Maria J.Aizpitarte @meri.pecas
Be passionate
about the environment!
Get involved with
The challenges of climate change
… and the Med’s solution Climate change and global warming are caused by the CO2 emissions we put in the atmosphere when burning fossil fuels, like our yachts do. Mediterranean underwater forests They are essential to us: they absorb the carbon emission we produce helping mitigate climate change, they keep our waters clean and protect the beaches and coastline from sea erosion. Furthermore, they provide nursery and refuge for many fish species that we feed on. Particularly, the seagrass Posidonia Oceanica is one of the best ways we have to balance our carbon footprint resulting from burning fossil fuels like in our motor yachts.
The Challenges All yachts need to drop the anchor at some point and burn petrol when cruising, even sailing yachts when there is not enough wind. If you sail along the coastline of the Balearics, you will surely be floating above vast seagrass meadows. Climate change resulting e.g. in increasing temperature of the oceans, pollution, invasive species and overfishing are some of the human pressures that threaten these fragile habitats, but yacht anchoring is ravaging the Posidonia meadows in the most popular yacht spots in the Balearics.
3
Rewilding the
Mediterranean Sea
Seagrass – Posidonia Oceanica
Be the change MedGardens - regenerating Mediterranean underwater forests Our team of marine biologists and trained volunteers collect fragments of Posidonia and other species that have been ripped apart by the anchors and transplant them in protected shallow areas while these are still alive, building up the MedGardens network. What can you do? Be our guest, get your snorkel and visit a MedGarden to see how they are doing in their second chance, and what fish are living happily in their new underwater forests. You can help us during your yacht charter by sending us pictures and geolocation if you witness any yachts anchoring on Posidonia, or detect any pollution at sea such as oil spills (black colour) or other types of pollutants (usually coloured light brown). Especially if these are happening close to any MedGarden! You want to go one step further? You can reverse your impact by partially compensating your yacht charter‘s CO2 emissions through a monetary contribution towards MedGardens, helping to regenerate the Mediterranean underwater forests and it’s capacities to absorb carbon emissions. If you want to learn more, book a MedExpedition to visit a MedGarden whilst snorkelling or diving and learn more about the underwater forests and methods of regeneration. Are you considering a long-term support? We would be delighted to count on your ongoing support via a donation to 1%ForTheMed platform, supporting projects to regenerate the Mediterranean such as MedGardens. 5
Towards a regenerative tourism
How to be a responsible tourist Your conscious decision can counterbalance the social and environmental impacts associated with travel Responsible travel guidelines Check out these guidelines to find some simple tricks on how you can act responsibly when planning your trip and during your vacation. If we all change our habits just a little, collectively we can make a change. Innovative & interactive mobile tour Discover Palma through new eyes with this innovative tour guided via an application on your personal mobile device. Learn not only historical facts about Palma and local insights but also interesting details about a sustainable lifestyle and hints to take home to establish in your daily life. Along the way you will find recommendations for small local businesses supporting the idea of establishing a regenerative society. Go beyond sustaining Throwing our rubbish into the correct recycling bins has become a familiar part of our lives. But perhaps it is time to take it a step further? Like picking up plastic waste as you walk along the beach, even if it is not yours. Carry a sustainable water bottle and refill at any one of the Cleanwave fountains around Palma instead buying plastic water bottles. This simple act, would exponentially decrease unnecessary plastic waste generated across the islands every day. Simply download the Cleanwave.org App and refill. 7
“No water, no life. No blue, no green.” Sylvia Earle