Mediterranean Ecological Footprint Trends: Report from Global Footpring Network released

Growing demands on the Mediterranean region's ecosystems threaten the foundation of its social and economic well-being, the international think tank Global Footprint Network reports in a two-year study whose findings will be released at an international conference in Venice on October 1st 2012.

Global Footprint Network' s report, Mediterranean Ecological Footprint Trends, show an ever widening ecological deficit. Between 1961 and 2008, the most recent year data were available, growing population and consumption trends tripled the region' s demand for renewable resources and ecological services. By 2008, the region' s Ecological Footprint—the demand on Earth' s bioproductive land and sea areas—exceeded local available ecological assets by more than 150 percent.

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About Global Footprint Network

Global Footprint Network is an international research organization working to advance sustainability through the Ecological Footprint, a resource management tool that measures how much nature we have, how much we use and who uses what. Global Footprint Network coordinates research, develops methodological standards, and releases annual data on the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity of more than 230 countries and humanity as a whole. By providing robust resource accounts to track supply of and demand on ecological assets, Global Footprint Network gives decisionmakers the data they need to succeed in a world facing tightening resource constraints.

www.footprintnetwork.org

About UNESCO

The UNESCO Venice Office fosters cooperation to contribute to peace, stability and sustainable development in Europe, especially in South East Europe and the Mediterranean area, through activities in the field of science and culture. In the field of culture the Office is investing in cultural diversity for peace and social cohesion, in the safeguarding of cultural heritage, the protection of cultural diversity and the promotion of pluralism and dialogue between cultures. In the field of Science the UNESCO Office in Venice is implementing programmes for strengthening the scientific and technological system, both in terms of policy and of research capacity, for defense against natural hazards, the responsible management of natural resources and the promotion of sustainable development through its network of MAB Biosphere Reserves.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/venice/home/

About MAVA Foundation

The MAVA Foundation was established in 1994 and is a family -led, Swiss-based philanthropic foundation whose mission is to engage in strong partnerships to conserve biodiversity for future generations. The foundation supports projects in three focal regions: the Alpine Arc and Switzerland, the Mediterranean Basin and Coastal West Africa. In addition, it maintains sufficient flexibility to invest in other important projects outside those regions and which address global-scale issues and/or urgent needs, including work on footprint and consumption.

www.mava-foundation.org/