Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders

Abstract

The identification of research questions with high relevance for biodiversity conservation is an important step towards designing more effective policies and management actions, and to better allocate funding among alternative conservation options. However, the identification of priority questions may be influenced by regional differences in biodiversity threats and social contexts, and to variations in the perceptions and interests of different stakeholders. Here we describe the results of a prioritization exercise involving six types of stakeholders from the Mediterranean biome, which includes several biodiversity hotspots spread across five regions of the planet (Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australia). We found great heterogeneity across regions and stakeholder types in the priority topics identified and disagreement among the priorities of research scientists and other stakeholders. However, governance, climate change, and public participation issues were key topics in most regions. We conclude that the identification of research priorities should be targeted in a way that integrates the spectrum of stakeholder interests, potential funding sources and regional needs, and that further development of interdisciplinary studies is required. The key questions identified here provide a basis to identify priorities for research funding aligned with biodiversity conservation needs in this biome.

Resilient responses by bats to a severe wildfire: conservation implications

“…Shrubs appear only few years after wildfires that affect Mediterranean forests (Ubeda, Outeiro, & Sala, 2006), and plant communities gradually show a trend towards pre‐fire productivity levels, as quantified by an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, which is linked with insect biomass (Sweet et al ., 2015). This means that bat food availability in such ecosystems should recover relatively quickly, albeit the relationship among bat activity, vegetation regrowth and insect abundance in forest habitats subjected to wildfires is not yet clear, and probably not consistent among different habitats (Malison & Baxter, 2010; Cox et al ., 2016; Lacki et al ., 2017; Austin et al ., 2018; Moreira et al ., 2019).…”

Plant conservation in Mediterranean-type ecosystems

“…Nowadays, conservation biologists are concerned about managing threats to avoid the extinction of populations, species, and entire clades (Carroll & Fox, 2008). However, there is much variation in different stakeholders' perceptions of these problems among MTE's (Moreira et al, 2019).…”

The future for Mediterranean wetlands: 50 key issues and 50 important conservation research questions

“…Contemporary challenges for Mediterranean wetlands include rapid urbanisation, increased water usage, climate change and land conversion (MWO 2018). Although several foresight projects have been carried out with implications for the Mediterranean (Kark et al 2016;Moreira et al 2019), aquatic systems (Brown et al 2010;Pérez-Jvostov et al 2020) and environmental conservation more generally UNEP 2017;Ockendon et al 2018;Sutherland et al 2020;Esmail et al 2020), there remains a need for analyses focused on the nexus of these topics: Mediterranean wetlands and their conservation.…”

“…Data from Perennou et al (2012) and MWO (2018). Data for Andorra, Gibraltar, San Marino and Vatican City not available prioritisation, can be used to identify priority research questions which, if answered, would most advance knowledge, policy or practice in a particular subject area (Sutherland et al 2011;Kark et al 2016;Moreira et al 2019).…”