SPECIAL FEATURE

SPOTLIGHT

IUCN rings alarm bells for corals in the Mediterranean

Over 13% of anthozoan species in the Mediterranean Sea - which include corals and related species - are threatened with extinction, according to the Red List of Anthozoans report published recently by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The report proposes urgent conservation measures, including restrictions on unsustainable fishing practices, to protect these species and the rich biodiversity they harbour.

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Overview of the conservation status of Mediterranean anthozoa

Empowering civil society to achieve concrete and effective conservation actions in North Africa

Core support to the activities of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is provided by the
Junta de Andalucia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery, Food and Environment and AECID in Spain, and the MAVA Foundation.

Update of the Ecosystem Profile for the Mediterranean

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) released the new Ecosystem Profile for the Mediterranean Basin Hotspot, valid for the next five years. Ecosystem profiles are a rapid assessment of a biodiversity hotspot or priority area within a hotspot, which provides an overview of biodiversity importance.

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Shared experiences between young associations of North Africa

More than 70 participants of the 37 civil society organizations from four North African countries, met in Tunis from May 9th to 11th 2017, to attend the Regional Restitution Workshop of the Small Scale Initiatives for Civil Society Organisations in North Africa.

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Identification of Important Plant Areas in Cabo Verde islands

IUCN-Med, the IUCN/SSC Mediterranean Plant Specialist Group, the INIDA and nearly 40 national experts participated in two workshops that took place in October 2016 and May 2017 where the IUCN Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs was applied.

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Towards a solid ‘Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance’

After a first workshop held in October 2016, in which participants discussed the potential need, added value and main focus of the creation of a possible Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance. Malaga hosted the second Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance Meeting on June 1st, 2017.

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Progress of the IUCN Green List in the Mediterranean region

The Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development held its 17th meeting in Athens. on this occasion, IUCN-Med reported the progress of the IUCN Green List implementation within the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development.

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Promoting Responsible Tourism in Mediterranean Protected Areas

Protected areas, such as national parks, natural parks and / or UNESCO World Heritage areas, are a great attraction for tourists interested in exploring the natural areas, culture,and wildlife in the Mediterranean.

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Capacity building on adaptation in Mediterranean MPAs

In the framework of the MPA-Adapt project, a capacity building workshop on adaptation to climate change in Mediterranean MPAs was held in Bonifacio.

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A first step towards sponge conservation in the Mediterranean

More than 300 experts attended the 10th World Sponge Conference to discuss the main development areas of sponge biology at present, and traditional research categories.

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Local involvement in climate change monitoring in Lampedusa

Fishermen and divers worked together in this pilot case of an Interreg project that contributed to improve adaption to change in coastal zones across the Mediterranean.

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Nature as a solution to improve life quality in cities

IUCN organized a workshop to promote Nature Based Solutions during the GREEN CITIES forum. which took place in Malaga. More than 50 representatives of regional, provincial and local organisations, participated in the Workshop.

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Habitat Mapping of Important Plant Areas in Algeria

In the framework of the project « Conserving wild plants and habitats for people across the Mediterranean », the Direction of Forests (DGF) organized, from April 3rd to 7th, 2017, at the Gouraya National Park a training about « IPA mapping methodology ».

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Doñana joined the Life AdaptaMed awareness workshops

In line with the communication activities of the Life AdaptaMED project coordinated by IUCN-Med, several awareness workshops have been organized in the Doñana National Park during the Ecotourism Fair Doñana Natural Life.

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Events

4th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4) - La Serena (Chile) 4-7 September 2017. The IUCN Mediterranean programme will be organizing several side-events.

Our Ocean Conference - La Valleta, Malta, 5- 6 October. Organised by European Union.

Workshop on fisheries management measures in Natura 2000 sites in the Mediterranean - Zadar, Croatia, 10-12 October. This meeting will be prepare in collaboration with the IUCN Brussels office.

Innovative tools for coastal adaptation to climate change, what experiences to share? - Tunis, Tunisia, 10-11 October 2017. The Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL), the United Nations Development Program and the Conservatoire du Littoral are organizing this event.

41st Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the 8th Session of the Committee on Administration and Finance - Budva, Montenegro, 16-20 October. This meeting will be prepare and attend in collaboration with the IUCN Global Marine Programme.

Bridging the Science-Practice-Policy Interface in Biodiversity Protection, PANACeA project Knowledge Sharing Event - Barcelona, Spain, 23.-24 October 2017. IUCN-Med will be participating at this conference with the four Interreg projects (DESTIMED, FISHMPABLUE II, MPA-ADAPT and POSBEMED) in which is involved.

First North African Congress of Ornithology - Bejaia, Algeria, 25-26 October 2017

Closing workshop of the Mediterranean Important Plants Areas (IPA-Med) project - Batna (Algeria), 30-31 October 2017. This event is organised by Direction Général de Forêt and IUCN-Med.

23rd Climate Change Conference, COP23 - Bonn, Germany, 6-13 November 2017

ACCOBAMS - Fourth Biennial Conference (CSMC4) - Oran, Algeria, 11-13 November 2017. The aim of the Biennial Conference is to assess the knowledge acquired on cetaceans in the South of the Mediterranean, identify potential gaps and stimulate the development of conservation actions in order to promote the implementation of the ACCOBAMS Agreement.

North Africa Protected Areas Green List meeting - Tunis Tunisia, 21-21 November 2017.

General Asembly of the Marine Protected Areas managers in the Mediterranean | MPAs facing pollution in the Mediterranean: thinking beyond boundaries - Izola, Slovenia, 27 November - 1 December 2017

20th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention (COP 20) - Tirana, Albania, 5-8 December 2017.

Events

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