MARE Signs Manifesto for the Future of Marine Forests in Portugal
MARE, the Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, has joined more than 80 signatories of the Vila Nova de Milfontes Manifesto for the Future of Marine Forests in Portugal, calling for urgent protection of the country's marine ecosystems. The document was signed by scientists, civil society organisations, sea-related businesses, and citizens united around a common goal: securing the future of marine forests as a natural heritage of high ecological, climatic, economic, and cultural value.
The manifesto is addressed to the public authorities responsible for Environment, Science, Innovation, Economy, and the Sea, and calls for the integration of a National Strategy for Marine Biodiversity with targets extending to 2040. Signatories stress that a prevention-led approach will always be more effective than recovery after collapse, which may become irreversible on a human timescale.
Marine Forests: Value and Threats
Marine forests encompass macroalgae forests, seagrass meadows, coral and sponge gardens, and other biogenic habitats. These ecosystems are essential for maintaining marine biodiversity, coastal protection and climate regulation, representing the first line of defence against the contemporary challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events. They are also critical for biological and fisheries productivity and for ecological balance.
These ecosystems are currently under significant threat from the urbanisation of terrestrial environments, soil erosion and degradation, and the destruction of natural vegetation. They are further pressured by invasive species and overfishing, which disrupt marine food webs and create imbalances at lower trophic levels, ultimately leading to the depletion of remaining forests.
Prevention, Monitoring, and Restoration
Among the manifesto's key proposals are the creation of a National Strategy for Marine Biodiversity and the promotion of ecological restoration grounded in widely recognised scientific principles, with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and durability. The monitoring and mapping of marine forest areas and of intervention actions are also identified as priority objectives.
The manifesto reinforces the importance of creating, expanding, and reviewing national marine protected areas, with full and high levels of protection, as an appropriate response to the urgency of conserving these ecosystems. It also calls for the sustainable recognition of economic operators, promoting responsible blue bioeconomy models compatible with the conservation and recovery of marine ecosystems.
Ocean literacy features prominently, with a commitment to education, public participation, and the engagement of communities that live and work alongside the sea every day.
Portugal's Role
Portugal holds a central role in the conservation of the Atlantic Ocean, benefiting directly from one of the largest exclusive economic zones in Europe, with more than 2,500 kilometres of coastline. The mainland and islands account for 48% of the marine waters under European Union jurisdiction, placing added responsibility on the country to protect these ecosystems.
Portugal is also a pioneer in marine monitoring, conservation, and restoration, with excellent scientific teams committed to generating the knowledge needed to underpin a future-oriented national strategy for these ecosystems.
MARE's Commitment
By signing the manifesto, MARE reaffirms its commitment to technological development and innovation in addressing the challenges facing marine and aquatic ecosystems. The eight Regional Research Units that make up MARE also restate their readiness to participate in and support the creation and implementation of the measures outlined in the document.
The manifesto is available to read here.
Text: Patrícia Chaves