The Mediterranean basin is one of the 238 ecoregions of the planet, a term that refers to a relatively large geographical area distinguished by the uniqueness of its geomorphology, geology, climate, soils, hydrology, flora and fauna.
It spans an area of two million square kilometers and hosts a total of 28 countries, from Portugal to Jordan and from northern Italy to the archipelago of Cape Verde.
The Mediterranean basin is one of the most biologically rich and complex regions of the Earth. For this reason it is listed as one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of our planet, regions that host many endemic species –those found nowhere else– and are threatened by habitat loss and other human activities, which make their conservation a priority.
The natural wealth of the Mediterranean is staggering. The terrestrial biodiversity includes 22,500 plant species (half of them endemic), representing 10% of all higher plants in the planet and hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes birds that live here, many of them also unique in the world.