Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Methodology and pilot cases from TUNE UP NU3 leNote di U3 edited by Anna Laura Palazzo, Serena Muccitelli, Romina D'Ascanio, number 3 Carolina Pozzi and Stefano Magaudda July 2021 ISSN 1973-9702 Interreg MED TUNE UP - Deliverable 4.2.1 Joint methodology for MPA Contracts implementation NU3 leNote di U3 number 3

Director Giorgio Piccinato

Editorial Committee Lorenzo Barbieri, Editor in Chief Promoting multilevel governance for tuning up biodiversity protection in marine areas Francesca Porcari, Secretary TUNE UP Martina Pietropaoli, Giuseppe Ferrarella, Federica Fava, iQuaderni di U3 Priority Axis 3: Protection and promoting Mediterranean natural and cultural ecosystems Eleonora Ambrosio, leRubriche di U3 through strenghthening the management and networking of protected areas Francesca Paola Mondelli, Elisa Piselli, Communication Raffaele Cinotti, Graphic design Deliverable 4.2.1 Editorial Board Joint methodolog y for MPA Contracts implementation Giovanni Caudo, Anna Laura Palazzo, Francesco Careri, Mario Cerasoli, Andrea Filpa, Giovanni Longobardi, Lucia Nucci, Simone Ombuen Lead Partner: Anatoliki leNote di U3 are a section of the online journal UrbanisticaTre Project Partner in charge: ROMATRE (coordinator) urbanisticatre.uniroma3.it/ Project partners involved: ALL

U3 - UrbanisticaTre Work Package 4 - Transferring ISSN 1973-9702 Activity 4.2 Transferring Territorial Contracts methodology July 2021 Version: FINAL - Date:30.07.2021

This document is an intermediate output of the project Interreg MED TUNE UP - Promoting multilevel governance for tuning up biodiversity protection in marine areas, co-inanced by the European Regional Development Fund via the Interreg Med Programme, and speciically “Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas: methodology and pilots from TUNE UP” by 'Deliverable 4.2.1 - Transferring Territorial Contracts methodology'. Palazzo et al. (eds) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives The project faces the need for a strategic and collaborative approach to Mediterranean Marine 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Based on the work of Protected Areas (MPAs) management and biodiversity protection. The core idea of the project the TUNE UP project, co-inanced by the European Regional Development Fund via the Interreg Med is to exploit the feasibility and lexibility of the Environmental Contract methodology in Med Programme. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at tune-up.interreg-med.eu/ MPAs. This methodology, aimed at transferring the Environmental Contracts beyond TUNE UP project partnership, has been developed in the framework of 'WP4 – Transferring' under the Graphic design of the editorial staff coordination of the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University and with the contribution Layout editing and graphics: Martina Zanuzzi of all partners. This document resumes the main steps and phases faced by the TUNE UP Cover: Albufera de Valencia sealife. (Credit: samarucdigital.com), Sinis Peninsula (Author: Giorgio partnership, coordinated by ANATOLIKI SA, in the implementation of 10 MPA Contracts in Massaro), scuba diving in Ventotene (Credit: Ventotene and Santo Stefano Islands SNR/MPA). Editing of Mediterranean countries. Martina Zanuzzi For enhancing its transferability, this work has been published in the open access scientiic journal U3 - UrbanisticaTre (ISSN 1973-9702) in the section leNote di U3, that is recognized by How to cite this publication: Palazzo, A. L., Muccitelli, S., D’Ascanio, R., Pozzi, C., and Magaudda, S. (eds), ANVUR and promoted by Scholars of the Department of Architecture of the Roma Tre University (2021) Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas: methodology and pilot cases from TUNE UP, working in the ield of the Urban Studies. leNote di U3, n. 3, ISSN 1973-9702 See more: tune-up.interreg-med.eu with the support of ROMA TRE UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI Editors Anna Laura Palazzo Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Serena Muccitelli Methodology and pilot cases from TUNE UP Romina D’Ascanio edited by Carolina Pozzi

Stefano Magaudda Anna Laura Palazzo, Serena Muccitelli, Romina D'Ascanio, Carolina Pozzi and Stefano Magaudda

List of Authors Elvana Ramaj Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment Lead Partner Foreword 06

