MEDivers – Mediterranean Biodiversity Society (Akdeniz Biyoçeşitlilik Derneği) is a non-profit civil society organisation established in Türkiye in 2026, dedicated to conserving Mediterranean biodiversity and supporting the sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Our mission is to protect threatened species and habitats, strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities, and improve the effectiveness of MPAs and other sensitive ecosystems. We work to connect scientific evidence, local knowledge and participatory governance with practical conservation measures.
MEDivers brings together a founding team with extensive experience in marine conservation, ecological monitoring, fisheries management, stakeholder engagement, environmental education, communications, project development and financial management. This experience was gained through previous professional roles and national and international conservation initiatives. As a recently established organisation, we build on this collective expertise to develop independent, collaborative and locally appropriate solutions.
Our main areas of expertise include:
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Conservation planning, MPA governance and management effectiveness.
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Biodiversity and habitat monitoring, including Posidonia oceanica meadows.
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Ecosystem-based fisheries management and cooperation with small-scale fishing communities.
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Non-indigenous and invasive species management.
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Conservation and monitoring of threatened and flagship marine species.
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Stakeholder mapping, participatory planning and facilitation.
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Citizen and participatory science, socioeconomic assessments and local knowledge studies.
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Environmental education, public awareness and responsible use of marine resources.
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Conservation project design, financial planning, grant management and institutional capacity development.
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Monitoring frameworks, indicators and adaptive management.
Our approach recognises that effective conservation depends on ecological evidence, governance, institutional cooperation and the participation of people who use and depend on marine resources. We support the involvement of researchers, public authorities, protected area managers, municipalities, fisheries organisations, local communities and civil society throughout the identification of priorities, development of interventions and assessment of results.
Seagrass conservation is a particular area of interest. We seek to strengthen the protection and management of Posidonia oceanica habitats by connecting habitat knowledge, pressure assessments, stakeholder participation and practical management responses. We are interested in integrating participatory science into conservation and ecosystem-based management, while developing monitoring approaches that can inform decisions and track outcomes.
For Horizon Europe and other research and innovation partnerships, MEDivers can contribute to stakeholder engagement, participatory research, ecological and socioeconomic monitoring, citizen science, local demonstration activities, capacity building, communication and dissemination. Our team can also support project design, implementation coordination, financial planning and reporting, helping align proposed activities with realistic budgets and management needs.
We are particularly interested in collaborations addressing marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystem resilience, effective protected area management, sustainable fisheries, invasive species, nature-based solutions and the relationship between ecosystem conservation and local livelihoods. We welcome partnerships that connect research with implementation, develop approaches transferable across Mediterranean settings and strengthen the use of evidence in policy and management.
Based in Türkiye, MEDivers offers knowledge of local conservation contexts and experience in working with coastal stakeholders, alongside a commitment to cooperation across the Mediterranean. We seek to complement the expertise of universities, research institutes, public bodies, conservation organisations and other partners through field experience, participatory methods and practical project management.
Our work is guided by scientific integrity, participation and co-creation, transparency and independence, and a focus on feasible conservation solutions. We aim to contribute to projects with clear objectives, measurable results and lasting benefits for biodiversity and coastal communities.