The Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN-Med) in collaboration with the Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MaB) of UNESCO, and with the support of the Autonomous National Parks Organization (OAPN) from Spain, organized the first regional workshop on "Biosphere Reserves Governance in North Africa: Situation and Prospects".

This workshop, held from 5 to 8 March 2012 in the Moroccan city of Tangier, was a good opportunity to discuss the conservation status of biosphere reserves in different countries of the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), and to review challenges and opportunities related to the UNESCO MAB programme.

This first meeting also allowed to agree on priority actions at national and regional levels to help implement good governance and effective management of biosphere reserves in North Africa and the Mediterranean region in general.

About 40 experts from governments, universities and NGOs from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia attended the workshop along with representatives of IUCN-Med’s partner organizations, the Spanish International Cooperation and Development Agency (AECID) and the Foundation Europarc for Development.

The workshop identified the need for better understanding of key concepts such as conservation, development, management and governance, and to clarify the difference between biosphere reserves and protected areas. Other issues discussed were how to involve local communities in the processes of governance and management of these natural areas.

The main recommendations that emerged from this workshop are:

1. Building capacity for good governance, effective management and capacity for the main actors of biosphere reserves (monitoring and evaluation of high scientific quality and participatory).

2. Selection of case studies more advanced in their application to organize exchange visits between the actors of the biosphere reserves.

3. Support the evaluation of management plans and the provisions of the UNESCO MaB program in the Maghreb countries.

4. Establish a network of biosphere reserves in North Africa to exchange experiences and knowledge.

5. Establish a mechanism of regular meetings between the stakeholders in the Maghreb countries and others in the Mediterranean region on the issue of governance of biosphere reserves.