On 18 November, the Spanish third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, and the Director General of IUCN, Bruno Oberle, signed a Collaboration Protocol to continue promoting the work of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in Spain.

This will contribute to sustain the key role of the centre in the Mediterranean region for the generation of solid scientific knowledge on biodiversity, its conservation status, trends, threats, and new development models based on a sustainable interaction with biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources.

Both institutions agreed to continue discussing the main terms of a binding agreement in the coming months, which will provide a framework for the implementation of activities of the centre, as well as financial support and the official recognition of the Mediterranean office as an international organisation in Spain.

The latest Protocol of Collaboration with Spain was signed in 2010 and ended in May 2017.  The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation opened in Malaga in October 2001 with the core support of the Spanish Ministry of Environment and the regional Government of Junta de Andalucía. Its mission is to influence, encourage and assist Mediterranean societies in conserving and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources in the region, working with IUCN members, and cooperating with all other agencies that share IUCN’s objectives.

Ecovidrio Awards

In the context of his visit to Madrid 17-18 November to sign the protocol with Spain, IUCN Director General Bruno Oberle also received the Ecovidrio award for promoting the interrelationship between economy and the environment. Ecovidrio is a non-profit entity responsible for managing the recycling of all glass packaging waste in Spain. The Ecovidrio 'Environmental Personality' award to Dr. Bruno Oberle was presented by Minister Teresa Ribera. 

Photo © IUCN