Christina Kassara Scientiic coordinator Foreword 07 Kallia Spala 1. An overview of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 11 Amvrakikos Gulf - Lefkada Management Agency 1.1 Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 1.2 An outlook of the status of MPAs in the Mediterranean Kostas Kostantinou 1.3 Legal framework and policies for coastal and marine environment protection Anastasia Lespouridou 1.4 International targets: achievements and future steps ANATOLIKI SA - Center for the development of human resources and the support of local economy (Lead Partner) 2. Open challenges for governance of Mediterranean Coastal and Marine Protected Areas 31 Carolina Pozzi 2.1 Marine governance in action: criticalities, solutions and capacity building Andrea Rossi 2.2 A good practice on governance of coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean: the Stefano Salviati Handbook AQUAPROGRAM srl 2.3 Linking socio-economical and environmental challenges in med mpas 3. Environmental Contract methodolog y for MPA governance 43 Inma Guerrero 3.1 The Environmental Contract tool Teresa Muela Tudela 3.2 The Environmental Contract process: inputs and outputs FAMP - Andalusian Federation of Towns and Provinces 3.3 Preparatory stage 3.3.1 Deinition of the territorial area to be considered by the Contract Giancarlo Gusmaroli 3.3.2 Governance structure and irst committment Giorgio Massaro 3.3.3 Inputs: Context analysis MEDSEA - Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation 3.3.4 Participation strategy 3.4 Development stage Flavio Monti 3.4.1 Intermediate outputs: scenarios Alessio Satta 3.4.2 Final outputs: Action Plan and commitment to act Brian Shipman 4. Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 71 MEDWET - Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative 4.1 An overlook on TUNE UP pilots 4.1.1 The Environmental Contract as a legal act: constraints and steps forward Pablo Vera 4.1.2 Key features of the target MPA SEO/BIRDLIFE - Spanish Ornithological Society 4.1.3 Key themes addressed from scenarios 4.1.4 Key stakehoders engaged Lisa Ernoul 4.2 TUNE UP target areas and pilot processes TDV - Tour du Valat Foundation 4.2.1 Thermaikos Gulf, Greece 4.2.2 Cabo De Gata-Níjar, Spain Dragana Drakulović 4.2.3 Sinis Peninsula – Mal Di Ventre Island, Italy University of Montenegro - Institute for Marine Biology 4.2.4 Karaburun Sazan, Albania 4.2.5 Secovlje Salina, Slovenia Romina D’Ascanio 4.2.6 Albufera de Valencia, Spain Stefano Magaudda 4.2.7 Former Saltworks of Camargue, France Serena Muccitelli 4.2.8 Boka Kotorska Bay-Sopot and Drazin vrt, Montenegro Anna Laura Palazzo 4.2.9 Amvrakikos Gulf, Greece Roma Tre University - Department of Architecture 4.2.10 Ventotene and Santo Stefano Islands, Italy Conclusive remarks 127 Aleš Smrekar Katarina Polajnar Horvat Afterwords 134 ZRC SAZU - Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Department of Environmental Protection at the Anton Melik Geographical Institute Bibliography 137 Lead Partner Foreword Scientiic Coordinator Foreword Kostas Kostantinou Anna Laura Palazzo

