Life on our blue planet

The European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategies (EPBRS) recently organised a meeting focusing on Marine Biodiversity Research and Policy issues required for Europe's future.

With the theme 'Life on the Blue Planet: Biodiversity research and the new EU marine policies', the meeting was aimed at identifying the key knowledge required to effectively protect marine biodiversity while ensuring the efficient and sustainable use of marine resources.

The meeting reviewed existing knowledge and identified strategic research needed for the marine environment, particularly in the light of new EU policies including the Marine Strategy Directive, the proposed EU Maritime Policy, the implementation of the Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 for the marine environment) and the action plan associated with halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond.

Among these recommendations one finds the need to assess variability within species among populations to identify unique populations and barriers to gene-flow in the marine environment.

The European Commission has proposed that a European Maritime Day is celebrated annually throughout the EU on May 20, just two days before the Convention on Biological diversity celebrates the International Day for Biodiversity.

Just as conservation genetics develops in aid of population and habitat evaluations, scientific biodiversity measures also remain important tools to address current conservation needs.

Such biodiversity conservation work was carried out at Wied Għasri in Gozo by Clayton Axiak providing new and interesting insights into a location of unique biological and aesthetic beauty. Endemic plants, such as the Maltese Sea Lavander (Limonium melitensis) and Sea Purslane (Halimione portulacoides) and animals, such as Sicilian shrew (Crocidura sicula) were also found in this location.

These and other conservation projects focused on by the Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Malta, highlight the opportunities available locally for developing expertise, which is of both national and EU importance in becoming equipped for future conservation research and management needs.

Indeed, conservation research also paves the way for coping with local and EU environmental requirements and legal conservation obligations - among the most urgent ones there is the 2010 target to slow biodiversity loss. However, beyond the 2010 target, we all need to increasingly address the direct links between biodiversity conservation and economic growth and human health.

For any queries on conservation biology research send an e-mail to avel@cis.um.edu.mt

Dr Vella is a conservation biologist