MPCW 2025

The 5th Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week (5MPCW) was successfully held from April 7 to 11, 2025, at the five-star St. Raphael Resort and Marina in Limassol, Cyprus. This important scientific event brought together more than 170+ participants from 27 countries—including Cape Verde and Japan—uniting academics, researchers, students, and conservation practitioners to discuss the future of Mediterranean flora under the central theme: Building alliances for plant diversity conservation in the Mediterranean.

The conference was chaired by Dr. Marios Andreou, who ensured the smooth delivery of all sessions. In a message to participants, he expressed his gratitude: “Thank you for making this conference a success. Your presence and contributions have truly enriched this week and emphasized the power of collaboration.”

The academic program featured a rich variety of sessions and workshops, including:

• The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Workshop emphasized grassroots efforts to protect biodiversity hotspots.
• A Miyawaki Workshop.
• A workshop focused on developing new plant conservation projects in Europe was organized by Constantino Bonomi.
• A well-attended Poster Session, offering researchers the opportunity to present and discuss their work with peers and experts.

The conference was honored to host leading keynote speakers, including:

• Charalambos Christodoulou (Department of Forests, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment), presenting The Flora of Cyprus.
• Emilio Laguna (Technical Director of the Centre for Forestry Research and Experimentation – CIEF), delivering a talk on Small Reserves: A New Breath of Life for Wild Plants.

At the closing ceremony, the prestigious Golden Oak Award was presented to Emilio Laguna Lumbreras, Kyriacos Georghiou, and Gianluigi Bacchetta, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the conservation of Mediterranean flora.

Additionally, the Young Researcher Poster Awards were granted to:

• Greta Micallef, for her presentation, Heard it Through the Grapevine: A Phytolith Study of Roman and Modern Vineyards to Identify the Hidden Diversity of Plant Assemblages.
• Marina Šoškić, for Ornithogalum sibthorpii Greuter in Montenegro – habitat shift and conservation state-of-art.
• Tiago José Gouveia Andrade, for Was Dumortier right? Deciphering the subspecies puzzle of Musschia aurea (L.f.) Dumort., an endemic species of the Madeira Archipelago (Portugal).

Beyond the academic activities, the conference provided a memorable social program. Participants were welcomed with a reception in the gardens of the venue hotel, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The event offered delicious canapés, local beverages, and a perfect setting to connect and unwind. A field trip offered participants a chance to explore the rich biodiversity, unique habitats, and endemic species of the Troodos Mountain region while immersing themselves in Cyprus’s natural beauty. The itinerary included three remarkable stops, followed by a choice of hiking trails to further connect with the area’s distinct habitat types. All visits were in the Natura 2000 site, Troodos National Forest Park (CY5000004). The Gala Dinner offered a taste of Cyprus through traditional food, drinks, and music—many attendees joined in for an evening of networking and celebration.

Limassol’s coastal charm, historic character, and sunny weather offered the perfect backdrop for the week’s activities, enhancing the experience for all who attended.

MPCW was organized by:

• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature, supporting global conservation efforts.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (Cyprus): Official government support for environmental and rural initiatives.
• CEPF: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, empowering civil society for biodiversity protection.
• Nature Conservation Unit (Frederick University): Dedicated to plant and nature conservation in Cyprus and beyond.

The organizing committee would like to thank the generous sponsors and partners who made this event possible:

• Korantina Homes: Supporting sustainable housing and eco-friendly living.
• RIBES: The Italian Network of Germplasm Banks.
• Visit Cyprus: The Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
• EUROGARD10: The European Botanic Gardens Consortium.
• Bioland Energy: Promoting green energy solutions.
• Ergo Energies: Supporting sustainable energy solutions.
• Cyprus Biological Society: Promoting biological research and education.
• iDeopsis: Strategic support in science communication.
• IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature, supporting global conservation efforts.
• Terra Cypria: Working for the conservation of Cyprus’s natural heritage.
• GENMEDA: The Mediterranean plant conservation network supporting in-situ and ex-situ efforts.
• Complutense University of Madrid: Supporting botanical and ecological research.

The event was supported by EasyConferences, which provided the online registration system, the abstract submission platform, and the conference coordination services.

Plans are already underway for the next Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week, which will take place in Tunisia.