Project in brief Besides being one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, the Mediterranean Basin is also considered amongst the four most significantly altered biodiversity hotspots of the planet. Many valuable native plants are threatened with extinction due to the degradation of their habitats and related environmental risks, which mainly originate from human activities. This inestimable natural heritage should therefore be protected and enhanced through the improvement of local actors management capacity in order to implement preventive measures able to combine economic purposes with ecological restoration. Combating the loss of biodiversity and promoting a sustainable development model in both sides of the Mediterranean is the challenge that ECOPLANTMED project intends to face. Local administrators will be encouraged to respect the commitments deriving from international conventions (such as the Convention on Biological Diversity) thanks to a common environmentally model significantly contributing to a joined development of the Mediterranean eco-region. Specific objective To promote the conservation, enhancement and sustainable use of native plants of the Mediterranean for ecological restoration of degraded habitats and for the development of new economic sectors by improving the management capacity of local actors Expected Results: • Natural heritage of the Mediterranean region preserved through ex situ conservation of threatened plant species • Common standardized methodologies and tools for the management and sustainable use of native plant species and resources implemented • Environmental management capacity and governance improved at local level • New economic sector for native plants production promoted • Public awareness on the importance of the use of native plants for restoration activities increased: 500 local actors informed through local events, 300 stakeholders trained during workshops and 1000 stakeholders provided with guidelines and protocols on restoration practices for Mediterranean habitats