The Mediterranean Sea is acknowledged as one of the priority eco-regions, that During the last decades of the 20th century, under the umbrella reference of EU, contains major biodiversity hotspots. In addition to its ecological value, the relevant processes dealing with devolution and transfer of competences took economic value of Mediterranean biodiversity and the services it provides have place. been recognized. A wide array of pressures (e.g. population growth, urbanization, The principle of subsidiarity, formally enshrined by the Treaty on European Union tourism exploitation, overishing, pollution, shipping trafic, non-native species) (TEU)1, states that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen and that are causing loss and fragmentation of Med marine and coastal habitats. Although constant checks are made to verify that action at EU level is justiied considering action to halt biodiversity loss entails costs, biodiversity loss itself is costly for the possibilities available at national, regional, or local level. society, so each year certain EU countries lose 3% of GDP due to the loss of All countries following the so-called ‘civil law system’ taking its origins from marine biodiversity. Roman law (the Continental Europe as a whole), have been prompted to rethink their traditional authoritative frame of reference, embedding several contractual The TUNE UP project, co-inanced by the European Regional Development agreements. In this setting, private stakeholders are explicitly rather than covertly Fund via the Interreg Med Programme aims at tackling the need for a strategic in the frame, with their options and some ability to induce transformation and and collaborative approach for an effective management of the Mediterranean participate in decision-making (Table 1). Therefore, the decision-making chain Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The approach is based on the Environmental and the managerial contribution take on particular importance; it is not so much Contract experience, a multi-stakeholder/multi-level governance tool, addressing the strength of the constraint as the structure of the decision-making system that to both private and public bodies, that was previously tested in the framework of creates a variety of expectations and obligations. European Cooperation Programmes, by the Interreg Med project WETNET (2016- 2019). The project builds on the results of WETNET project, taking advantage FEATURE CIVIL LAW SYSTEM COMMON LAW SYSTEM of the lexibility and feasibility of the Environmental Contract methodology, adapting it further to MPAs governance and evaluating its effectiveness through Areas Continental Europe Anglo-Saxon countries testing actions in 10 pilot MPAs by the project partners. Legal, socio-economic, and cultural Bodies Public bodies are the only milieu encourage other parties, such The results of this effort were evaluated and, with the contribution of all partners, organizations in charge of pur- as higher education institutions, entrusted suing general interest issues non-proit associations, foundations, led to the elaboration of this document proposing a methodology for the with public rigidly following the institu- trade associations to carry out implementation of Environmental Contracts in MPAs having as main beneits, interest tional hierarchy binding agreements with public such as the mainstreaming of the Contract tool in the local/regional regulatory administrations. framework; the increase of scientiic knowledge regarding marine and coastal Written ecosystems and awareness raising on MPAs value; the intensiied collaboration constitution Always. Not always. between local organizations and stakeholders. [1] Article 5(3) of the Not binding on 3rd parties; Treaty on European however, administrative and Union (TEU) and Judicial constitutional court decisions Binding. Protocol (No 2) on decisions on laws and regulations the application of the binding on all. principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Writings of legal Signiicant inluence in some Little inluence. Table 1. Summary of civil law jurisdictions. differences between civil scholars law and common law Limited - a number of Extensive – only a few provisions legal systems. Adapted Freedom of provisions implied by law into implied by law into contractual from https://onlinelaw. contract wustl.edu contractual relationship. relationship.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 66 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Forewords 7 The Interreg MED TUNE UP - Promoting multilevel governance for tuning up Chapter 1 provides an overview of the MPAs in the Mediterranean basin, biodiversity protection in marine areas, funded under the Call 2019 faces the reporting their current status with regard to the legal framework and highlighting need for a strategic and collaborative approach to Med Marine Protected Areas some differences in management typologies that prove a disadvantage when it (MPAs) management and biodiversity protection. comes to protection issues to be shared. The TUNE UP approach is based on vertical and horizontal subsidiarity in order Chapter 2 deals with inner and outer views on current dynamics and processes to achieve effective coordination among institutions at all involved levels by affecting the Mediterranean, whose main environmental challenges from now to integrating funding, planning tools and human resources while limiting raising year 2030 concern the extension to 30% of the sea surface protection deemed conlicts between preservation and economic issues. crucial to perform best connections among the MPAs in view of their effective The core idea is to exploit the feasibility and lexibility of the Environmental management. Contract methodology in MPAs management with the main goal of biodiversity Chapter 3 delves into all stages of the Environmental Contracts, from their conservation. Before formal arrangements, concertation among public and inception to the Action Plan, notably stressing the need of awareness raising private stakeholders stems from a voluntary and participatory process along a among insiders and outsiders of the inherent value to be protected and shared road-map. In the end of this phase, a Memorandum of Understanding enhanced. incepts the formal phase calling for public-private partnerships in binding Chapter 4 reports the main issues emerged in the TUNE UP pilots during the arrangements in terms of liability, inancing and timing. participation process until the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding. This document resumes the main steps and phases faced by the TUNE UP Besides common concerns – climate change, rise in sea level and temperature, Partnership under the coordination of the Lead Partner, ANATOLIKI, in the irresponsible behavior in exploiting sea economies, etc. – the heterogeneity implementation of 10 MPA Contracts in Mediterranean countries (Table 2). of the case studies is both due to site-speciic marine living resources exposed to concurrent events, and to different institutional frames generally conveying ANATOLIKI S.A. – Development a broad array of planning and regulatory tools, sometimes interfering, or even LP1 Agency of Eastern Thessaloniki’s Greece Thermaikos Gulf conlicting with each other. Closer inspections with focus groups and territorial Local Authorities labs made it possible to draft for each pilot three shared scenarios – the trend FAMP – Andalusian Federation of one, the oriented one and the preferred one – on three strategic topics of (i) PP1 Spain Cabo De Gata - Níjar Towns and Provinces governance; (ii) environment, and; (iii) economic and social development, as well as to frame the criticalities and potentialities. This common path, highlighting MedWet – the Mediterranean Wet- PP2 France recurrent features as well as speciic issues raised by each MPA, allows for a lands Initiative comparison table useful to detect the main deadlocks requiring policy directions Medsea – Mediterranean Sea and Sinis Peninsula - Mal Di PP3 Italy to streamline the process. Coast Foundation Ventre Island The conclusions summarize the lessons learned from our pilots, providing Albanian Ministry of Tourism and researchers and practitioners with recommendations able to achieve collaborative PP4 Albania Karaburun Sazan Environment environmental governance in marine areas. ZRC SAZU – Research Centre of Every pilot is different and the way the process should be managed will differ PP5 the Slovenian Academy of Sciences Slovenia Se฀ovlje Salin in each case. Therefore, managing a MPAs is not a routine job, requiring and Arts considerable capabilities and skills from both public and private actors, along SEO/Birdlife – Spanish Ornitholog- with patience and foresight. Some results seem valuable for developing a PP6 Spain Albufera de Valencia ical Society governance agenda for the future. As stressed by inluential scholars, there is still a large gap in our knowledge on MPAs, also in terms of sea life maintenance and Former Saltworks of PP7 Tour du Valat Foundation France Camargue reproduction, and much work remains to be done. University of Montenegro – Institute Boka Kotorska Bay - PP8 Montenegro of Marine Biology - Sopot and Drazin vr Amvrakikos Gulf – Lefkada Manage- PP9 Greece Amvrakikos Gulf ment Agency Department of Architecture – Roma Ventotene and Santo PP10 Italy Tre University Stefano Islands Table 2. Table 2. The Partnership of the TUNE PP11 Aquaprogram srl Italy UP Project

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 8 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Forewords 9 1. An overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 1.1 Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas Carolina Pozzi, Romina D’Ascanio, Flavio Monti

