Event details

The 1st Eurosite MCPA Workshop will take place in Marseille (France), 1-3 September 2010; in the Mediterranean cooperation in coastal and marine protected areas has developed since 1975.

To set the scene, we will look at the Mediterranean Action Plan within its European framework – the recent EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC, and the Birds and Habitats Directives, now entering their implementation phase in the marine environment. What is the role of Marine Protected areas in the implementation of the directives? How are site management organisations involved in the process? A common understanding of the common drivers behind all the efforts, commitments of management organisations is necessary, it will form the basis for the further exchange of experience and good practice. We will discuss what to expect from these different frameworks, how they fit together and how they can help site management organisations in the designation of marine protected areas and in the delivery of nature conservation objectives.

We will also look at practical approaches & good ideas for effective management planning, and discuss existing regional cooperation between marine and coastal protected areas, such as MEDPAN (Mediterranean Protected Areas Network) and new emerging networks such as PIM, the Small Mediterranean Islands Initiative.

Within close proximity of the city of Marseille, there is a host of spectacular coastal and marine protected areas: day field trips, on land and sea, organized by local coastal & marine protected areas will allow us to study how to apply the concept of wildlife corridors to an MPA network, linking land and sea.

Participants & Registration

Managers of protected areas and Natura 2000 marine & coastal sites are the target audience. Representatives of EU candidate, accessing and neighbouring countries (Adriatic Ionian Seas, Aegean Levantine Seas, South of the Mediterranean), who could benefit from this exchange of experience based on good practice are invited to join the workshop. A registration form and updated information will be made available soon.

For more information visit the MCPA Working Group website : http://eurosite-mpawg.espaces-naturels.fr/ 

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About the Eurosite MCPA Working Group

The Eurosite Marine and Coastal Protected Areas Working Group (Eurosite MCPA Working Group) is a new initiative of the Eurosite network supported by Conservatoire du littoral, the French Marine Protected Areas Agency, with the contribution of ATEN.

At the general assemblies of Eurosite which were held in Turku, Finland 2008 and in Valencia, Spain 2009, the question of developing the Eurosite activities on coastal and marine protected areas issue was tackled on several occasions by members. Some of the French Eurosite members, such as Conservatoire du littoral, the marine protected areas agency and ATEN are willing to deal a new initiative dedicated to the creation of a Eurosite marine and coastal network through the Eurosite programme of activities. The proposal is developing a marine and coastal program of work over the next three years, from 2010 to 2012; by organizing annual workshops on marine and coastal protected areas management, to work on tools for the coastal and marine management plans, in particular for the Natura 2000 marine sites.

The workshops are designed to share good practice and to exchange ideas between site management organisations from different European countries and ensure the delivery of a successful network of MPAs. The workshops are planned purposefully in three EU marine regions: the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the North Sea. Taking place in three marine regions, the workshops have a special focus on their regional characteristics, illustrated through sea trips, but the objective is to enrich the exchange of good practice by views stemming from other EU marine regions.

Products expected

European good practice cases studies, network of experts and site managers, tools to develop and products to deliver towards 2013 (IMPACT 3), links with formal EU marine process.

Workshop 1 - 1-3 September 2010 in Marseille, France

Workshop 2 - 30 August - 1 September 2011 in Le Conquet, Brittany, France, organised by Parc naturel marin d’Iroise

Workshop 3 - Spring 2012 in Scotland, UK, organized by Scottish Natural Heritage (to be confirmed)