Supporting Cultural Landscapes of the Mediterranean:
For Biodiversity, For Climate and For Livelihoods
Photo: Shepherding in the Shar Mountains © Jovan Bozinoski
Shepherding, Shar Mountains © Jovan Bozinoski
The Alliance for Mediterranean Nature & Culture (AMNC) is a group of NGOs working together to build awareness and knowledge of cultural landscapes, advocate for the traditional practices that maintain them and sustain the benefits they provide for biodiversity and local livelihoods.
Our Partners
Funded by
Sustainable cultural land-use practices enhance biodiversity conservation
The deterioration and abandonment of cultural land-use practices have negatively affected the ecological diversity across a diverse range of Mediterranean landscapes. A sustainable approach that employs traditional knowledge can be a first step to reverse the declining state of agricultural, pastoral and forestry systems.
Sustainable cultural land-use practices enhance biodiversity conservation
The deterioration and abandonment of cultural land-use practices have negatively affected the ecological diversity across a diverse range of Mediterranean landscapes. A sustainable approach that employs traditional knowledge can be a first step to reverse the declining state of agricultural, pastoral and forestry systems.
Our Project Sites
Building the ecological and socio‐economic resilience of the Shouf Mountain Landscape
In Lebanon, Al-Shouf Cedar Society works on a project that aims at understanding and mainstreaming knowledge on links between traditional practices and biodiversity, strengthening and improving governance systems, supporting the implementation of cultural practices in cultural landscapes.
Photo: © Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS)
Dehesas & Montados in the Iberian Peninsula
ANP|WWF, Trashumancia y Naturaleza and WWF Spain collaborate to protect Dehesas and Montados in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. This unique landscape is a high value system that balances biodiversity and sustainable agriculture, benefits the rural economy and continues a legacy stretching back generations.
Photo: Dehesas © Ofelia de Pablo and Javier Zurita / WWF España
Enhancement of cork oak cultural landscape values in favour of local community development in Kroumirie Mogod, Tunisia
WWF North Africa seeks to promote cork oak, a symbolic tree of the Kroumirie-Mogods region, through local cultural practices, in the People & Cork project.
Photo: © WWF North Africa
Mandra System of Lemnos Island, Greece
The mandra system is a traditional agro-pastoral management system that has shaped the unique landscape of Lemnos, supporting the livelihoods of the locals and contributing to the conservation of the island’s biodiversity. Through the Terra Lemnia project, MedINA works to conserve and restore traditional farming landscapes on Lemnos.
Photo: © MedINA
Maintaining cultural landscapes for biodiversity and wellbeing in the Moroccan High Atlas
Global Diversity Foundation works to conserve iconic cultural landscapes that harbour significant biological and cultural diversity in a project focusing on agdals (extensive highland pastures) and terraced agroecosystems.
Photo: © Pommelien da Silva Cosme / GDF
Menorca Virtuous Mosaic
Virtuous Mosaic refers to the highly biodiverse landscape that combines agriculture, extensive stockbreeding and patches of natural areas. Through this project, GOB Menorca works to increase the value and social recognition of products by farmers in Menorca who adopt sustainable practices.
Photo: © GOB Menorca
Mobile Pastoralism in Turkey
Yolda Initiative is supporting mobile pastoralist communities to maintain their lifestyles and continue moving freely through the landscapes for nature, culture and life through a collaborative and national programme.
Photo: © Engin Yılmaz / Yolda Initiative
Mobile Pastoralism in the Mediterranean
This cross-cutting project spans locations throughout the Mediterranean – Greece, Spain, Albania and the Balkans – with actions that support different dimensions of mobile pastoralism in the region.
Photo: © Stamos Abatis / MedINA
Strengthening the ecological and socio-economic resilience of West Bekaa and Mount Lebanon Landscapes
Through a holistic approach addressing knowledge, capacities, governance mechanisms and rural economies, Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon seeks to sustain key traditional land-use practices to maintain ecosystem services, conserve biodiversity and support human wellbeing.
Photo: Hima Ras El Matn, La Martine Valley, by Asaad Saleh
