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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
