May and June have been  months of intensive raising awareness activities as part of the LIFE+ European programme for the conservation of Posidonia oceanica in Andalusia in which the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med), as a project partner, plays an important role.

IUCN-Med organized in Malaga, on 16 and 17 May, the first open meeting on "Seagrass meadows along the Spanish coast: conservation, use and management. With more than 100 participants, experts, scientists, managers and other stakeholders in the field of conservation management discussed the current knowledge on these ecosystems from the ecological, biological and socioeconomic perspectives.

Continuing with these activities IUCN-Med, organized in June, along with the Council of Almuñecar (Granada), the second edition of the Life+ Festival "Seas of Posidonia". In a fun and playful way, the Festival aimed to raise awareness on the crutial role that seagrasses play in maintaining a diverse and healthy coastal ecosystem. The festival coincided with the touring exhibition "Posidonia 100% Mediterranean" coordinated by CIRCE, partner in the project.

The Festival seeks to help local people better understand the benefits and values of seagrass meadows and the costs that their loss would entail, for example, the impact on fish populations or deterioration of tourist attractions (beaches, diving areas), among others.