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are and effectively managed MPAs are zones of sea and coast placed under powerful tools to combat the over- protection because of their ecological exploitation of marine resources importance. The term “Marine and degradation of ocean habitats, Protected Area” has been speciically protecting both habitats and species’ deined for the irst time in 1994 by the populations and delivering important International Union for Conservation ecosystem services (Agardy et al., of Nature (IUCN) as “any area of 2011). In general, three types of MPA subtidal, intertidal and supratidal can be distinguished (UNEP-WCMC, terrain, together with its overlying 2008): water and associated lora, fauna, - MPAs that are entirely marine, historical and cultural features, which containing subtidal and inter-tidal has been reserved by law or other but no terrestrial habitat; effective means to protect part or all - MPAs that contain terrestrial, of the enclosed environment (IUCN, intertidal and subtidal components; 1994; Kelleher, 1999). Moreover, an the relative size of each component MPA needs to meet the general IUCN may vary between two extremes: i) deinition of protected areas as “a those with a large portion of land clearly deined geographical space, in which case the marine part is recognised, dedicated and managed, often overlooked; ii) those with a through legal or other effective means, very small amount of land in form to achieve the long-term conservation of beaches or small islands in which of nature with associated ecosystem case the protected area is often services and cultural values” (IUCN/ managed as a marine area only; WCPA, 2008b; Day et al., 2008; Claudet - MPAs that contain terrestrial and et al., 2011; Dudley&Stolton, 2012). intertidal ecosystems only such as According to that, MPAs represent a mangroves or marshes. mainstay of biodiversity conservation Considering these different deinitions, of marine life, while also contributing it becomes clear that the concept of [1] It should be noted to people’s livelihoods. MPAs are at that since new estimates MPA could be interpreted in different will be provided and the core of efforts towards conserving ways, encompassing a wide range released by MedPan nature and the services they provide. of area-based management tools, by the end of 2021, this Chapter refers to The role of MPAs is to provide a established under various designations, MedPan’s data reported secure base for threatened species, at various levels (subnational, in 2016 or other available ecosystems and ecological processes, national, regional and international), information. including the species that have not and providing different degrees of On the left: Amvrakikos yet been discovered and for which protection. Thus, there is an array Gulf fauna. Credit: Amvrakikos Gulf-Lefkada therefore dedicated conservation of differing statuses of MPAs in the Management Agency actions are not possible. Well-governed Mediterranean Sea (Fig.1-2):

Chapter 1 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 13 - National designated MPAs, deined 2016). Figure 1 - Maps of Figure 2 - Maps of the mainly for science or wilderness improving both ishery management the different level of other sites of interest as conservation sites declared Other sites of interest of conservation are: marine protection at for conservation at protection (Strict Nature Reserve/ and marine environmental protection. under country speciic designations - Ramsar sites: 97 sites that cover Mediterranean level. Mediterranean level. Wilderness Area). Both Convention of Biological Diversity (e.g. national parks, natural marine 0.13% or 3,350 km2 (MedPan, 2016). Source MAPAMED, Source MAPAMED, - Category II - Protected area and IUCN recommend that a range of MedPan and SPA/RAC MedPan and SPA/RAC parks, natural monuments, nature - UNESCO World Heritage sites: 3 (2019), (Source: http:// (2019), (Source: http:// managed mainly for ecosystem types of management be considered reserves): 190 sites that cover 1.27% sites that cover 0.01% or 206 km2 medpan.org/main_ medpan.org/main_ protection and recreation (National when designing a protected area or 32,065 km2 of the Mediterranean (MedPan, 2016). activities/mapamed/) activities/mapamed/) Park). system and emphasise that protected Sea (MedPan, 2016). - UNESCO Man And Biosphere - Category III - Protected area areas should not be seen as isolated - Marine Natura 2000 sites - Sites reserves: 7 sites that cover 0.06% or managed mainly for conservation objects, but as part of the broader of Community Importance (SCIs), 3,350 km2 (MedPan, 2016). of speciic natural features (Natural ecosystem approach to conservation, Special Areas of Conservation This whole array of different Monument or features). implemented across land and seascape. (SACs), Special Protection Areas designations does not afford the - Category IV - Protected area The following schemes of MPA (SPAs), identiied under Habitats same conservation strength: each tool managed mainly for conservation management can be identiied (UNEP- and Birds EU Directives: 882 sites has its own objectives, design, legal through management intervention WCMC, 2008): that cover 2.5% or 63,000 km2 provisions, operational capacity, and (Habitat/Species Management - No-take areas: where all forms of (MedPan, 2016). protection level. IUCN (International Area). exploitation are prohibited and - Fisheries Restricted Areas (FRAs), Union for the Conservation of Nature) - Category V - Protected area human activities severely limited. established by the General Fisheries in 2008 proposed a classiication managed mainly for landscape/ These no take zones can cover an Commission for the Mediterranean system for terrestrial and marine seascape conservation and entire MPA, or speciic portions. (GFCM): 7 sites that cover 0.62% or protected areas based on their recreation (Protected Landscape/ - Multiple-use areas: where different 15,668 km2 (MedPan, 2016). management objectives. Seascape). levels of protection can take effect. - Specially Protected Areas of This system is recognised worldwide - Category VI - Protected area The most important areas get the Mediterranean Importance (although not applied by all countries managed mainly for the sustainable highest protection being designated (SPAMI), adopted by the Barcelona or for each site) and comprises 6 use of natural ecosystems (Managed as no take zone and are buffered Convention: 34 sites that cover management categories: Resource Protected Area). from edge effects by one or more 3.57% or 89,856 km2 (MedPan, - Category I - Protected area managed MPAs are perceived as instruments for surrounding zones with lower

