© Martin Colognoli Screenshot 2021 03 22 at 10.09.26

MedGardens arises as an initiative to complement the rest of the actions that aim to mitigate the loss of marine biodiversity and the impacts of climate change.

Half of the 5000+ existing marine reserves are today threatened or poorly managed, many of them today named paper reserves because although they have a legal form, in reality conservation actions are not effective.

The economic crisis puts at risk models that until now worked well while grass-roots community-driven initiatives have proven to be economically affordable while boosting the local economy.

Furthermore, when conservation is not enough and a habitat has already suffered degradation, it is necessary to carry out ecological restoration actions.

MedGardens proposes restoring marine habitats that have been degraded and activating shared stewardship by fostering environmentally friendly uses, a viable and scalable model that is easy to apply.

Cleanwave Foundation is a promoter of community projects that provide conservation, protection and regeneration of land and sea in the Balearic Islands. 

MedGardens is an initiative of the Cleanwave Foundation and they share the vision of the Balearics as a globally recognised template and role model for regenerative living by 2026.

The project was designed by José Escaño in June 2020, with the support of Fiona Tomas and Tatí Benjumea, who joined as scientific team in September 2020. Several key inspirational and advisory individuals and entities contributed to the development of the MedGardens community and scientific strategies.

Together with the founding team of Cleanwave Foundation, an initial capital of € 40k was obtained in November 2020, today we continue to raise funds from different public and private sources.

From October 2020 to the end of 2021, four pilot marine restoration nodes are being deployed around the coast of Mallorca.

Cleanwave Foundation is a promoter of community projects that provide conservation, protection and regeneration of land and sea in the Balearic Islands. 

MedGardens is an initiative of the Cleanwave Foundation and they share the vision of the Balearics as a globally recognised template and role model for regenerative living by 2026.

The project was designed by José Escaño in June 2020, with the support of Fiona Tomas and Tatí Benjumea, who joined as scientific team in September 2020. Several key inspirational and advisory individuals and entities contributed to the development of the MedGardens community and scientific strategies.

Together with the founding team of Cleanwave Foundation, an initial capital of € 40k was obtained in November 2020, today we continue to raise funds from different public and private sources.

From October 2020 to the end of 2021, four pilot marine restoration nodes are being deployed around the coast of Mallorca.

Team

José Escaño

José Escaño

Project Manager

Son of the Balearic Sea, biological oceanographer, climate activist and marine conservationist with 7+ years of experience in the yacht and recreational diving industry.

  
Tati Benjumea

Tati Benjumea

Research & Operations - Macroalgae

Biologist specialized in oceanography and coastal management, sailor, diver and completely in love with the sea.

  
Laura Royo Marí

Laura Royo Marí

Research & Operations - Seagrasses

Seafarer by birth and oceanographer by profession, dedicated to the conservation of the marine environment in all possible facets, diving, sailing, communicating, living.

Contributors

Max Lebigre

Max Lebigre

Multimedia

Filmmaker, passionate about our blue planet and dedicated to telling stories to help preserve it.

  
Fiona Tomas

Fiona Tomas

Scientific Advisor

PhD. Ecology working for better understanding the processes and mechanisms that regulate the structure and functioning of marine benthic systems, with particular emphasis on how human activities transform them.

Adriana Vergès

Adriana Vergès

PHD. ECOLOGY | UNSW & SYDNEY INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE

Mediterranean marine ecologist, originally from Barcelona and now settled in Sydney, Australia. Passionate about developing solutions-focused scientific research to regenerate our coastlines working with local communities.

  
Giulia Ferretto

Giulia Ferretto

PHD. CANDIDATE | UNSW

Marine biologist made in Italy, seagrass enthusiast and seeker of solutions to improve marine biodiversity through underwater gardening and science communication.

  
Macu Férriz

Macu Férriz

ECOLOGIST

Specializing in natural protected areas and agroecology, it has always been closely linked to the third sector in the Balearic Islands. She has been the coordinator of the ICTIB and is currently the insular director of the Environment of the Consell de Mallorca.

Antonio Ruiz Salgado

Antonio Ruiz Salgado

Environmental Lawyer | RuizSalgado.es

Lawyer and mediator, specialized in administrative and environmental law. In his more than 20 years of professional practice, he has developed a firm commitment to improve human institutions and organizations so that he can improve the relationship between the social and ecological systems.

  
Martin Colognoli

Martin Colognoli

CO-FOUNDER | CORALGUARDIAN.ORG

Underwater photographer and videographer as a passion. He is the Scientific Director and responsible for the implementation of Coral Guardian field programs. Commitment, art, science, and convictions.

  
Emma Cebrian

Emma Cebrian

RESEARCHER | CEAB-CSIC I UDG

I am a marine biologist specialized in conservation ecology. I study how the different factors of global change (pollution, invasions and climate change) affect the functioning of the marine ecosystem. Recently, my research is willing to find new techniques that contribute to the conservation and restoration of coastal ecosystems, especially those dominated by macroalgae.

  
Kathrin Pesch

Kathrin Pesch

FOUNDER | NATOUR GUIDE

Has a science degree in Landscape Management and Nature Conservation and is an ecotourism guide with a deep fascination for the marine environment. Passionate about citizen science and focused on creating ecological awareness through direct experiences.

Francesca Iuculano

Francesca Iuculano

PHD IN GLOBAL CHANGE | NOCTILUCA A.

Great passion and connection with the sea since she was a child. Marine biologist specialized in marine biogeochemistry in oligotrophic systems. Founder of Noctiluca Association, where she promotes and coordinates projects  of environmental education and marine conservation and inclusive citizen science.  

  
Marta Sales

Marta Sales

DOCTOR IN BIOLOGY | IME-OBSAM

Specialist in algae ecology and restoration actions of Cystoseira s.l., in their role as bioindicators of water quality. She currently works as a technical researcher at the Socio-environmental Observatory of Menorca where she coordinates a project for the conservation and restoration of shallow bays.

Ainhoa Hermida

Ainhoa Hermida

Informative Science Volunteer

Plant lover, surfer and Marine Science student with a great enthusiasm towards marine botany, algae biodiversity and science communication.

Meet the rest of the team

Cleanwavefoundation.org

NIF G02795341
Francesc Vidal i Sureda 71
07015 Palma de Mallorca
Spain