Towards a Representative Network of Marine Protected Areas in Libya

Abstract

9Due to its paleogeographic and ecological background, the Medi-terranean Sea hosts a relatively high diversity and endemism of marine species and habitats. In relation to human occupation of the Mediterranean coasts over thousands of years, these unique species and habitats are increasingly under threat from human activities, and in particular at the present time from fishing practices, unsustainable tourism, coastal development, pollution and the exacerbating effects of climate change. These threats are among the main causes of biodiversity losses and species decline.