Webinar Series on: Biodiversity and Landscapes in European Islands: Integrating Ecology, Land Use and Natural Capital

En línia
24 October 2025 - 31 October 2025

European islands represent unique natural laboratories for understanding the complex interactions between biodiversity, land use, and sustainability. Their geographical isolation, combined with high levels of endemism and significant human pressures, makes these territories both biodiversity hotspots and highly vulnerable socio-ecological systems.

The webinar series "Biodiversity and Landscapes in European Islands: Integrating Ecology, Land Use and Natural Capital" brings together leading experts from across Europe to explore key ecological, social, and governance challenges that affect island environments. Through a series of keynote lectures and a concluding round table, the event will address critical topics including plant biodiversity in Mediterranean islands, natural capital assessment, stakeholders' perceptions of the biodiversity-climate–land use nexus, and recent advances in biodiversity knowledge within the Balearic Islands.

The initiative aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and local actors regarding the future of biodiversity and landscape governance in European islands.

Programme

Friday, 24th October — Webinar 1
Online (Zoom)

Session Chair: Dr. Maurici Ruiz, University of the Balearic Islands

17:00 (CET) — Prof. Alessandro Chiarucci, University of Bologna (Italy)
“Plant biodiversity in the Mediterranean islands”

17:45 (CET) — Prof. Emilio Padoa-Schioppa, University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy)
“Natural capital and biodiversity in European Islands: examples and open challenges”

Friday, 31st October — Webinar 2
Online (Zoom)

Session Chair: Dr. Maurici Ruiz, University of the Balearic Islands

16:00 (CET) — Dr. Aristides (Aris) Moustakas, University of Crete (Greece)
“The land use–climate change–biodiversity nexus: perceptions of European island stakeholders”

16:30 (CET) — Prof. Ioannis Vogiatzakis, University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy)
“Enhancing Small-Medium IsLands resilience by securing the sustainability of Ecosystem Services”

17:00 (CET) — Dr. Evangelia Drakou, Harokopio University of Athens (Greece)
"Understanding ecosystem services in small and medium islands in Europe"

17:30 (CET) — Dr. Samuel Pinya, University of the Balearic Islands (Spain)
“Citizen Science and Biodiversity in Island Systems: Insights from the Balearic Islands”

18:00 (CET) — Round Table
Moderator: Prof. Gloria Pungetti, University of Sassari (Italy)
Discussion: Future perspectives for biodiversity and landscape governance in European islands