Ecosystem-Based Spatial planning
We support local and regional authorities, agencies and stakeholders to plan across marine, freshwater and terrestrial areas, balancing competing demands. Our work includes Protected Area designation, zoning of uses and activities, and identifying restrictions and opportunities for conservation and restoration, with solutions that are practical, cost-effective and fair for local communities.
We apply state-of-the-art technical tools, innovative methods and clear policy concepts to ecological, social and economic data. This allows us to prioritise conservation and restoration areas in the context of multiple human uses and climate change, and to synthesise key actions aligned with European Union targets. We use 2D and 3D spatial prioritisation tools, develop quantitative metrics to operationalise ecological and biological significance, and design transparent planning processes that support constructive dialogue between communities, industries, decision-makers and scientists.
Indicative Project
Designing One of Europe’s Largest MPAs: The Ionian Marine Park
Project: (2024-2025) “Special Environmental Study for the Ionian Marine Park”, funded by Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, Greece (contract no. 24SYMV015701988)
Ecosustain led the Special Environmental Plan for the design of the Ionian National Marine Park, a key milestone for marine biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean. Covering over 17,500 km², the Ionian National Marine Park represents the third-largest Marine Protected Area in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in Europe, designed within a spatially explicit, multidimensional, transparent and repeatable context. The work included mapping habitats and species, assessing biodiversity and pressures, analysing human uses, and engaging stakeholders to define conservation priorities and zoning strategies.
A 3D planning framework was applied, with ecological connectivity embedded in the spatial design, enabling the identification of key habitats for threatened species such as marine mammals, turtles, rays, sharks and deep-sea corals. The resulting zoning proposal balances effective conservation with socio-economic uses, including sustainable fisheries and tourism. Grounded in science and adaptive management, this approach contributes to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and offers a replicable model for marine spatial planning in other regions.
