The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation held a workshop on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) belonging to the North-Western Mediterranean sub-region. This workshop was organised with the IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit (FBU), based in Cambridge, and gathered about 20 freshwater biodiversity experts from European scientific institutions, and governmental and non-governmental agencies, at the National Museum of Natural History in Madrid (Spain), from November 17 to 20, 2015.

IUCN is currently leading a project to assess the status of freshwater biodiversity and identify freshwater KBAs across the whole Mediterranean basin Hotspot. These KBAs will provide resources that are essential for guiding decisions on the conservation and sustainable management of freshwater biodiversity in this highly threatened region.

The designation and validation of these important sites for biodiversity involves collecting and using information from freshwater biodiversity conservation assessments and mapping the distribution for every species of freshwater fish, mollusc, dragonfly, damselfly, aquatic plant present within the area.

KBAs belonging to the North-Western part of the Mediterranean Hotspot (area that covers all of the Iberian Peninsula, southern France and most of Italy) have not been identified yet. In this workshop, freshwater biodiversity experts defined KBA boundaries, validated the species composition at each KBA site, identified threats, potential conservation actions/management that are needed (and that are already in place), and identified potential stakeholders ('site champions') who could undertake any conservation work or monitoring at the site.

For further information: Catherine Numa

Photo: Zannichellia - ©A. Ivorra