The Mediterranean basin is a region with a particularly rich flora, where about 10% of the world’s plant species are concentrated and where endemism reaches a value of about 60%. This high floristic richness is partly due to the strong confluence of species of diverse biogeographical origins, meaning that besides strictly Mediterranean taxa of course, there are also taxa of subtropical, Iranoturanian or Euro-Siberian origin that extend the limits of their distribution in the region.

This region hosts an important number of areas of high vulnerability to environmental changes, such as: numerous islands and islets, extended coastal areas, numerous areas and enclaves of arid or semiarid climates, and mesophyll habitats – more and more rare - with high elevation deciduous trees. In all these sites, the migration capacity of species towards more favourable habitats in order to ensure their survival, in case of sudden modification of environmental conditions, is very low if not nil.

This innovative project proposes, for the first time, a scientific and administrative collaboration over the entire Mediterranean area, for the evaluation of the severity of threats imposed by climate change on the conservation of the flora in the MEDOCC area. This network will allow for the carrying out of systematic observations and studies that will take into consideration the entire basin and will create transregional strategies for the protection of nature. The actions of the project will take place in 12 regions of 5 member states of the MEDOCC area: Valencia, Murcia, Catalonia and Balearic Islands (Spain); Languedoc-Roussillon and Province-Alps-Côte d’Azur (France); Sardinia and Sicily (Italy); Sterea Ellas, Peloponnese and Crete (Greece) and Malta (as a whole) and in 3 non-member countries of the South Coast (Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt).

Within the regional territories mentioned, field work will take place principally in Sites of Community Interest (SCI), areas proposed to be part of the European ecological network NATURA 2000.

Fonti:
Odissea Semina - Réseau inter-régional de banques de semences de la Mediterranée GENMEDOC. Bulletin du projet SEMCLIMED Vol. 1, Juillet 2007.

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