obSERVING NATURE

The loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Therefore, coordinated and collective actions are required to conserve Greek biodiversity, address challenges and ensure the health of ecosystems, human well-being. obSERVING NATURE project is part of the initiative to conserve iconic Mediterranean species in Greece through the alliance of 11 environmental organizations.

The goal of the initiative is to create an alliance with a significant impact on biodiversity, immediate benefits to species conservation, and long-term survival of some of the most charismatic and ecologically important species in our country.

Objectives of the initiative:

Key pillars of the obSERVING NATURE project:

1. Reduce the impact of bycatch and illegal trade of protected shark and ray species 

Actions

Almost 50% of shark and ray products are mislabelled, either intentionally when fishers know they are protected species, or unintentionally when they are unable to properly identify the species.

As consumers, we can mitigate illegal trade through our choices, while also protecting our health from the dangerous levels of heavy metals often found in their meat!

Learn which species might be hidden behind common fish labels you often see in the market.

2. Promoting and improving existing citizen science tools for monitoring biodiversity, increasing the number of citizens involved in biodiversity monitoring and the number of scientists working on citizen science data

Actions

Citizens have the power to actively participate in research, contributing valuable information that can help fill knowledge gaps about protected and threatened species!

Learn how you too can contribute to increasing understanding of Greece’s biodiversity, natural history, and environment through Citizen Science.

Funder

obSERVING NATURE project is funded by WWF Greece, within the framework of the “Greek Wildlife Alliance” initiative. The “Greek Wildlife Alliance” initiative represents the collaborative effort of 11 environmental, nongovernmental organizations to enhance the impact of their work, through a shared vision for the well-being of wildlife and humans.