From April 5th to 12th 2024, the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference 2024 was hosted in Barcelona as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021- 2030).

Coordinated by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), the Ocean Decade seeks to stimulate ocean science and transform this knowledge into action to reverse the decline of the ocean ecosystem and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development.

This international event provided a convening framework for a wide range of stakeholders across the world to generate data, information and knowledge needed that will contribute to a well- functioning, productive, resilient, sustainable and inspiring ocean.

The Ocean Decade MPA Forum, a satellite event.

Due to the vast number of initiatives that requested a slot in the Conference, which reflects how relevant marine conservation currently is, the Ocean Decade Conference counted with a vast array of satellite events organised in its framework.

Among them, the Ocean Decade MPA Forum – Marine Protected Areas: Progress, Obstacles and Solutions was independently organised by several international organisations – among which the EUROPARC Federation, and provided an opportunity to exchange on the current status of Protected Areas worldwide. Counting with a strong representation from both Latin America and the Mediterranean region, the Forum allowed participants to explore four key themes that are driving the contribution of MPAs to the Ocean Decade goals: Challenges, Best Practices, Solutions, Maintaining Momentum and Scaling Up.

A clear message came out from the presentations: biodiversity conservation goes beyond legal protection; to really achieve it, an effective management of the MPA is urgently needed. However, the sad reality is that the vast majority of MPAs worldwide still lack management plans.

Management plans should be built on two pillars: science and early participation of relevant stakeholders. People need to be part of the process, not just be informed at the very end. The implementation of management plans should entail monitoring and surveillance. Technology brings new opportunities to achieving this. Several presentations focused on the use of electronic and aero-maritime (drones, or remote control mini-boats) monitoring systems for surveillance of both coastal and large remote MPAs.

Joaquim Garrabou speaking, Ocean Decade MPA Forum – Photo by EUROPARC Federation.

International cooperation is also key to achieve biodiversity conservation. When we look at the movement of water particles, we realise how connected everything is; there is permanent movement from one site to another. Likewise, MPAs from a same region, share the same migrant species and face the same issues – the spread of non-indigenous species, pollutants, and heat waves. Cooperation allows for early alert of emergencies, fast track solutions and accelerate legislation changes. It also allows for a stronger voice.

In this sense, a recent alliance created between Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador to boost the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Conservation Corridor – CMAR was presented. Equally, the MedPAN network and MedFund, a new environmental trust fund based in Monaco, specifically dedicated to the financing of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean, were introduced.

Climate Change Adaptation and Restoration in Marine Protected areas

Among the initiatives presented for “Keeping the momentum and Scaling Up”, both Joaquim Garrabou from the Marine Science Institute of Barcelona (ICM), as part of the Spanish Research Council (CSIC), and Teresa Pastor from the EUROPARC Federation, had the opportunity to introduce the work underway in order to foster the adaptation of Marine Protected Areas to Climate Change in the Mediterranean region and the rest of Europe.

Joaquim Garrabou focused on explaining the current situation and threats that Marine Protected Areas are facing in the Mediterranean and how climate change effects are equally jeopardizing the marine ecosystem services which the Mediterranean area strongly relies on, as well as the ability of Marine Protected Areas itself to protect the habitats and species they shelter.

100 MPAs adapted to climate change by 2030

Joaquim also highlighted that we are strongly behind schedule to achieve the conservation goals set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Biodiversity Strategy, and that we urgently need to improve the effectiveness of MPAs at all levels. In order to move forward and deliver time-bound and specific results, he set as a target to support 100 MPAs to set climate change adaptation strategies in place by 2030 the Mediterranean region.

By 2030, we expect that 100 MPAs in the Mediterranean basin will count with climate change adaptation strategies in place – Joaquim Garrabou, CSIC.

This target will be reached through the implementation of MPA4Change project, which offers a set of toolkits developed in previous Interreg Euro-Med initiatives, addressing different factors underpinning the effectiveness of MPAs in achieving their conservation goals.

The solutions offered by MPA4Change

Teresa Pastor in the panel discussion, Ocean Decade MPA Forum – Photo by EUROPARC Federation.

Furthermore, a more in detail revision of the solutions that MPA4Change project bring to the table was presented by Teresa Pastor, Policy and Project Manager – Sustainable Tourism Manager from the EUROPARC Federation. These solutions focus on areas such as participation, climate change vulnerability assessment and monitoring, citizen science activities, adaptation strategies and communication. They form the key components that experienced MPAs will transfer to other areas willing to improve their capacities to increase their resilience to Climate Change. Additionally, and also as a result of MPA4Change, a group of experts will be created to support MPAs in the process of adaptation to climate change.

