For the last year, the Alfred Toepfer Natural Heritage Scholarship supported the work of young conservationists in Protected Areas across Europe. Hayden Bridgeman was one of the winners of the Scholarship in 2023 and travelled to Greece to learn more about how Protected Areas can better engage with marginalised communities such as refugee and asylum seekers.

Nature for all: A study into how Europe’s Protected Areas are engaging with refugee and asylum seeker communities

My name is Hayden Bridgeman and I am a Ranger for the New Forest National Park Authority and a winner of an Alfred Toepfer Scholarship Award. Through this scholarship I have studied how we are engaging with one of our most vulnerable communities in society – refugees and asylum seekers. We, as a society, are so aware of how crucial access to nature is for good mental health and wellbeing, yet those that need it most are often unable to access it. I want to continue to make sure we are doing all we can to change that across our protected landscapes.

I would like to preface my studies by saying I do not have lived experience, but I am an advocate and a friend to this community and want to ensure we are doing all that we can to build cohesive, inclusive communities with nature and mental wellbeing at the heart.

It is vital to remember how important the language we use is in relation to society’s most vulnerable communities. Not only this but it is important to remember that there is a legal difference. Using the wrong terminology can be extremely damaging to communities of displaced people and can have a detrimental effect on their mental health and wellbeing and their journey in acclimatising to a new life.

Asylum Seeker

An asylum seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection. In countries with individualised procedures, an asylum seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been finally decided on by the country in which he or she has submitted it. Not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognised as a refugee, but every refugee is initially an asylum seeker.

Refugee

A refugee is a person who has fled their country of origin and is unable to or unwilling to return because of a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

Migrant

An economic migrant is someone who leaves his or her country of origin purely for financial and/or economic reasons. Economic migrants choose to move in order to find a better life and they do not flee because of persecution. Therefore, they do not fall within the criteria for refugee status and are not entitled to receive international protection.

It is imperative that governments/communities/media understand the distinction. Countries have specific responsibilities tied to legislation to help anyone seeking sanctuary and fleeing war and persecution – refugees. It is not the same for migrants.

Through this project I visited three charities in Greece working in both urban environments and National Parks to support refugees and asylum seekers in the outdoors and was able to share in their learning and progress.  I was also able to talk directly to individuals that are part of the displaced community and have been able to gather an extensive list of the barriers faced for refugee and asylum seekers accessing nature – it’s important to identify the barriers so that we can find solutions.

It’s an extensive list:

• Expensive or non-existent public transport
• Racial profiling
• Safety concerns
• A lack of family support and often women having to be the sole care giver for children
• Lack of time due to having to navigate lengthy legal processes, acquiring medical assistance and housing
• Low mental health and feeling unwelcome

These are all barriers for everyday life for this community but when accessing nature. As protected area practitioners we can help to remove some of the barriers.

Some brilliant work is taking place with nature connection sessions aiding mental wellbeing and learning how to grow your own food being successful, engaging and beneficial sessions. Something else that was really successful is enabling individuals to carry out citizen science and be a part of community conservation. However transport is and continues to be the biggest barrier to accessing these opportunities.

There are some key take aways on how to make engagement in the outdoors successful:

• Actively listen, ask questions and don’t assume. When creating itineraries for trips and visits ensure you’ve asked what works for the group and what doesn’t. Experiencing nature is not a ‘one size fits all’ mentality, not everyone benefits from a 10km hike, simply being able to sit and talk to others in a green space is enough.
• Start by working in a space that groups know and trust. Take your protected area to this community – whether it’s into a refugee centre, or a local church they meet in to have English lessons.
• Work in partnership with charities that are a trusted contact for this community. This is important for building trust and understanding. Talk to a contact
• Be flexible in your approach and be prepared to rearrange visits if the group need to due to low mental health and anxieties, it can take longer to plan sessions
• Have an outdoor ‘kit library’ from wellies to raincoats that can be a shared and used by multiple groups
• Using google translate to navigate the language barrier as well as having printed photos of the wildlife that’s being talked about in the outdoor environment
• Tea and coffee and picnics are a valuable ice breaker and chance to relax and create a good atmosphere where people feel more comfortable
• Put sustainable and affordable transport at the top of every agenda. If we are to open green spaces to all they must be easy and affordable to navigate through

Whether you are an educator or a policy maker this report aims to help Protected Area professionals continue to create change by not only demonstrating practical tools that can be used but also providing tangible advice and hearing directly from this community themselves on how we can do more and be better in continuing to open green spaces to all.

