The Mediterranean Sea, accounting for only 1.5 per cent of the earth’s surface, hosts approximately 7 per cent of the known world marine fauna and 18 per cent of the world marine flora, of which 28per cent are endemic. This globally significant biodiversity and the quality of the Sea’s water are under threat from anthropogenic activities, however. The Mediterranean coast is home to more than 150 million residents and is the world’s most popular tourist destination, placing a strain on the sensitive Mediterranean environment.

Three major environmental problems have been identified in the Mediterranean Sea. First the seawater quality is declining as a result of pollution from land-based sources such as untreated wastewater and from marine-based sources such as discharge from ships. Second, the significant biodiversity in the Mediterranean is threatened due to habitat degradation from activities such as coastal development. Finally, the Mediterranean fisheries are being overexploited.

To address these serious threats to the Mediterranean, the littoral countries sought the assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which established the Mediterranean Action Plan. In 2004, UNEP brought in Woods Hole Group to investigate the region’s needs and gain consensus on plans for the project.

• assisted in honing specific intervention plans for halting sources and mitigating the effects of pollution
• completed a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
• presented the analysis and intervention plans to regional leaders to gain consensus