Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modelling Ecosystem changes – SESAME
SESAME aims to assess and predict changes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea ecosystems as well as changes in the ability of these ecosystems to provide goods and services. The innovative character of SESAME is reflected in the close merging of economic and natural sciences.
SESAME aims to assess and predict changes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea ecosystems as well as changes in the ability of these ecosystems to provide goods and services.
The innovative character of SESAME is reflected in the close merging of economic and natural sciences.
First, mathematical models, validated and upgraded using existing and new observations, are used to predict ecosystem responses to changes in climate and anthropogenic forcings during the next five decades.
Second, SESAME studies the effect of the ecosystem’s variability on key goods and services with high societal importance like tourism, fisheries, ecosystem stability through conservation of biodiversity and mitigation of climate change through carbon sequestration in water and sediments.
The project aims at stimulating and strengthening international cooperation in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions through the participation of research organizations from Member States, Associated States, Associated Candidate countries, non-EU Mediterranean and NIS countries as well as international organizations.
A parallel objective is also to provide an integrated platform for training, education and outreach, which will ensure that the excitement of the scientific results will be transmitted to all levels of society.