climate change ADAptations to Protect Turtles and monk Seals

Introduction

Recognizing that climate change is inevitable and that current conservation priorities based on current or past contexts might not be efficient under future climate change scenarios, the project aims to identify the most likely future priorities for the EU populations of three priority species: the sea turtles Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, and the monk seal Monachus monachus. The project seeks to promote such an approach in conservation practices.

Objectives

The project aims to identify - in the three EU countries most important for these species (Italy, Greece, and Cyprus) - those coastal and marine areas that are likely to be more resistant to the impacts caused by climate change. These areas will represent very important habitats for future populations, even if they are not considered as such at present time.

Methodology

To achieve its aims, the project will:

1. Map and analyze existing and potential sea turtle nesting sites and monk seal pupping/resting sites.
2. Assess the risks posed to these sites by sea-level rise.
3. Assess the risk posed by global warming to sea turtle nesting sites, particularly in terms of feminization (as sea turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination and high temperatures produce females).
4. Identify key marine areas likely to play an important role for the species even in a future context of climate change.
5. Develop a comprehensive conservation strategy based on these findings and on climate change adaptation approaches.
6. Secure the implementation of the strategy by competent authorities.

Urgent Conservation Measures

The project will also implement urgent conservation measures, including:

• Protection of sea turtle clutches.
• Improvement of the monk seal rescuing capacity.
• Restoration of monk seal resting and pupping caves.

Outreach and Awareness

Additionally, the project will promote the implementation of its approaches in other Mediterranean countries important for these species. It will also aim to increase awareness of climate change topics among EU citizens through the example of this project on the three flagship species.