The Mediterranean Sea, home to more than 10% of the world’s marine biodiversity, is facing accelerated ecological degradation. Recent reports warn that its temperature is rising 20% faster than the global average, in a context of sustained thermal disturbances, oxygen loss and displacement of sensitive species. This warming is causing the disappearance of essential habitats, such as seagrass beds and natural reefs, and promoting acidification, overfishing and the spread of invasive species.
In addition, more than 50% of commercial fish stocks in the region are overexploited. The degradation of the marine environment threatens biodiversity, but also the socio-economic balance of the communities that depend on it, from artisanal fishing to tourism. The international community is beginning to realise that conservation alone is no longer enough. Degraded ecosystems need to be actively regenerated to preserve their ecological function and ensure their resilience to climate change.
This approach ties in with an idea that is increasingly present in international forums: regenerative development.
Unlike sustainable development, which seeks to reduce negative impacts, regenerative development aims to generate a net positive impact on ecosystems, communities and economies. To achieve this, it is not enough to restore what has been damaged: it is necessary to actively transform human lifestyles, promote environmental education from an early age and foster a new relationship of inclusion between people and nature, especially in marine environments.
In this context, Underwater Gardens International (UGI), a pioneering marine restoration organisation, provides a comprehensive approach that combines regenerative solutions, applied science, ecological design, education and biotechnology. Its work goes beyond the installation of marine structures: it develops transformative projects that connect environmental regeneration with social, territorial and economic transformation.
UGI works with scientific institutions, public entities and local communities to implement strategies tailored to each ecosystem. From biotechnological solutions such as Reefhopper®, which enables the design of specific and measurable interventions, to Sea Gardens, territorial projects that increase biodiversity, absorb carbon and encourage citizen participation, to its Regenerative Parks, educational and immersive spaces that promote a new relationship between humans and the sea. ‘What happens under the sea is not invisible, it is just out of focus. Regenerating the Mediterranean is an urgent task that requires innovation, collaboration and long-term vision,’ says Marc García-Durán, CEO and founder of UGI.