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 14 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 15 protection. The vast majority of youths and others. 1.2 An outlook of the status of MPAs in the MPAs fall into this category. - Seasonal and temporary - Community-managed areas: management areas: where Mediterranean where local communities are activities, most critically ishing, are Flavio Monti, Alessio Satta empowered to operate partially or restricted seasonally or temporarily. completely independently from These are important conservation the governmental jurisdictions areas or areas falling on migratory to manage resources lowering routes, where species are vulnerable conlicts and soliciting the support at speciic and predictable times of The Mediterranean basin is considered areas host (EEA, 2018), MPAs need of diverse groups that rely on MPAs’ the year, therefore may not need as one of the most important hotspots to be well-enforced and connected resources such as subsistence and any greater protectionscheme than of biodiversity in the world in terms of through a network of geographically commercial ishers, scientists, surrounding the areas in speciic richness of species (many endemic and distinct marine regions allowing marine recreation, tourism businesses, moments. rare species in need of conservation) wildlife to move and disperse securely. and ecosystems (IUCN factsheet). This requires a harmonized properly However, human activities and management plan and multilevel overexploitation of natural resources governance to operate as an effective are resulting in ecosystem degradation protection tool for halting the loss of and species lost at an alarming rate. marine biodiversity and abating human- In the Mediterranean, the most induced threats, such as ishing, impacting anthropogenic stressors marine trafic and recreational activities faced by marine species threatened (Mazaris et al., 2019). with extinction are represented A plethora of international by overishing (48%), habitat legislations and policies as well as destruction (26%), pollution (13%) regional instruments/tools currently and invasive species (6%) (Luypaert assist countries in the protection et al., 2020). The prime conservation and management of such fragile tool for biodiversity maintenance is ecosystems, at various spatial scales. represented by protected areas: in the For example, Parties to the Convention marine environment, this role is played on Biological Diversity agreed on by Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) an ambitious long-term plan for which have proven to be eficient protecting the seas and reversing the ecosystem-based management tools degradation of marine and coastal for the conservation of the marine ecosystems, with the objective to kingdom from benthic communities, manage aquatic stocks in a sustainable the pelagic ecosystem and its way to avoid overishing and create by associated main predators (Lubchenco 2020, a network of Marine Protected and Grorud-Colvert, 2015). Marine Areas covering at least 10% of coastal areas can also include coastal wetlands and marine areas (CBD Aichi Target (e.g. areas of marine water the depth 11), constituting an ecologically of which at low tide does not exceed representative and well connected six meters; Ramsar Convention on network, effectively conserved and Wetlands ) as transitional zones equitably managed. This target is even between sea and land, which are shared by a speciic UN Sustainable among the most productive ecosystems Development Goal (SDG14: conserve in the world (MedWet ). However, to and sustainably use oceans, seas and [2] www.ramsar.org/ safeguard and secure the well-being marine resources). However, in 2021, [3] www.medwet.org/ of the species and habitats these results show that this goal has been

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 16 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 17 achieved only in part and with different how complex is the MPA situation in others operating by central directive lack of comprehensive information investments by countries. the Mediterranean and that there is (PAP/RAC, 2019). Moreover, MPAs and on national and regional territorial According to the last MedPan Report the need to implement our efforts at coastal wetlands are often challenged strategies. Therefore, providing (2016) only a small fraction (6-7%) of managing human uses of marine areas by the overlap of interests, levels Mediterranean countries with state-of- the total surface of the Mediterranean and at boosting protection levels to of spatial planning and authorities the-art tools and methods to conduct Sea is legally protected, corresponding deliver tangible beneits for biodiversity in charge of their preservation and or complete such territorial strategy to 1.215 Marine Protected Areas conservation. management, and have limited assessments is crucial. This information (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-based In the last years, despite the increasing coordination and capabilities of can serve as a base for developing Conservation Measures, covering number of Mediterranean countries administrative authorities to handle solid and long-term implementation 171.362 km2 that places a surface who have developed speciic their complex territorial dynamics processes of adapted governance of 6.81% under a legal designation management policies for marine (e.g. Horvat and Smrekar, 2021). models through the engagement (MedPan, 2016). This means that to and coastal areas (e.g. EU-Marine The mutual cooperation of relevant of decision-makers and local reach the 10% quantitative part of Strategy Framework Directive, the stakeholders from different sectors stakeholders, aiming at a sustainable the Aichi Target, an additional 71,900 Natura 2000 network), only a few and implementation of participatory use and management of marine and km2 (2.86 % of the Mediterranean) of them are implementing these processes are insuficient and severely coastal areas (including wetlands), would need to be placed under strong policies effectively. A major reason is underestimated, which has led to their resources and the valuable protection designations that also target that relevant legislation and policies conlicts between various interests, biodiversity these ecosystems host. currently under-represented features. are relatively new, and managerial mainly concerning preservation issues This represents the irst step toward The geographical distribution of bodies lack human, inancial and and economic activities (e.g. Horvat the successful governance and eficient protected areas at sea is heterogeneous organizational capacities. A discrepancy and Smrekar, 2021). long-term management of these sites, in the region, with over 72.77% of the exists between the oficial guidance All this requires the adoption of as well as the way to provide updated protected surface covered located in and actual planning and management integrated and lexible models of information to policy makers and MPAs the Western Mediterranean, and the practices. Furthermore, the lack of governance, often hampered by the practitioners/stakeholders. 90.05% of the total surface covered by basic information on marine areas, MPAs and OECMs found in EU waters their ecological characteristics, (MedPan, 2019). conservation status and temporal As reported by Claudet et al. (2020), trends often contribute to exacerbate scientiic evidence supports that these problems and hamper fully protected areas effectively act the possibility to plan adequate to conserve biodiversity of marine management measures at the right areas, but most of what is being level (PAP/RAC, 2019). It also should established until now beneits of only be noted that, at the present moment partial protection. For most sites, there is no uniied model of marine little is known about the management and coastal areas governance for measures in place and if they are the entire Mediterranean region: effective at maintaining or restoring each State has its own administrative the biodiversity they aim to protect structure and culture. Some are long (MedPan, 2016). Many sites are not established, some newly evolving, effectively implemented and there while others are in the process of are no regulations in place to curb modernisation (PAP/RAC, 2019). existing pressures or enough means Governance scale varies from small to enforce them. It appears that the rural communes, to large urban human and inancial means allocated municipalities, regions or governorates. to management are too low, thereby Local administration also differs in its compromising successful conservation remit - some operating under powers (MedPan, 2016). All this highlights delegated by the central government,

