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34 | STRENGTHENING OCEAN GOVERNANCE - UNOC 2025

AN EXTRAORDINARY HABITAT
Saving Posidonia

is everyone’s business

A panel discussion hosted by the Mediterranean Posidonia Network (MPN)
on Wednesday 20 March 2024 explored ways to coordinate efforts to improve

Posidonia seagrass protection and pave the way for a sustainable funding
mechanism at the UN Ocean Conference in 2025.

A working session co-organised by the French The MedFund highlighted its already active role
Biodiversity Agency’s European and International in Posidonia conservation through the expansion
Relations Division and Mediterranean Coast of marine protected areas. It cautioned against
Delegation – both members of the MPN’s board – duplicating existing mechanisms while calling
was followed by a public discussion on the future of for close collaboration with national authorities.
Posidonia meadows at the Oceanographic Museum MedPAN identified current gaps in conservation
of Monaco as part of Monaco Ocean Week. and recommended including a focus on capacity
building and avoiding duplication of effort.
BlueSeeds called for a change of narrative to
ROADMAP TO FINANCE communicate the importance of Posidonia and
POSIDONIA PROTECTION stressed the urgent need to create a unified fund.
BY 2030 Finally, the WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative set
out the next steps in implementing the Roadmap
The expert panel discussion centred on the findings and recommended determining the precise
and conclusions of a technical workshop held in financial needs of all countries in order to alleviate
Marseille in November 2023, which explored blue the pressures on Posidonia meadows.
carbon funding mechanisms to protect seagrass
meadows in the Mediterranean. Panel members All parties agreed on the need for a coordinated,
recommended a series of solutions based on strategic approach to ensure the long-term
sustainable funding mechanisms, identified the protection of Posidonia in the Mediterranean.
next priority steps and highlighted strategies to
strengthen cooperation across the Mediterranean. This expert panel will provide strategic support for
the implementation of the Mediterranean Posidonia
Network Roadmap 2030 alongside other regional
ENSURING LONG-TERM initiatives to protect Mediterranean seagrass.
PROTECTION Adopting such an integrated approach will enable
the network to tackle the critical challenges facing
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Posidonia meadows while encouraging regional
stressed the importance of harnessing existing cooperation and long-term conservation action.
mechanisms like the Blue Carbon Accelerator This pioneering initiative to save Posidonia is
Fund to support blue carbon initiatives. It also backed by the Mediterranean Commission on
recommended working alongside Mediterranean Sustainable Development established by the
partners and specific donor countries. Barcelona Convention.