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December 2021





SPECIAL FEATURE
SPOTLIGHT

Spanish government renews support for IUCN activities in the Mediterranean

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.

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2021-2024 IUCN Mediterranean and North Africa programmes


Planning and delivering Nature-based Solutions in Mediterranean cities
Core support to the activities of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is provided by the
Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and the MAVA Foundation.

Half of raptors breeding in North Africa are threatened with extinction – IUCN report





The first IUCN Red List assessment of the conservation status of raptors in North Africa shows that almost half of the species with breeding populations in the region are classified as threatened with extinction. Three of the assessed species have been classified as Regionally Extinct.

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IUCN and FEAP sign agreement to foster aquaculture sustainability and marine conservation





In Rome, the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and IUCN signed a MoU for fostering collaboration on subjects relative to the sustainability of aquaculture and the conservation of marine ecosystems.

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Barcelona Convention COP22 reaches important decisions to protect the Mediterranean





The decision to designate the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides clears the way for the submission of the “Med SOx ECA” joint proposal to the 78th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 78) of the International Maritime Organization.

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Cooperation agreement between Fundación Cepsa and IUCN-Med





Thanks to this alliance, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) will collaborate with Fundación Cepsa in advising on its environmental projects as well as in the areas of ecological transition and protection of water resources. Cepsa is one of the biggest energy companies in Spain, operating across the entire oil, chemical and gas value chain.

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The Canary Islands rejoin IUCN as a Member





The Regional Ministry of Ecological Transition, Climate Change and Territorial Planning of the Canary Islands has agreed to renew the membership of the Archipelago in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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New platform dedicated to native North African trees and shrubs





In the framework of the third Mediterranean Plant Conservation Week held in Crete, a new web platform dedicated to North African Native Trees and Shrubs was presented by Centro de Investigaciones Ambientales del Mediterráneo in collaboration with IUCN-Med.

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WWF Travel will bring MEET ecotourism experiences to new markets





MEET Network ecotourism experiences will be sold to the Italian market through WWF Travel, building on work achieved in ENI CBC Med and Interreg Med sustainable tourism projects.

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Sharing experiences from projects for climate change adaptation in the Euro-Mediterranean region





The final meeting of the LIFE Adaptamed project brought together representatives from parks, public administration, universities conservation experts universities and experts from the Euro-Mediterranean region with the aim of exchanging different experiences of restoration projects and adaptation to climate change in natural spaces.

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Companies can now contribute to develop Blue Carbon projects in Andalusia





The Life Blue Natura project ends with one of the most anticipated results: the establishment of two pilot projects for blue carbon compensation. These new projects are supported by the new Andalusian carbon standard for the certification of blue carbon credits, as well as the legal framework of the Andalusian Climate Change Law.

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Re-branding Mediterranean beaches to foster Posidonia-friendly tourism





Last November, a workshop coordinated by IUCN-Med in the framework of POSBEMED 2 in Mallorca (Spain) offered regional governments, municipalities and key tourism actors from 8 Mediterranean countries the opportunity to co-design marketing strategies and solutions for the promotion of beaches that consciously preserve Posidonia oceanica.

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Interactive storymap | Assessment of freshwater biodiversity of the Sebou River in Morocco





This web story will guide you through the freshwater biodiversity recorded in the Sebou river basin and the role of Key Biodiversity Areas in their conservation. The results of the assessment show a high concentration of native and threatened species in the KBAs, as well as in the surrounding areas. Recommendations are included to improve protection of the sites as well and extend the scope of the current protected areas.

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IUCN Congress witnesses key political commitments and new funding initiatives





Following the new political announcements and the launch of the Plan of Action for an Exemplary Mediterranean Sea by 2030 (PAMEX) by 8 Mediterranean governments and 5 NGO to preserve marine biodiversity through 19 operational actions, 12 partner organisations explored new joint mechanisms to kick-start nature-based recovery across the region.

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Events


World Wetlands Day - 2 February 2022. This year's celebration of World Wetlands Day in 2022 is especially significant - as on 30 August 2021 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 75/317 that established 2 February as World Wetlands Day. Follow the hashtag #WorldWetlandsDay.

World Wildlife Day - 3 March 2022, will be held online and will seek to bring together representatives of UN member States, UN System organizations and multilateral environmental agreements, civil society, and the private sector for a series of discussions along the theme of "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration".

International Day of Forests - 21 March, 2022 focuses on sustainable production and consumption.

World Water Day - 22 March 2022 will focus on the theme of Groundwater - see factsheet prepared for the celebration #WorldWaterDay

In the press

Good news for the ocean as tuna species bounce back from the brink of extinction Euronews (15/09/2021)

Tuna bounce back, but sharks in 'desperate' decline BBC (4/09/2021)

Despite deals, plans and bans, the Mediterranean is awash in plastic Mongabay (11/11/2021)

An actor, two big bees and a lot of experts: a week spent tackling the planet’s problems The Guardian  (11/11/2021)

El mercado de ‘carbono azul' llega a Europa: restaurar unas marismas de Cádiz para compensar las emisiones de empresas El País (4/12/2021)

NORTH AFRICA: IUCN Nbs standard launched in Mediterranean cities Afrik 21 (13/09/2021)


Dearest friends and partners,

Huge congratulations to the Mediterranean conservation community on the impressive work delivered this year! Whether at in-person events like the IUCN World Conservation Congress, the MPA Forum, COP 22 of the Barcelona Convention or the many events and webinars held online, these challenging times only show us how much we can accomplish together.

Before we leave for our Christmas and New Year’s Eve holiday break, we want to wish you a restful and joyful time. Stay safe, look after your loved-ones and restore your energy to start an exciting 2022. 2022 will be the year of the long-awaited IUCN Mediterranean Forum, where we look forward to meeting all our partners, especially our colleagues in North Africa, to continue strengthening cooperation for a greener and healthier Mediterranean.

Thank you for your support and let’s celebrate the excellent work.

Warm regards,
The team of IUCN-Med 

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