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 18 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 19 1.3 Legal framework and policies for coastal and (Bonn, 1979) provides a global - Birds15 (2009/147/EC) and platform for the conservation and Habitats16 (92/43/CEE) Directives. marine environment protection sustainable use of migratory animals The Birds Directive requires Carolina Pozzi, Andrea Rossi, Stefano Salviati and their habitats. Member States to preserve, - Convention on International maintain and re-establish suficient Trade in Endangered Species of extent and diversity of habitats for Wild Fauna and Flora11 (CITES) all wild birds, whilst the Habitats (Washington D.C., 1973) aims to Directive requires Member States to To address the need to protect the aims to conserve at least 17% of ensure that international trade report on compensation measures natural environment and help reduce terrestrial and inland water, and 10% in specimens of wild animals and taken for projects having a negative the current rate of biodiversity loss, of coastal and marine areas by 2020. plants does not threaten their impact on Natura 2000 sites. Target 10 focuses on conservation of a set of legal instruments has been survival and the UN Framework - Water Framework Directive17 coral reefs, Target 6 on sustainable established at various levels. A range Convention on Climate Change (2000/60/CE) aims at the protection use of aquatic species and Target 7 of relevant international legislations (UNFCCC). of inland surface waters (rivers and policies for coastal and marine on management of aquaculture. - UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable and lakes), transitional waters environment protection is reported at - Convention on Wetlands of Development12 (2015) adopted 17 (estuaries), coastal waters and global, European and Mediterranean international importance7 (Ramsar, Sustainable Development Goals groundwater. It seeks to ensure level. 1971) is an intergovernmental treaty whose mission is “the conservation (SDGs) and 169 associated targets that all aquatic ecosystems and, International references and wise use of all wetlands through to call action to end poverty, regarding their water needs, - UN Convention on the Law of the local, regional and national actions protect the planet and improve the terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands, Sea4 (Montego Bay, 1982) puts and international cooperation, as lives and prospects of everyone, attain “good status”. the basis for a legal framework in everywhere. Coastal and marine - European Landscape a contribution towards achieving [11]www.cites.org/eng/ 18 marine regulations by establishing sustainable development disc/what.php protection is mainly addressed by Convention (Florence, 2000) aims [12] www.un.org/ Goal 14 “Conserve and sustainably to encourage public authorities rules governing all uses of the throughout the world”. sustainabledevelopment/ oceans and their resources. It - UNESCO Convention on the development-agenda/ use the oceans, seas and marine to adopt policies and measures deines a regulatory framework in [13] www.ec.europa.eu/ resources”. at local, regional, national and Protection of the World Cultural environment/marine/ environment conservation themes and Natural Heritage8 (Paris, eu-coast-and-marine- international levels for protecting, relating to living resources, ishing 1972) aims to catalogue, name, policy/marine-strategy- European references managing and planning landscapes framework-directive/ EU Directives and Conventions: throughout Europe. management, scientiic research and conserve sites of outstanding index_en.htm cooperation, and preservation of cultural or natural importance to [14] www.msp-platform. - Marine Strategy Framework - Convention on the Conservation important migratory species. the common culture and heritage of eu Directive13 (MSFD) aims to achieve of European Wildlife and Natural 5 [15] www.ec.europa.eu/ 19 - Convention on Biological Diversity humanity. environment/nature/ Good Environmental Status (GES) Habitats (Bern, 1979) aims to (CBD) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) and - UNESCO Convention on the legislation/birdsdirective/ of the EU’s marine waters by conserve wild lora and fauna and related Aichi Biodiversity targets6 index_en.htm 2020 and to protect the resource their natural habitats, as well as to Protection of the Underwater [16] www.ec.europa. (ABT). The CBD is a relevant Cultural Heritage9 (Paris, 2001) eu/environment/ base upon which marine-related promote European co-operation mechanism for the protection of aims to enable States to better nature/legislation/ economic and social activities in this ield. Special attention is habitatsdirective/index_ depend. given to endangered and vulnerable wetland areas, adopting an action protect their submerged cultural en.htm plan on ecosystem restoration, heritage by setting out basic [17] www.ec.europa. - Marine Spatial Planning migratory species. intended to be a lexible framework principles for protecting underwater eu/environment/water/ Directive14 (MSPD) aims to provide EU Strategies: water-framework/ to promote the restoration of cultural heritage, pointing out a index_en.html a more coherent approach to - Blue Growth Strategy supports the degraded natural and ecosystems. detailed State cooperation system, [18] www.coe.int/en/ maritime issues with increased growth of the maritime sector in a web/landscape coordination between different sustainable way. It is the maritime The ABT are part of the Strategic and providing practical rules for [19] www.coe.int/en/ Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. the treatment and research of web/bern-convention policy areas. It is the key instrument contribution to achieving the goals Target 5 aims to at least halve, and underwater cultural heritage. [20] www.ec.europa. to ensure the best use of marine of the Europe 2020 strategy for eu/environment/ ideally eliminate, loss of natural - Convention on the Conservation of strategy/biodiversity- spaces and promote sustainable smart, sustainable and inclusive habitats by 2020, and Target 11 Migratory Species of Wild Animals10 strategy-2030_en economic development. growth.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 20 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 21 - Biodiversity Strategy for 203020 aims enactment of the subsequent (1949) is a regional marine isheries of living marine resources as well to establish protected areas of at Barcelona Convention (1976). organization and aims to ensure the as the sustainable development of least 30% of land and sea in Europe, - Barcelona Convention25 conservation and the sustainable aquaculture in the Mediterranean to restore degraded ecosystems by (1976) aims are the Protection use, at the biological, social, and in the Black Sea. increasing sustainable agriculture, of the Marine Environment economic and environmental level, halting the decline of pollinators, and the Coastal Region of the restoring at least 25,000 km of Mediterranean. The treaty is EU rivers to a free-lowing state, composed of 7 protocols, of which Additional resource MPA REGULATIONS28 reducing the use and risk of two are strictly related to the Marine pesticides by 50% and planting 3 Protected Areas ield of interest: ALBANIA billion trees by 2030. •the Protocol concerning Special In Albania the Law “On Protected Areas”, no. 81/2017 (of May 4th 2017), - Green Infrastructure Strategy21 Protected Areas and Biological regulates the designation, day to day administration and management (2013) highlights the importance of Diversity in the Mediterranean of protected areas and speciically of marine national parks and MPAs. maintaining and restoring functional (SPA/BD Protocol) deals with the It establishes the legal framework for the declaration, conservation, ecosystems as a foundation for in situ sustainable management administration, management and use of the protected areas and their a sustainable Europe. With the of coastal and marine biodiversity natural and biological resources, as well as facilitating conditions for the Natura 2000 protected areas as its by means of three main tools: development of environmental tourism, public information and education, backbone, the Strategy seeks to The creation, protection, and and the generation of direct and indirect economic beneits by local ensure the presence of patches management of Specially Protected populations and private sectors. It also makes provision for six categories of representative vegetation Areas (SPAs), The establishment of protected area – Strict Nature Reserve/Scientiic Reserve, National types, thus establishing ecological of a list of Specially Protected Park, Natural Monument, Managed Natural Reserve, Protected Landscape networks. Areas of the Mediterranean and Protected Area of Managed Natural Resources. Other strategies and EU Policies: Importance (SPAMIs) and the governance tools in force at national level concerning MPAs regulation and - Common Fisheries Policy22 provides protection and conservation of protection schemes are: Document of Strategic Policies on Biodiversity a set of rules for sustainably species; •the Integrated Coastal Protection 2015-2020, National Strategy of Development and Integration managing European ishing leets Zone Management Protocol 2015-2020, National Strategy on Climate Change to 2030, Integrated Waste and conserving ish stocks. (ICZM Protocol) (Madrid, 2008) Management Strategy 2020-2035. - Integrated Maritime Policy23 aims is a dynamic process for the at strengthening the so-called management and sustainable FRANCE Since 2007 important developments have taken place in France to create blue economy, encompassing all use of coastal zones, taking into [21] www.ec.europa.eu/ sea-based economic activities, it is account the fragility of ecosystems environment/nature/ a network of MPAs: the adoption in 2009 of the national strategy for based on the idea that the Union and coastal landscapes, diversity ecosystems/index_ the sea and oceans, in 2009 and 2010, the Grenelle laws establishing en.htm an integrated maritime policy and, in 2011, the adoption of the Marine can draw higher returns from its of anthropic activities, maritime [22] www.ec.europa.eu/ maritime space with less impact on vocation, and their interactions oceans-and-isheries/ Strategy Framework Directive. At national level, the law of 14 April 2006 the environment by coordinating its and impacts on both marine and policy/common-isheries- created the MPAs Agency. The decree 2006-1266 of 16 October 2006 policy-cfp_en speciies the categories of Marine Protected Areas that fall within the scope wide range of interlinked activities terrestrial components. [23] www.ec.europa. of the Agency (French Agency for Biodiversity). Each category has its related to oceans, seas, and coasts. - Agreement on the Conservation of eu/info/research-and- innovation/research- speciic regulations and obligations. The laws, including Law 2004-338 of Cetaceans26 (ACCOBAMS) (Monaco, area/environment/ 21 April 2004, transposing Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework Mediterranean references 1996) provides each signatory oceans-and-seas/ for Community action in the ield of water policy, the law 2006-1772 of - Mediterranean Action Plan24 with a regulatory, socio-economic integrated-maritime- policy_en 30 December 2006 on water and aquatic environments (LEMA) and the (1975) is a fundamental European and scientiic commitment to [24] www.unep.org/ [28] Only country law 2009-967 of 3 August 2009 on the implementation of the Grenelle platform of cooperation and eliminate or minimize the effects unepmap/ included in Tune Up [25] www.rac-spa.org/ project (Sources: of the environment (Grenelle 1) have established the framework for multilateral environmental of anthropogenic activities on the framework coordinator environmental schemes in France. The vast majority of national texts agreement under the United survival of cetaceans. [26] www.accobams.org/ Aquaprogram and about/introduction/ each project partner relevant to MPAs are included in the French Environmental Code (Book III, Nations Environmental Programme - General Fisheries Commission [27] www.fao.org/gfcm/ contributed for its (UNEP) that put the basis for the for the Mediterranean27 (GFCM) en/ Country)

