Repository logo
 
Loading...
Profile Picture

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • EU needs groundwater ecosystems guidelines
    Publication . Di Lorenzo, Tiziana; Lunghi, Enrico; Aanei, Cristina Mihaela Tereza; Altermatt, Florian; Alther, Roman; Rosário, Isabel Amorim Do; Bancila, Raluca; Bellvert, Adrià; Blomberg, Anna; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Brad, Traian; Brancelj, Anton; Brankovits, David; Cardoso, Pedro; Cerasoli, Francesco; Chauveau, Claire A.; Crespo, Luís; Csader, Michael; Delić, Teo; Di Cicco, Mattia; Douady, Christophe J.; Duchemin, Louis; Faille, Arnaud; FIASCA, BARBARA; Fišer, Cene; Flot, Jean-François; Gabriel, Rosalina; Galassi, Diana M.P.; Garzoli, Laura; Griebler, Christian; Karwautz, Clemens; Kenesz, Marius I.; Konecny-Dupré, Lara; Lilley, Thomas; Malard, Florian; Martínez, Alejandro; Meierhofer, Melissa B.; Messana, Giuseppe; Millán, Andrés; Mizerakis, Vangelis; Mori, Nataša; Nanni, Veronica; Nicolosi, Giuseppe; Oromí, Pedro; Pallarés, Susana; Pereira, Fernando; Reboleira, Ana Sofia; Saccò, Mattia; Salussolia, Alice; Sánchez-Fernández, David; Sarbu, Serban M; S̗tefan, Andrei; Stoch, Fabio; Camillo, Agostina Tabilio Di; TAITI, STEFANO; Vaccarelli, Ilaria; Valanne, Valeria; Zagmajster, Maja; Zakšek, Valerija; Zittra, Carina; Mammola, Stefano
    Negotiations are underway on the new European Union (EU) Water Directive (1), which will regulate the protection and sustainable use of Europe’s water resources. However, the proposal foregoes environmental quality standards specifically tailored to sensitive groundwater species and fails to require biomonitoring for groundwater ecosystems. Despite repeated calls for consideration (2, 3) since the first Water Framework Directive in 2000 (4), groundwater ecosystems are at risk of being overlooked yet again.
  • Perspectives and pitfalls in preserving subterranean biodiversity through protected areas
    Publication . Mammola, Stefano; Altermatt, Florian; Alther, Roman; Rosário, Isabel Amorim Do; Bancila, Raluca; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Brad, Traian; Brankovits, David; Cardoso, Pedro; Cerasoli, Francesco; Chauveau, Claire A.; Delić, Teo; Di Lorenzo, Tiziana; Faille, Arnaud; Fišer, Cene; Flot, Jean-François; Gabriel, Rosalina; Galassi, Diana M.P.; Garzoli, Laura; Griebler, Christian; Konecny-Dupré, Lara; Martínez, Alejandro; Mori, Nataša; Nanni, V.; Ogorelec, Žiga; Pallarés, Susana; Salussolia, Alice; Saccò, Mattia; Stoch, Fabio; Vaccarelli, Ilaria; Zagmajster, Maja; Zittra, Carina; Meierhofer, Melissa; Sánchez-Fernández, David; Malard, Florian
    Subterranean ecosystems (comprising terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic components) are increasingly threatened by human activities; however, the current network of surface-protected areas is inadequate to safeguard subterranean biodiversity. Establishing protected areas for subterranean ecosystems is challenging. First, there are technical obstacles in mapping three-dimensional ecosystems with uncertain boundaries. Second, the rarity and endemism of subterranean organisms, combined with a scarcity of taxonomists, delays the accumulation of essential biodiversity knowledge. Third, establishing agreements to preserve subterranean ecosystems requires collaboration among multiple actors with often competing interests. This perspective addresses the challenges of preserving subterranean biodiversity through protected areas. Even in the face of uncertainties, we suggest it is both timely and critical to assess general criteria for subterranean biodiversity protection and implement them based on precautionary principles. To this end, we examine the current status of European protected areas and discuss solutions to improve their coverage of subterranean ecosystems.