In her presentation, Teresa also explained how these toolkits will be integrated, in the form of recommendations, into regional and European policies in order to set alliances with relevant institutions such as SPA/RAC, and regional networks such as MedPan and the Union for the Mediterranean, which were strongly represented during the Forum. Finally, Teresa called to MPA representatives present among the participants to join MPA4Change and incorporate the solutions offered to adapt to climate change.

Our executive director Carol Ritchie will speak at the #WorldTrailsConference in Ottawa!
Taking place from September 30 to October 3, 2024, the Conference will bring together trail leaders, experts and fellow enthusiasts.

With a long history of ancient pilgrimages, herding routes, long-distance hikes and transnational Grande routes criss-crossing the continent, the European experience of managing trails is somewhat unique. As an important means of managing multi-use visitors and of seeking to mitigate wildlife disturbance whilst enabling people to get into nature, trails are the most obvious and fundamental part of any park’s infrastructure.

Trails too are a way of attracting and serving tourists visiting our parks and are often an economic driver of an area. Great trails often come through our parks and they connect to areas outwith our Protected Areas.

Understanding their importance in the landscape is vital in linking people to place but too as a valuable line of communication to interpret the culture, wildlife and indeed climate change impacts around us.

EUROPARC is recommending all European parks and trail managers to consider attending the World Trails Congress in Ottawa, Canada from September 30 to October 3 2024, to bring this wealth of European experience to the world stage but also to find new approaches and management practices from across the world.

Hosted by the Trans Canada Trail, the 2024 World Trails Conference will focus on connection – to people, places and the planet. Explore the profound bonds that link humanity to the natural world and develop a new understanding of how our trails impact the environment, communities and each other.

EUROPARC will be represented at the congress, but are seeking to encourage a large European delegation to join, to discuss the benefits and challenges trails bring to our Protected Areas.

Early bird fees close soon… so make sure to register online at: worldtrailsconference.org

Do you have interesting case studies or news to share with us on this topic? Then please do reach out to us! We want to amplify the work happening in Europe!

EUROPARC joins a new project: MPA4Change. The project aims to support the adaptation of Marine Protected Areas to Climate Change.

After six months of drought, Barcelona woke up last Friday under a very awaited rain. Unfortunately, in this region like in other parts of the world, extreme weather events and drought periods are more frequent and its relation with Climate Change effects seem to be undeniable.

Coincidentally, at that same time and in this same city, partners from 9 European institutions gathered to kick-start the new MPA4Change project. This initiative aims to promote the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and marine restoration as Nature Based Solutions for the adaptation and mitigation of Climate Change.

A transferring initiative

Despite the short duration of the project, which has an implementation period of two years, this initiative developed under and funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme is expected to achieve big things because of the following:

On the one hand, MPA4Change is built on existing experience, tools, networks and relationships. As it is a transfer project, it will capitalise on previous Interreg MED projects such as MPA-Adapt, MPA-Engage, Amare and AMAre Plus, as well as the outputs of recent and ongoing EU H2020 projects such as MERCES and FutureMARES.

Among the results yielded by these projects, a collection of tools for risk assessment, monitoring, data sharing, restoration, citizen science, participatory approaches, action plans definition and communication will be fine-tuned and re-used to support the adaptation of Mediterranean MPAS to Climate Change.

Participants at the Kick-off meeting of MPA4Change, Institut de Ciencies del Mar, Barcelona. Photo by EUROPARC Federation.

On the other hand, EUROPARC Federation will take the lead in order to facilitate the dialogue at the political level and integrate the existing toolkits into European and Mediterranean strategies for Marine Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

Finally, the project will consolidate the creation of a Roster, or group of experts with proved experience on setting Climate Change adaptation plans. This Roster will be designed in order to outlive the project and keep providing long term support to MPAs in the Mediterranean region for the implementation of Nature-based Solutions and restoration actions in order to increase their resilience against Climate Change effects.

More information and updates on MPA4Change will be published soon on EUROPARC’s and associated partner channels.

World Ocean Day: One Ocean, One Climate, One Future – Together

Today is World Ocean Day, an annual international celebration coordinated and promoted by The Ocean Project since 2002 that raises the profile of the importance of oceans and calls for ocean and climate action. It has been recognised by the United Nations since 2009.

This initiative brings together thousands of organisations such as schools, universities, youth organisations, aquariums, zoos, museums, dive clubs, marinas, and others, which organise different activities all over the world.

The central hub for resources and action is WorldOceanDay.org, where you can find a wide range of promotional resources and tools and a collection of the activities, celebrations, and other events happening worldwide. Take a look and spread the word!