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 22 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 23 Title III, Chapter IV on MPAs). The creation of a marine nature park is the and Environmental Protection Agency). The Parliament shall declare the responsibility of the State. It can only be carried out after a public inquiry, national park by adopting a law, since the protected marine areas with a during which the public can express opinions on the creation ile. territory that partly of fully enters the zone of the marine area This ile is submitted for opinion to the persons and organizations directly shall be declared by the Government, excluding the national park. Public interested in the project. The creation of a marine nature park takes the participation during the establishment of protected area is also prescribed form of a decree. by the law. It also prescribes manager of the protected areas and their obligations stating that the protected areas, not including national parks, GREECE which are situated at the territory of the marine area, shall be managed by In Greece, the main law concerning MPAs and deining the managing the legal person competent for managing the marine area. structures is Law 1650/1986. Special Environmental Studies and Management Plans are currently in elaboration in all Natura 2000 sites SLOVENIA in order to establish speciic zoning systems, appropriate restrictions In Slovenia, the Nature Conservation Act deines all issues related to on land use and activities, administrative and operational regulations, as nature conservation, which from 1999 includes the protection of valuable well as conservation objectives and management goals. The Management natural features, former natural heritage sites as well as the conservation Plans will be in force after their consolidation by Presidential Decrees. of biodiversity through the protection of endangered animals and plants Law 4685 of 7 May 2020 established a new National Policy Governance through ecologically important areas and following the Habitat Directive, System for Protected Areas: at central level it includes the Natural especially through Natura 2000 sites. All these areas were designated based Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA); at regional/local level on a systematic inventory of the natural heritage in the Slovenian coastal it includes Protected Areas Management Units (PAMU), Decentralized area, carried out in the 1980s. Administrations, Regions and Municipalities having speciic responsibilities. SPAIN ITALY In Spain the MPA igure is created in the framework of Law 47/2007 In Italy 48 “Marine retrieval areas” are identiied at the national level (Law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity), but the formal creation of through Laws 979/82 art. 31, 394/91 art. 36, 344/97 art.4 and 93/01 art. the Network of Marine Protected Areas of Spain (RAMPE) was done 8. Among these, 27 have been already established and 17 are going to under Law 41/2010 (Law on the Protection of Marine Environment). The be established since a technical-administrative process is underway. network includes marine Natura 2000 sites. For other sites, Royal Decree The remaining 5 have only been indicated by the law as deserving of 1599/2011, in accordance with article 26 of Law 41/2010, sets the criteria protection, but no administrative procedure has begun yet for their that Marine Protected Areas under State and Regional jurisdiction must formalization. Currently about 228 thousand hectares of sea and about respect for their integration into the RAMPE. The body responsible for the 700 kilometres of coastline are protected. The management of the management and operation of RAMPE is be the General Directorate for MPAs is entrusted to public bodies, scientiic institutions or recognized Natural Environment and Forest Policy of the Ministry with competences environmental associations, including consortia. Italian MPAs are usually on the environment. Furthermore, 5 National Demarcations are deined managed through a three zones protection scheme, applying different under the Law 41/2010. With the intention of facilitating the national degrees of protection. The management tools are the reserve Management coordination of the application of their own marine strategies the Plan and the related Implementation Regulation. Inter-Ministry Commission for Marine Strategies (CIEM) was created (Royal Decree 715/2012 of April 20th 2012). Its main functions are aimed MONTENEGRO at preparing, applying, and monitoring the planning of the marine In Montenegro the Law on Nature Protection (Oficial Gazette 54/16) is the environment. For each demarcation a marine strategy must be developed, main regulatory framework for the protected areas, prescribing that the with a 6-year update term. parts of nature of exceptional values characterized by biological, geological, ecosystem and areal diversity may be declared as protected natural assets. The procedure for declaring protected areas shall be initiated with a request, be submitted by the Ministry, for developing the expert study. The protection study shall be developed by the administration body (Nature

