Azores hosts Europe’s largest marine protected area network

Portugal has established Europe’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) network in the Azores, covering 287,000 sq km. This includes 15% fully protected and another 15% highly protected waters, safeguarding habitats for species like deep-sea corals, whales and sharks. The initiative aligns with the UN’s 30x30 target, which aims to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030. Scientific expeditions identified priority areas, with local and scientific stakeholders collaborating on the protection strategy. Advocates stress the global importance of these MPAs for biodiversity, climate stability and ecosystem services like carbon sequestration. (Euronews)