Minor islands of the Mediterranean Gozo - Malte : ecology and the rational use of insular ecosystems

Abstract

The interdisciplinary research project on the Minor islands of the Mediterranean originated with MAB Project number 7 concerning ecology and the rational use of insular ecosystems; it answers the strongly felt need to devise an interdisciplinary method of research to approach problems considered as essential to achieve a better management of the Buman environment. The expert panel responsible for the Report n° 11 on ecology and rational use of insular ecosystems stated : "The research project on insular ecosystems offers a unique opportunity to study in relatively controlled conditions the complete array of ecological, economical and social factors which influence the relationships between man and the biosphere". The final aim of project n° 7 is the rational use of insular ecosystems by man. This is why a better knowledge of the interactions between the various factors playing a decisive role in the future well-being of populations is at the centre of the project. The growth of knowledge as well as the improvement of methods should, further more, help in analysing the more complex situations found on the continent. The interdisciplinary research project on the Minor islands of the Mediterranean concerns, in its first phase, the islands of: Skiathos-Skopélos (Northern Sporades), Salina (Eolian archipelago), Gozo (Malta) and Kerkennah (Tunisia). It was launched by the Human Settlements and Sociocultural Environment Division of UNESCO, in collaboration with the National MAB Committees of Greece, Italy, Malta and Tunisia, and their Scientific Research Teams. These syntheses were prepared on the basis of the Research Reports related to each of the four islands: they are intended to facilitate comparisons and communication between the scholars participating in the project. In addition to obvious differences between the four islands, there remains some discrepancies in the data related to each of them. Missing surveys are in the process of completion and will be available for the second phase of the research.