Conserving the planet's most valuable natural places and promoting nature's solutions to global challenges was the focus of the IUCN World Parks Congress 2014, held from 12 to 19 November in Sydney, Australia. Most Mediterranean countries were represented, with more than 100 participants from governmental and non-governmental organizations, international bodies, scientific institutions and universities, as well as park managers.

Mediterranean experts took part in more than 30 events, sharing their experiences, discussing new approaches to conservation and development, and helping to address the gaps in the conservation and sustainable development agenda.

Mediterranean Protected Areas
The situation of protected areas in the Mediterranean is very uneven with some countries and habitat types better represented than others. It is estimated that Natura 2000 sites cover altogether around 20 per cent of the total land area in most EU Mediterranean countries (, France, Greece, Italy, , Portugal and Spain). Slovenia and Croatia have now joined Natura 2000 with 29 and 37 per cent of the total area of the country protected, respectively. Of non-EU countries, Albania has doubled its protected area percentage to 12.5 per cent and Turkey, with many different habitats, has 7.2 per cent of its territory protected.

The network of protected areas in North Africa and the Middle East is characterized by enormous discrepancies between countries, some of which have well-developed protected area systems. Algeria largely met the first global target for 2010. A vast network of protected areas is in place, covering 36.5 per cent of the country and representing most of its ecosystems. In Morocco 154 sites of biological and ecological interest have been identified, covering approximately 2.5 million hectares of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems and wetlands. Ten national parks have been established, 24 wetlands listed under RAMSAR, and 3 natural areas included in UNESCO's international network of biosphere reserves. In Egypt, a network of protected areas has been established representing the principal ecosystem types of scientific importance, and currently comprises up to 15 per cent of the country's area. Egypt intends to increase this figure to 20 per cent by 2017. In Jordan a network of 18 protected areas has been identified and proposed, the target being to protect 15 per cent of Jordan's total area by 2017.

After the Arab Spring, some nations such as Libya have been facing the challenges of building modern institutions, repairing infrastructure and diversifying the economy. By 2009, seven national parks, five nature reserves and 24 other protected areas had been established, mostly along the Mediterranean coast. Libya has committed itself under the SAP BIO project of the Mediterranean Action Plan to develop and implement the National Action Plan on Marine Protected Areas.

Management skills need to be developed in these countries, in particular with regard to local stakeholder involvement, conflict resolution, the planning and management of protected areas including MPAs, the application of information arising from research and monitoring programmes to management, and the development of environmental awareness programmes. Skills development must embrace legal and socio-economic as well as ecological aspects of protected area management.

Marine Protected Areas

Coastal areas under pressure are often poorly represented in protected area systems. The inventory of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MAPAMED database, 2012) has helped to identify 677 MPAs. Of these sites, 161 have national status, just 9 have international status and 507 are marine Natura 2000 sites. The present MPA inventory covers a total surface area of less than 5 per cent of the Mediterranean.

Nature's services
• LEBANON.-Benefits derived from ecosystems are essential to the Lebanese economy. For example, the economic value of forest systems is estimated at USD 131.5 million, with approximately USD 23.5 million/year from the harvest of medicinal and aromatic plants from forests, and USD 8.58 million/year from the annual production of 22,000 tons of nuts (pine nuts, walnuts and almonds).
• TUNISIA: Forestry generates significant employment (36,000 primary jobs, and up to 39,500 if supplemental employment is considered) and contributes 3 per cent to the country's GDP.
• EGYPT: At least 378,000 people depend directly on activities related to inland fisheries and/or aquaculture, an activity that generated around USD 355.7 million in 2009. The high socio-economic value of freshwater species is clearly demonstrated: 46 per cent of fish and 27 per cent of plants utilized in northern Africa provide direct socio-economic benefits.

Conservation successes
• SPAIN: In 2013 the Life Indemares project was completed with the identification of the marine Natura 2000 Network in Spain. In 2014, Spain approved the creation of 4 new Marine Protected Areas and 39 Marine Important Bird Areas.
• ALBANIA: In 2008 the Albanian Herpetofauna Society (HAS) in collaboration with the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles (MEDASSET) launched a conservation project in Drini Bay and Patoku lagoon which aimed to contribute to sea turtle and habitat conservation, population dynamics, monitoring of migration routes and capacity building.

Awe and wonder
• In the marine environment, seagrass meadows play a significant role in carbon sequestration. Specifically, it is estimated that the root systems of Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica meadows have retained 89 per cent of all the CO2 emitted by all Mediterranean countries since the Industrial Revolution, which fully justifies the protection of this species.

Into the unknown
• The Atlas of Mediterranean underwater topographic structures has identified 518 submarine canyons and 242 seamounts or other structures emerging from the sea floor, which are important for both biodiversity and fisheries.

For further information please contact Antonio Troya