Introducing
Mare Nostrum
Mare Nostrum is the marine expression of Guardians of Gaia, the Gaia First global program that creates long-term conservation hubs across ecosystems and transforms youth energy and community wisdom into collective intelligence for the planet.
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1 min Teaser
Listen to the podcast on Mare Nostrum
A Growing Network
Through UNESCO’s global networks of schools, universities, chairs, science and cultural institutions, Mare Nostrum contributes directly to the United Nation Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, while grounding action in lived territories.
Take a look at this short 4 min video for institutions
A Cross‑Sector Framework for Ocean Action
Rooted in the Guardians of Gaia philosophy, Mare Nostrum connects education, science, culture and governance to activate long-term stewardship of the ocean. It translates the program’s systemic approach into concrete maritime action, linking schools, universities, coastal communities, ports and institutions into living conservation hubs.
Rather than focusing on a single dimension, Mare Nostrum operates at the intersection of:
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youth engagement and lifelong learning,
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scientific monitoring and traditional ecological knowledge,
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local action and international cooperation,
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environmental protection and maritime responsibility.
It is through Mare Nostrum that the marine component of Guardians of Gaia is deployed, tested and scaled — from the Mediterranean to other ocean basins.
Launching long-term conservation programs
Mare Nostrum is not a one-off expedition. It is the starting point of a shared, long-term commitment to the sea.
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These encounters do not end when the ship leaves.
Together, participants initiate or reinforce renewable three-year marine conservation hubs, designed to support and strengthen Marine Protected Areas, local governance, scientific monitoring, and education in alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda.​
Mare Nostrum speaks to two complementary forces:
A generation that learns, and a generation that transmits.
>> Youth
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- Students onboard the tall ship the Pelican of London :
Young adults (18+) seeking meaning, direction, skills, and real-world impact — whether they envision a career linked to the ocean or simply want to understand the world differently.
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Each voyage brings together around 40 students and early-career researchers from environmental sciences, law, diplomacy, engineering, and the arts. The ship becomes a floating think tank, where disciplines, cultures, and perspectives intersect.
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- All coastal students participating in local existing or new Unesco Science Clubs to monitor their marine ecosystems for the upcoming 3 years
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>> Coastal civil society :
- Traditional fishers, educators, scientists, port authorities, local leaders, who live with the sea, depend on it, protect it, and wish to strengthen their capacity to act.
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Fishermen, elders, community leaders, and scientists share Traditional Ecological Knowledge, reconnecting modern science with lived experience and long-term observation.
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At every port of call, 100 to 200 local participants join at the Ship arrival and participate in :
- workshops,
- story circles,
- roundtables.
and launch their participation by offering guidance to the local youth gathered in the Science Clubs to monitor their marine ecosystems for the upcoming 3 years​​​​
How a 6‑week expedition ignites 3‑year conservation hubs
The expedition is not designed to “pass through.”
It is designed to activate, train, connect, and leave behind a living dynamic place where the sea becomes a a shared subject — and a shared responsibility.
When the ship departs, the work continues.
The Expedition as a Catalyst
When the Pelican of London arrives, time accelerates. The expedition brings visibility, tools, protocols, and momentum.
Scientific workshops, technical trainings, intergenerational dialogues, cultural ceremonies, policy conversations, and field actions unfold in parallel.
The hub takes over — and grows.
The 3‑Year Marine Conservation Hubs
Each Mare Nostrum hub is a human ecosystem rooted in a place: a school or university, a marine protected area or coastal site, a community, a port, a municipality.
Over three years, the hub becomes a space where data is collected, habitats are restored, young people are trained, traditional knowledge is transmitted, and governance is strengthened.​
For a general overview, you can watch this short video
(4 min) ENGLISH
For a general overview, you can watch this short video
(4 min) FRENCH
Rejoignez et soutenez ce programme unique !
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Encourager le dialogue et initier des partenariats : Les étudiants et leurs mentors collaborent avec les communautés locales, en offrant un soutien adapté aux besoins exprimés.
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Apprendre par l’action : Les participants prennent part à des opérations de monitoring et à des ateliers pour co-créer des stratégies de conservation.
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Adopter une approche multidisciplinaire : La formation couvre la biodiversité marine, l’économie circulaire, la science de la conservation et les savoirs écologiques traditionnels. Les projets initiés bénéficieront d’un suivi sur le long terme.