The Mediterranean Basin is one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots—biologically rich ecosystems that are essential to humanity, yet highly threatened. Glimpse some of the incredible species and ecosystems of the Mediterranean Basin and the locally led efforts to conserve these treasures by viewing the photo exhibit "Mediterranean Life: Conserving Nature for People," on display now through 20 September 2023 at the Press Club Brussels. 

Images highlight the wild beauty of the region—stretching west to east from Portugal to Jordan and north to south from northern Italy to Morocco—and the people working to ensure a future for these ecosystems, which provide vital services such as fresh water, food, fertile soils and climate change resilience. 

You can view the digital version of the exhibit here.

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See more images of the Mediterranean's wild beauty and the people working to conserve it here.

The exhibit is presented by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank. CEPF empowers nongovernmental organizations, Indigenous groups, universities and private enterprises to protect the world’s biodiversity hotspots and help communities thrive. This is accomplished through grants for conservation, organizational strengthening and sustainable development. 

Working closely with local communities and civil society organisations, CEPF has invested more than US$23.5 million in conservation of the Mediterranean Basin over more than 10 years. The investment also has been supported by the MAVA Foundation, the Audemars-Watkins Foundation, and the Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE). 

The investment in conserving the region has resulted in:

• Improved management of 2.75 million hectares of Key Biodiversity Areas.
• Training of more than 12,000 students and community members in conservation-related skills.
• The establishment of eight international/transboundary cooperation or networks; 13 national networks; 25 local conservation groups; and 44 lasting partnerships between organizations beyond collaboration on a single project.
• Creation/expansion of 76121 hectares of protected areas. 
• Grantee influence on 43 policies, laws or regulations to benefit conservation.