Page 93 - Livre_MOW2018_FR

91 /

ENVIRONMENTAL FUND FOR MEDITERRANEAN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAS)

Marine Protected Areas (and other protective Since then, Morocco, Albania and Spain have
measures) cover 179,798 km of the joined the Association and other countries have
2
Mediterranean. shown significant interest. Several regional
organisations are also members .
(1)
7.14% of the Mediterranean therefore has an
official preservation status. The fund is based on an innovative funding system
aiming to capitalise on a substantial financial sum
More numerous in the North than the South, based on a pre-determined investment strategy
some MPAs have had remarkable results when to draw regular profits, which will be reinvested
protection measures and resources to respect sustainably into the reinforcement and efficiency of
them have been put in place. Unfortunately, the Mediterranean MPAs.
majority of sites do not have sufficient financial
means to effectively tackle objectives to protect This environmental fund works alongside and
marine ecosystems. supplement various national policies and existing
systems as part of the Barcelona Convention
To deal with these shortcomings, during the Mediterranean Action Plan. It will have the
ministerial segment of the third international following objectives:
conference for Marine Protected Areas in • Reinforcement, efficiency and sustainability
October 2013, France, Monaco and Tunisia of existing MPAs;
launched an initiative to create an environmental • Support to regional Mediterranean MPA
trust fund for Mediterranean Marine Protected networks;
Aareas (MPAs). • Reinforcement of non-EU countries’
involvement, via their national MPA strategy;
The initiative received political support from • Progressive funding of new MPAs.
coastal countries in the Mediterranean, as part
of the Barcelona Convention and the Union for The mobilisation of other financial partners
the Mediterranean. via a fundraising policy with public and private
backers (environmental sponsorship, biodiversity
To steer these funds, Tunisia, Monaco and France compensation, blue carbon projects, etc.) in
have decided to create the Association for addition to current financial partners will be key
(2)
sustainable funding of Mediterranean MPAs - to tackle the challenges of creating an ecologically
M2PA (Mediterranean Marine Protected Area). representative network in the Mediterranean of well
linked effectively managed MPAs.
France - represented by its Ambassador for
the environment - chairs the association;
other founding members include the Monaco
Government, Tunisia and the Prince Albert II of
Monaco Foundation.

(1) lThe Regional Activities Centre for Specially Protected Areas (Barcelona Convention), the MedPan Association, WWF Mediterranean, IUCN
Mediterranean, the Conservatoire du littoral et des rivages lacustres, the Association of Small Mediterranean Islands, the Oceanographic
Institute/Aquarium of Monaco.
(2) Monaco Government, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, oceanographic Institute, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Basel Zoo.

Find out more: Twitter @M2Pas - rrenoux@m2pa.org