Conservation of the Mediterranean requires a common approach from different types of communities. Collaboration with all sectors proves therefore to be essential for IUCN-Med to achieve its objectives, which has been promoted via the agreements signed with institutions concerned with conservation in the Mare Nostrum.

These agreements refer to a wide variety of topics, such as the promotion of sustainable rural development, the ecological protection of the island of Formentera, as well as fishing or submarine orography, for example.

Promotion of a sustainable rural development

The Spanish Ministry of Environment, and Rural and Marine Affairs and IUCN signed a collaboration agreement whose main objectives are: improve rural development and biodiversity conservation, rural economy diversification and sustainable rural development training or the organization of events about sustainable rural development.

Enhancing a sustainable fishing activity

The memorandum of understanding signed with the Spanish Government will aid the development of common projects about sustainable fisheries including fighting illegal fishing, research and promotion of sustainable aquiculture, as well as the improvement of governance of seas and oceans.

Improving communication strategies for environmental information

Signed with the UNESCO chair for Communication and the Malaga University Foundation, this agreement includes a group of necessary actions to establish communication strategies for the promotion of environmental information traffic amongst Mediterranean media.

The first phase of the collaboration has resulted in a survey of current media and organisations active on Mediterranean environmental news with a view to create a specialized communication agency, with its base in Malaga, whose name will be Mediaterranean.

Protection of submarine orography and cetaceans

Together with the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), the French Agency of Marine Protected Areas and the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS), IUCN-Med will support a survey for cetacean (dolphins, whales and porpoises) population and distribution, also considering turtles and seabirds and  top predators of the ecosystem. This initiative will also focus on submarine deep sea habitat prospecting campaigns, in particular submarine canyons and sea mounts.

Environmental protection of Formentera

The Consell Insular of Formentera and IUCN-MED have agreed to work together on issues of common interest such as environmental education and volunteering, the "green" economy, sustainable tourism, a informative video on Formentera natura heritage, the development of local research projects, seagrasses in Formentera and the  organization of Mediterranean meetings in the island as well as their application for IUCN Membership.