Follow and share World Ocean Day on social networks:

• Twitter @WorldOceansDay
• Instagram @WorldOceanDay 
• Facebook @WorldOceanDay
• LinkedIn: World-Ocean-Day

The 2023 theme: Tides are changing!

The World Ocean Day´s theme for this year refers to the fact that change is underway in a good way. Many actions to increase sustainability in the ocean are gaining momentum and so is the public support for increased conservation in the high seas, from the movements to stop deep-sea mining to stepping up the fight against plastic pollution.

However, not all change is positive and the tides of climate change are also affecting our oceans, the largest carbon sink. Marine and coastal Protected Areas are especially concerned about the impact of climate change on biodiversity. Have a look at one of the episodes of Natur’Adapt’s Climate Talks where we hear from a Marine Protected Area in Italy and their efforts to involve the local community in their climate adaptation plans.

Celebrating Youth Action for Our Blue Planet

Young people increasingly play an important role in shaping a sustainable future for our society, and its engagement in policy and on the ground is vital. The world ocean day counts with a Youth Advisory Council, formed by members representing 21 countries that provide the necessary guidance and support to inform and inspire youth and others to take action throughout the year.

This year, the EUROPARC International Junior Ranger Camp will also be celebrating the oceans at the meeting point of the Baltic and North Seas in northern Denmark. There they will be learning about dune conservation, ocean biodiversity and the history of salt production amongst other things! For those of you joining the EUROPARC Conference, keep an eye out for the camp’s ocean-themed art project.

World Ocean Day banner – do it for the future

Recent milestones in ocean conservation

During the last six months, big steps have been taken to protect the oceans at global level. In this lines and with the occasion of the World Ocean Day, we would like to highlight some of the milestones that thanks to a collective effort, are bringing us forward to achieve a sustainable development in balance with nature:

High Seas Treaty

High seas, or waters beyond national jurisdiction, represent two thirds of the ocean. They are one of the most valuable sources of benefits for our society both at ecologic and socio-economic level. However, they are also subject to high pressure in regards of biodiversity loss, overexploitation, pollution and the impacts of climate change. 

Despite of being regulated by some international agreements, the waters beyond national jurisdiction have lacked of a comprehensive legal framework that allows the different nations to effectively coordinate efforts in order to protect them.

Negotiations to develop the High Seas Treaty, an agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, started two decades ago. Last 4th of March 2023, after a long process of negotiations, the text of the High Seas Treaty was finally agreed in the 5th Intergovernmental Conference in New York.

The Highs Seas Treaty is therefore a legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It focuses in four thematic areas, being one of them the Area-based management tools (ABMTs), including marine protected areas (MPAs). Among others, the treaty provides a road map for establishing large-scale marine protected areas on the high seas, a key measure to meet the commitment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement. The agreement has to be yet ratified by the 60 member states before coming into force.

More information on the High Seas Treaty.

A historic moment for our Oceans. Today marks the culmination of more than a decade of preparatory work and international negotiations in which the EU played a key role. With the agreement on the UN High Seas Treaty, we take a crucial step forward to preserve the marine life and biodiversity that are essential for us and the generations to come. It is also a proof of strengthened multilateral cooperation with our partners and a major asset to implement our COP 15 goal for 30% ocean protection. I am very proud of our outcome. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries – 04/03/2023

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution

Plastics conform at least the 85% of marine waste and their levels are rapidly increasing. Currently, plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems and it negatively impacts the environmental, social, economic and health pillars of our society worldwide.

In February 2022, the United Nations agreed to start the International Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution. This committee had its first meeting in October last year and is aiming to meet the deadline of a first draft ready in 2024. This treaty should be science-based, include the full life-cycle of plastic products and ensure the phase out of especially harmful chemicals like PFAs amongst others. Find more information at the United Nations Environmental Programme website.

To know more on previous an existing actions on initiatives that aim to tackle plastic pollution in Europe we recommend you watching the EUROPARC webinar Towards a NO-Plastic Sea: EU policies and Marine Protected Areas actions.

Global Biodiversity Framework – 30% protection targets commitment

In December last year we finally have a Global Biodiversity Framework which includes many safeguards for ocean biodiversity. The targets for 2030 include a commitment to stop biodiversity loss in areas under spatial planning (Target 1), to restore 30% of degraded coastal and marine ecosystems (Target 2) and to protect and conserve 30% of marine and coastal areas under effective management (Target 3). You can find more information on this agreement here.

Stay tuned on EUROPARC news for more updates on marine conservation and keep an eye on our Marine Policies section for information about legal framework on European waters.