Research and Data

Credit: Egidio Trainito

Marine resources management needs sound scientific support.

The GEF Adriatic project is based on a remarkable approach that integrates the results from different management concepts, methodologies and scientific tools in order to provide a 360-degree vision of the sea ecosystem.

It's an innovative approach that's never been previously applied in the Adriatic region. It focuses on conducting surveys, collecting, storing and assessing data in line with the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme of the Barcelona Convention, being the backbone of the ecosystem approach process. As such, it will guarantee Good Environmental Status (GES) and long-term conservation of marine and coastal resources in the Adriatic.

Towards the Good Environmental Status

GEF Adriatic conducted data collection and monitoring activities in order to understand more
about the unique ecosystems of this region and their interrelations with human activities.
Read the results of our monitoring activities.

03/05/2021

From monitoring to reporting: the Albanian and Montenegrin national IMAP Info Systems

Assessments based on monitoring data need effective practical mechanisms for handling the data. Such mechanisms ensure that documents, data, and products are managed consistently and are made easily available to national users. For this reason, the GEF project developed a GIS application and info web system that enables the storing, assessing and reporting of data […]

15/04/2021

Understanding our seas: from biodiversity to human impact. A look at Albania

To protect any ecosystem it is necessary to understand its complexities and how it may be affected by human activities. For Albania, with its many miles of coastline, collecting data and efficient planning is fundamental to the sustainable development of its own coast, as well as that of the whole of the Adriatic sub-region. […]

20/03/2021

The Adriatic is vital for Montenegro: groundbreaking monitoring programme throws new light on ecosystems

The marine environment requires increasingly careful and coordinated management in the face of growing human pressures and to undertake this effectively depends primarily on data. An ecosystem-based approach to marine spatial planning (MSP) offers the best route to a secure long-term future for Montenegro’s marine resources. In fact, one of the aims of the GEF […]

02/03/2021

The interrelations between the marine environment and human activities in Albania

Coastal and marine areas are key resources for economic development in Albania, with tourism being an important and growing sector, especially on the Adriatic coast. Human activities, however, are both highly dependent on the health of the natural environment and the possible sources of its degradation. To ensure the future stability and resilience of marine […]

26/02/2021

The interrelations between the marine environment and human activities in Montenegro

In Montenegro, as in many coastal communities, the sea provides crucial resources to the country's economy and population. However, human activities and the environment interact within a complex network of interactions: the impacts and pressures we have on natural habitats and species can, in turn, generate ripple effects that recur and affect productivity of those […]

GES Assessments Results

To achieve the Good Environmental Status of the marine and coastal area is crucial to assess the status of the marine environment,
in order to identify sources of degradation and plan mitigation measures.
Discover the results of our assessments.

15/06/2021

Crossing borders towards a Good Environmental Status of the Adriatic

To protect our seas it is necessary to act together. Similarly, planning for our future relationship with the sea requires a “holistic” view that crosses borders and brings together all stakeholders. Since the signing of the Barcelona Convention, contracting countries have undertaken to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for the Mediterranean Sea. Defined by the […]

09/05/2021

The status of the marine environment in Albania

The GES assessment of the marine and coastal environment in Albania was conducted adopting the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) and related criteria. This is the first attempt to assess GES in Albania, which implies an integrated approach focused on the different Ecological Objectives. The main findings of this assessment suggest that, at the […]

23/04/2021

The status of the marine environment in Montenegro

The GES assessment of the marine and coastal environment in Montenegro was conducted adopting the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) and related criteria. This is the first attempt to assess GES in Montenegro using this methodology, and to apply an integrated approach which focuses on the different Ecological Objectives. The main finding derived from […]