and agriculture in the Mediterranean region

Biodiversity and agriculture in the Mediterranean region

This report, Biodiversity and agriculture in the Mediterranean region: A species conservation perspective, is designed to inform policymakers, conservation practitioners, and stakeholders across the Mediterranean region. Its purpose is to highlight the current challenges posed to biodiversity by intensive agricultural pressures, while identifying solutions and opportunities to reconcile biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. It acknowledges that while certain unsustainable agricultural activities pose a key threat to species conservation in the Mediterranean, agricultural landscapes also provide habitat to numerous species – so considering agriculture as a threat requires a more nuanced approach, given its inherent linkages to nature. 
 

iucn
Download Visit page
Publication
2025
Authors
Juffe-Bignoli, Diego| Maas, Bea| Maxted, Nigel| Jimenez, R.| Cherico Wanger, Thomas| Gosling, Joe| Herrera, José M.| Kettle, Chris J.| Macfarlane, Nicholas B.W.| Brehm, Joana Magos| Rey, Pedro J.| Toledo-Hernández, Manuel| Yazbek, Mariana| Weaver, Faye M.| Muñoz Cañas, Mercedes| Numa, Catherine

Related content

Sustainable Banana Fiber Extraction and Composting with Replicable Machine Designs

This solution is part of Sparśa, a Nepali non-profit initiative producing compostable menstrual pads made from locally processed banana fiber.  

It describes the first phase of the production chain, detailing how banana pseudostems are sourced from farmers and processed at a factory near the plantations. The solution includes replicable CAD-supported designs for semi-automatic fiber extraction and pseudostem-cutting machines, enabling local manufacturing and adaptation. It also outlines sustainable fiber-drying methods and a circular system that converts the remaining biomass into organic compost fertilizer, which is returned to farmers. The extracted fiber is then turned into absorbent paper sheets used as the core of Sparśa menstrual pads. Overall, the solution strengthens circular economy practices, creates rural employment, empowers women, supports environmentally responsible menstrual hygiene options in Nepal, and offers a model that can be replicated in other banana-growing regions worldwide. 

THE EXCLUSIVE ARTISANAL FISHING ZONE: A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TOWARDS THE CARE OF MARINE MEGAFAUNA AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.

The Exclusive Artisanal Fishing Zone (ZEPA), located in the municipalities of Juradó and Bahía Solano, in Chocó, Colombia, was created to protect fishery resources and marine biodiversity, prioritizing artisanal fishing over industrial fishing. This initiative arose in response to overfishing and the negative impact of industrial fishing, which affected the livelihoods of local communities and marine ecosystems. By promoting sustainable practices, such as the use of more selective fishing gear, the ZEPA has facilitated the recovery of species and the protection of crucial habitats for marine megafauna, contributing to essential activities such as echolocation, feeding and reproduction of these species. In addition to conserving biodiversity, it has strengthened local economies by ensuring the availability of fishery resources for artisanal fishing. The ZEPA is an example of how community management and the protection of fishing traditions can lead to ecosystem conservation and improved quality of life for communities. 

People at the Heart of Nature: Community Stewardship Protecting Viet Nam’s Biosphere Reserves and its Biodiversity

Viet Nam, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, is losing nature at an alarming pace due to deforestation, unchecked tourism, land-use change, and pollution. Although 176 protected areas exist, many were long treated as “prohibited zones,” limiting community participation, weakening stewardship and restricting access to resources. Rapid growth in tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, and fisheries, combined with gaps in legal frameworks, institutional capacity, and awareness, has increased pressure on both protected and non-protected landscapes.

From 2020 to 2025, the GEF-funded Biosphere Reserve Project, led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (now Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) with support from UNDP, worked to reshape this relationship. At its heart was a simple but powerful idea: biodiversity thrives when communities, authorities, and planners share responsibility for the landscapes they depend on.

Participatory in-situ Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity in Hainan

Hainan is a natural gene bank for tropical crop varieties which include many endemic crop varieties such as Shanlan rice, tropical native melons, beans, solanaceous vegetables as well as 15 local breeds of livestock. However, intensive agriculture development, environmental pollution, invasive alien species, urbanization, attrition of traditional production systems, fragmentation, degradation of habitats and climate change put increasing pressure on agrobiodiversity conservation and sustainable use. This Solution presents how conservation and sustainable use of local agricultural genetic diversity in Hainan Province were promoted through the development of incentive mechanisms for farmers to sustain populations of endemic crops and livestock, the establishment of a supportive enabling environment and strengthened institutional capacity.

