A critical habitat for some of the Mediterranean's most charismatic species, the marine ecosystem from Gökova Bay to Cape Gelidonya in Turkey has long provided local people with sustainable livelihoods through fishing. As a result of unregulated fishing activity, tourism and invasive species from the Red Sea this is now under severe threat.

"Within Turkey there are 14 Special Environmental Protection Areas (SEPAs) and six of these are in the project area," explains Sophie Benbow from Fauna & Flora International, leaders of the project and partner organisation of the CCI.

The project will scale up a successful pilot in Gökova Bay to restore more than 500km of vulnerable marine habitat along the Turkish Mediterranean coastline. In just five years, the pilot yielded a significant recovery of habitat and fish stocks, an increase in fishing incomes, reduced abundance of invasive species and resulted in the return of predatory sandbar sharks and Mediterranean monk seals.

"Seeing the return of the monk seals is really exciting. A few years ago they were rarely sighted, and now we observe them regularly. From a community perspective we're also really pleased to report increases in fish stocks and revenue for local fishers," said Sophie.

Although some no-fishing zones are already in place along this stretch of coast, they are not enforced. This project will establish new no-fishing zones that will be patrolled by community-based ranger teams, as well as regulating boat mooring to enable seagrass recovery and developing best practice guidelines for marine tourism.

"I think the ELP demonstrates the drive for collaboration and communication in conservation at the moment. Restoration language is not traditionally used in the marine world, so it will be interesting to see if other marine projects follow this approach and open up a dialogue with us to share knowledge and findings," said Sophie. 

The Danube Delta is home to huge numbers of breeding birds and the largest number of fish species anywhere in Europe, yet the development of infrastructure during the 20th century has led to a deterioration in water quality, salinisation and biodiversity. Tackling the impacts of this activity is the focus of the Danube Delta project, led by Rewilding Europe.

“The Danube Delta is a landscape ready for wetland restoration on a large scale,” said Frans Schepers, Managing Director of Rewilding Europe. “Being a part of the ELP is a unique opportunity. Through the ELP we are restoring landscape functionality for the benefit of both nature and people.”

Fish stocks in the delta have decreased by 60% due to decreasing polders and other infrastructures, while rising sea levels have started to contribute to erosion of the outer delta. The delta and the lands surrounding were once inhabited by large herbivores, carnivores and scavengers. Failed land reclamation and agricultural developments however, have led to their disappearance, resulting in a loss of important ecological processes these species guilds deliver. “Subsidies have resulted in a strong push towards the wrong land use, and in some areas it’s hard to make land available for reflooding as so many different parties have stakes in it,” explains Mykhailo Nesterenko, Rewilding Ukraine team leader.

“We now have two options – either we continue with the old model of intensifying landuse and control of natural processes, or we look to giving space to nature and the development of a new nature-based economy. That’s what this project is hoping to achieve,” continues Frans.

The five-year project will re-establish natural processes such as flooding and natural grazing with large herbivores, which in turn will encourage wildlife comeback, increase biodiversity and support the development of nature-based economies.

“With the ELP and its many partners, Europe can become the lead example of how we restore landscapes and coexist with nature and our native wildlife. The lessons learned here can be used everywhere. It’s a huge opportunity for building a new and positive conservation narrative,” concluded Frans.