MOm will continue to have a strong presence in Mediterranean Monk Seal conservation and research. We are currently involved in two EU funded LIFE+ Projects; the “Thalassa” project (means ‘sea’ in Greek), which is an awareness campaign for the conservation of marine mammals in Greece, and the “CYCLADES LIFE” project aiming to establish a model marine Protected Area in the wider area of the Gyaros island (Greece).
At the same time, we have recently launched the “Northern Aegean Dolphin Project”, a work for a cause volunteer project, on dolphin sightings and population monitoring in the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades (NMPANS), Greece. Dolphin sightings are common in the NMPANS, however there are no systematic research efforts. People interested in supporting the project, will join MOm’s research team and be actively involved in daily field surveys at sea, collecting important data on dolphin populations.
There is certainly going to be an accelerated need of people willing to offer their services, and quite often provide economic support, on volunteer projects in general. Many countries, some in the spectrum of the “developed” ones, are in a social turmoil; injustice and impoverishment are intensifying, social health infrastructures are degrading. At the same time environmental conservation in these countries is not only left aside but has been brutally forced many steps backwards. NGO’s, at least here in Greece, are more than ever dependant on people’s support, uniting and raising their voice in favor of both social justice and provision, as well as environmental protection.
Unfortunately, there is a vast pool of issues arising and there are more to come, e.g. privatization of freshwater resources, exclusive management of seeds by corporations etc. So, I guess the bet, in the long-run, is whether this “industry” of volunteer abroad will manage to keep up with the developments and the demands for aid that those arise, in the years to come.
Well, I would say that regarding environmentally oriented projects, the Mediterranean region in general is underrated, since it usually “loses” when compared to more exotic and Hollywood like sceneries. For example, not many people (not even Mediterraneans) are aware that the Mediterranean sea is a biodiversity hot-spot, hosting among others, important species of marine mammals, like Sperm Whales, Common Dolphins, porpoises, the Mediterranean Monk Seal etc.; species threatened with extinction. There are quite a lot of volunteer projects implemented in the region, on sea turtle monitoring, whale-watching, dolphin sightings, environmental education, which should definitely gain more attention.