There is also a network being built for those wanting to swap notes on best practise – please email me to learn more.

Register to the new Training programme on climate change adaptation in Marine Protected Areas. An opportunity for Marine Protected Area (MPAs) and support experts to learn different tools and protocols to increase the effectiveness and resilience of their MPAs. Join us to face the climate emergency!

On February 24, through an online seminar organized by WWF, members of the MPA4Change project (Interreg Euro-MED) announced the launch of their Training programme on climate change adaptation in Marine Protected Areas.

On March 24, MPA4Change opened its new Training programme on climate change adaptation in Marine Protected Areas, a capacity building opportunity aiming to empower MPA managers to achieve a more effective management and increased resilience of Mediterranean MPAs.

Get ready to face the climate emergency!

Raising sea temperatures originated by climate change can lead to mass mortality of sensitive species like this coral (Cladocora cespitosa) at Brijuni National Park – Photo by Petar Kruzic

The Training programme on climate change adaptation in Marine Protected Areas is intended for MPA managers, external experts and organizations supporting them. It is delivered in English with partial translation of some contents into French and Arabic languages.

The programme is offered in both a Hybrid format, which includes the completion of online modules followed by a practical face-to-face workshop to consolidate the lessons learned for a limited number of participants, and a strictly Online format limited to the revision of online materials.

During the training, participants will learn how to use protocols for assessing the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, both by specialized personnel and through citizen science initiatives, methodologies for quantifying vulnerability to change, developing adaptation plans, and how to implement participatory processes, among others. These tools are organized into different modules and will be progressively available through the year.

Open now – Monitoring Protocols module

The first module made available is on Monitoring Protocols, a specialised training tailored made for the Mediterranean basin that will provide participants with validated protocols to assess climate change impacts in marine ecosystems.

“Registration for the Hybrid training on Monitoring Protocols module is now open until April 4th!”

These protocols are intended to assess different ecological parameters and indicators of climate change effects, including changes in sea temperature, mortality of sensitive species like gorgonians, changes in populations dynamics of fish, sea urchins, fan shells etc… They also include a range of methodologies such as interviews to key actors, deployment of sensors and loggers and underwater surveys through SCUBA diving both by specialised personnel and citizen science initiatives.

MPA4Change Monitoring Protocols

For more information and registrations, please visit the dedicated webpage Training on climate change adaptation in Marine Prortected Areas at MPAChange website.

Nestled in the Mediterranean Sea, northwest of Sicily, the stunning Egadi Archipelago is home to Italy’s largest marine nature reserve. 

Marine Protected Area Isole Egadi

Established in 1991, the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) spans 53,992 hectares, safeguarding a rich and diverse ecosystem. The islands hold significant ecological value, hosting numerous endemic species and serving as a critical stopover along the Europe-Africa migratory route through western Sicily. The area hosts the largest Mediterranean seagrass meadow (Posidonia oceanica), as well as coral reefs, submerged caves, and archaeological remains.

Recognised as a Special Protection Area (ITA10024) and a SPAMI (Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance) by the UN, the Egadi Islands are not only a haven for biodiversity but also sites of historical and cultural significance. Their geographic isolation has preserved a strikingly wild landscape, where rocky coastlines meet crystal-clear waters, and the seabed reveals remnants of ancient Mediterranean civilisations.

