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Title of the Flagship Initiative as it appears in the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD) “Support the Trust Fund for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas”
This Flagship Initiative is linked to Objective 1 of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD): “Ensuring sustainable development in marine and coastal areas”. This MSSD Flagship Initiative supports the protection of Biological diversity in the Mediterranean. The MedFund’s target is to support 20 MPAs and protect 7,000 km2 of natural marine and coastal areas by 2025. |
Context
Under the SPA/BD Protocol, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention have established a growing network of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs). There are currently 39 areas included in the SPAMI List from a total of 1,126 Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs) covering 209,303 km2. This coverage amounts to approximately 8.3 percent of the Mediterranean Sea area, with strictly protected areas representing a paltry 0.06 per cent (2021).
Additional efforts are sorely needed to improve the management of MCPAs so as to meet the Aichi target 11 and the forthcoming 2030 target under the CBD.
In order to improve the management effectiveness of Mediterranean MPAs, France, Monaco, Tunisia and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation launched in 2015 The MedFund, which received political support from riparian countries in the framework of the UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention system and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
Implementation
Based on an innovative and sustainable financing mechanism capitalizing reliable and consistent financial amounts, The MedFund aims at strengthening Mediterranean MPAs and at contributing to their financial autonomy and territorial integration. Therefore, The MedFund pursues a responsible investment policy that responds to the challenges of a new, more sustainable economy around the Mediterranean basin.
The MedFund is managed by a Monaco-based non-profit organization bringing together governments, regional institutions, and civil society organizations.
The MedFund is financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Government of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and a network of aquariums led by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco.
Achievements
To date, 2,8 million euros have been committed to support eight MPAs covering over 3,000 km² in four Mediterranean countries: Karaburun Sazan MPA in Albania; Kuriat, Kneiss, Zembra and La Galite MPAs in Tunisia; Al Hoceima and Jbel Moussa MPAs in Morocco; and, Gokova Bay MPA in Turkey.
The MedFund’s support is granted for five years to local civil society organizations and national agencies in charge of protected areas. This allows for financing activities that are essential to the co-management of these natural areas, especially for the preservation of marine ecosystems and the provision of support to local communities that depend on them.
Partners
Member countries: Albania, France, Monaco, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia.
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
Oceanographic Institute – Prince Albert 1st of Monaco Foundation
UNEP/MAP Specially Protected Area Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC)
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
French coastal protection agency Conservatoire du Littoral
Mediterranean Small Islands Initiative
The MedFund is a key partner of the High Ambition Coalition for nature and people.
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