Algeria
Egypt
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Palestine *
Syria *
TunisiaTowards an ecologically representative and efficiently managed network of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas
Countries covered:
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Algeria
-
Egypt
-
Lebanon
-
Morocco
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Tunisia
Brief Description
The project aims at achieving a connected, ecologically representative, effectively managed and monitored network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean which ensures the long term conservation of key elements of the marine biodiversity and gives significant support to the sustainable development of this region. The project will strengthen and further develop the Mediterranean network of ecologically representative, inter-connected and effectively managed MPAs.
Countries covered: Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia
Objectives
– Identifying new marine areas ecologically characterised.
– Developing sustainable management plans for future/newly created Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
– Implementing business plans for future/newly created MPAs to ensure long term financial maintenance of these areas.
Actions in brief
The project builds on an innovation approach seeking to
1) strengthening MPA Regional Coordination and Networking to ensure long-term networking and capacity building of MPAs in the Mediterranean and set up an ad hoc Group of Experts focused on Mediterranean MPA issues, under the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD) Protocol;
2) establishing new MPAs through their identification and characterization in order to extend the existing regional network and enhance its ecological representativeness;
3) improving MPA Management namely through the development, implementation and monitoring of management, zoning and fisheries management plans, communication tools and socio-economic benefits assessments etc.;
4) identify and test innovative approaches to ensure the financial sustainability of MPAs; and
5) promote governance and management of MPAs through stakeholders’ engagement and co-management or participatory management approaches.
Implementing partners: UN Environment/MAP Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Center, WWF MedPO and MedPAN