©Pro Loco Isole Egadi

The MPA aims to prioritise marine conservation efforts through the following:

1. Protection and enhancement of the marine environment
2. Environmental education
3. Information sharing and raising awareness of users,
4. Research and environmental monitoring
5. Integrated management of the coastal strip
6. Promotion of sustainable development, mainly tourism

The managing body engages with diverse stakeholders to discuss various environmental issues as well as the socio-economic needs of the territory. These stakeholders are actively involved with territorial development and protection interventions.

The MPA is divided into four zones with varying levels of environmental protection:

Zone A: full protection with the highest level of environmental protection measures

• This is a “no take” zone, bathing is still allowed, guided underwater tours are allowed but only in summer, and only residents can skipper their boats in this area

Zone B: General protection

• In addition to the allowed actions from Zone A, touristic boats such as sailing boats, paddle boats, electric boats and paddleboats are allowed, guided underwater tours are allowed all year round but require a special authorisation certificate. Anchoring is also allowed with special rules for residents and a numerical limit for non-residents. Sport fishing and artisanal fishing are allowed.

Zone C: Partial protection

• In addition to the protections from Zone B, restrictions on navigation and anchoring are reduced. Individual diving, sport fishing and small-scale professional fishing are allowed.

Zone D: Basic protection with few limitations

• In addition to the protections in Zone C, trawling and large-scale purse seine fishing are allowed.

What is prohibited across the MPA is underwater fishing and the collection of organisms, with the exception of sea urchins, which can only be collected by residents, with special permission. Similarly, photography and film shooting, scientific research and whale watching are all allowed but require special permission.

Since fishing is the main human activity in the MPA, a strong partnership with the fishermen is a key to the success of the MPA. Already, fishermen are highly involved in all areas of management including:

• helping in projects that enhance the local fish products,
• helping with research,
• helping to test and impement fishing systems that reduce the impact on habitats and resources, in particular invasive species
• helping monitoring activities at sea.

A similar cooperation with tourism operators exists, with initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of their activities, cleaning up seabeds and coastlines together with citizens and other stakeholders. These activities also increase the sense of belonging and promote awareness of the importance of an intact and healthy environment.

Visit their website here.

Instagram and Facebook.

©Pro Loco Isole Egadi

This call for tenders is issued within the scope of the Interreg Euro-MED MPA4Change project (Euro-MED0200736) – Enhancing Marine Protected Areas as Nature Based Solutions for adaptation to climate change: from local actions to Mediterranean basin strategy.

For the purposes of this tender, acting on behalf of the project partners, the contracting authority for this Invitation to Tender is the EUROPARC Federation.

Procurement – External service contract for the implementation of Policy and Advocacy services

The contracting authority is looking to engage with an experienced consultancy/ expert on policy & advocacy that: is familiar with key marine conservation and climate change adaptation policies at global, EU and Mediterranean level and able to liaise with key stakeholders and representatives of governments and organisations to induce policy changes.

Additionally, the consultancy/expert should be able to represent the MPA4Change project interests at key events, facilitate workshops/training sessions, collaborate in building alliances with other groups, organisations and networks. It is imperative that the consultancy/expert is available and willing to travel during the whole contract implementation.

The contract for which this invitation to tender is launched has a total duration of eight months, with the implementation of activities starting on 22 April 2025 and finalising on 21 December 2025, with an additionally period of 3 months of availability to provide information about the actions performed. 

Bidders are asked to outline their budget proposal. The VAT amount and rate must be stated separately on bids submitted. Bids must be submitted in English and set out how they will deliver the contract effectively and efficiently and demonstrate relevant technical knowledge, skills and experience.

Above all, the project requires a contractor who is innovative, solution-oriented and able to think with partners in order to implement the actions described in this invitation to tender. Previous experience of delivering similar work as an external service contractor within the scope of an EU funded project would be an advantage: those bidding for this contract should be able to demonstrate familiarity with EU funded project terms and conditions especially in relation to publicity.

Bids must be submitted in the required format and received by 23.59 on 07 April 2024.

For further information, please contact Fernando Pinillos – MPA4change Project Manager: fernando.pinillos@…