Cross-Sectoral Exchange For Improved Management Of Natural Resources In Rwanda

The Cross-Sector Taskforce (CSTF) was established in 2015 to coordinate Rwanda’s response to the Bonn Challenge and enhance Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) efforts. Comprising 35 member organizations, including government bodies, NGOs, private sector actors, and research institutions, the CSTF fosters collaboration, shares technical knowledge, and harmonizes FLR monitoring systems. It provides a platform for addressing deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss while aligning restoration efforts with national and international strategies like the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS), AFR100, and the Paris Agreement. Recent meetings have focused on integrating FLR with sustainable food systems, improving monitoring tools, and incentivizing local farmers. By facilitating knowledge exchange and improving governance, the CSTF enhances restoration efforts and strengthens Rwanda’s ability to meet its target of restoring 2 million hectares of land by 2030.

Increasing funding for protected areas in Kazakhstan: Strengthening management plans, offering paid services, and enhancing the skills of current and future generations

Protected areas in Kazakhstan expanded yearly, reaching 25 million hectares in 2018. However, public funding did not increase accordingly. As a result, the amount of financing per hectare of protected area declined. Challenges in planning and law implementation aggravated this situation.

The Government of Kazakhstan, supported by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), promoted legal reforms and capacity building to enhance the management and financial sustainability of protected areas. This support was jointly provided with the project “Conservation and sustainable management of key globally important ecosystems for multiple benefits” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

This initiative catalysed additional public funding for protected areas, which rose from USD 22.5 million in 2018 to USD 60 million in 2024. Moreover, the revenue from paid services in protected areas grew from USD 620 thousand to USD 2.6 million, supporting biodiversity conservation.

Using Green Sukuk Funds to Construct the Maluku Conservation Center in Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, with exceptionally rich fauna and flora. However, illegal wildlife trade has risen in the Maluku province, threatening endemic species. While this situation demonstrates the need to strengthen species conservation efforts, mobilizing funds for such activities is a challenge.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), accessed USD 2.7 million in green sukuk funds for the construction of the Maluku Conservation Center, dedicated to wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release into natural habitats. Green sukuks are sovereign bond-like Islamic finance instruments, and their application to biodiversity-related projects was previously limited.

In 2023-2024, 955 birds, 323 reptiles, and 319 other animals were treated and rehabilitated in the Maluku Conservation Center, contributing to the conservation of species and ecosystems.

Scalable Model for Sustainable Coffee Farming in Panama

In Panama’s western highlands, small coffee farmers face growing pressures from pests, plant diseases and climate change. Heavy reliance on chemical pesticides has harmed biodiversity, degraded soils and threatened pollinators. This solution shows how endophytic fungi, microorganisms that live naturally inside plants, can serve as effective biological pest control adapted to local conditions. Fungal strains were identified and transformed into low-cost formulations that were tested on coffee farms, where they significantly reduced the need for chemical inputs. The initiative brings together scientists, government institutions and local communities, with a strong focus on training and empowering women farmers. By addressing biodiversity loss, land degradation and gaps in technical capacity, the project strengthens sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience. Farmers benefit through higher yields, lower costs and healthier ecosystems, creating a scalable model for sustainable coffee production in Panama and beyond.

First Payment for Environmental Services Scheme in Cuba: Promoting carbon removal through sustainable forest management

Cuba’s geological evolution, climate, and insular geography led to highly diverse ecosystems with various endemic species. Nonetheless, declining forest cover and climate change hazards have threatened the country’s rich biodiversity. Moreover, CO2 emissions accelerate the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, in addition to harming human well-being.

To address these challenges, the Cuban government, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ecovalor project, established a payment for environmental services scheme that rewards carbon removal through sustainable forest management.

By March 2025, the scheme disbursed USD 238,000 (CUP 5,709,066) in payment for environmental services, associated with the removal of 999,473 tons of carbon across 12,646 hectares of forest. This initiative contributes to climate mitigation, ecosystem conservation, and the responsible use of natural resources in Cuba.

Journey of community building: Creating globally adaptable blueprint model for fibre pad manufacturing

This solution is part of the Sparsa Solution, a Nepali non-profit company that locally produces and distributes compostable menstrual pads featuring an absorbent core made from banana fibre.

To strengthen global replication of fibre-based pad manufacturing, a community-building approach was developed to connect practitioners, innovators, small manufacturers and researchers working with natural fibres. The process began with continuous ecosystem mapping and grew through honest, trust-based relationship building supported by regular interactions, especially on LinkedIn. Co-creation spaces—online workshops, stakeholder meetings, technical calls and real-time learning loops—allowed actors to exchange practical insights and refine approaches together. A flexible, distributed infrastructure combining PANORAMA with informal communication channels helps sustain the community and keeps the production model adaptive, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience.

IUCN Pakistan annual report 2023

IUCN Pakistan annual report 2022