The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is implementing a project to improve capacities on species conservation planning and management in three Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia). One of the main activities of this project for this year has been to hold training courses about elaboration of Species Conservation Strategies in these three countries.

Two training courses were celebrated in April in Marrakech and Tunis. The last training course was held from 10-13 June in Algiers. These four-day intensive workshops are a fast-track entry to strategic plans for species conservation, selection and prioritization of species and processes on how integrate strategic plans into the administrative structure of the country.

The workshops have provided training in the design and implementation of species conservation measures and the talks have been led by experts of IUCN´s Specialist Groups and other international experts.

IUCN is providing its expertise from the science-based network of experts across countries and the IUCN Species Survival Commission. The Mava Foundation, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the regional government of Junta de Andalucia provide financial support to this project.

Moreover, in the same perspective, IUCN-Med also participated in a workshop organized by the government of Morocco on the 6th of June, 2013, in Rabat. This workshop selected the species concerned by the new law on wild fauna and flora protection and trade control in Morocco.