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 24 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 25 1.4 International targets: achievements and future waters (MedPAN, 2019). According to all Mediterranean habitats reach the a study assessing the progress made minimum 30% representativity within steps between 2012 and 2016 regarding MPA the MPA network), and connectivity Christina Kassara, Kallia Spala networks in Europe’s seas (Agnesi (only a sixth of the habitats have S. et al., 2017), also summarized in enough connections within the MPA the 2018 report by EEA (EEA, 2018), network) (WWF, 2019). Finally, there is some room for optimism but according to a survey addressed to also a long road to safeguard marine MPA managers, current challenges The biodiversity wealth of the are clean, healthy, and productive. biodiversity, the ecosystems, and for Mediterranean MPAs also relate Mediterranean semi-enclosed Sea is Applicable across sites included in the the services they provide (10.8% of to complicated regulatory legal subject to anthropogenic disturbances, EU Natura 2000 network, the Habitats’ its sea waters designated as MPAs framework, non-inclusive governance including coastal development related and Birds’ Directives set the frame in 2016). However, European MPAs and insuficient regulation and to urban expansion, agriculture, for the achievement of favourable are mainly located in coastal waters, surveillance mechanisms (WWF, 2019). industry and tourism, pollution and conservation status for annexed species therefore large parts of sea waters and Therefore, to ensure a better future introduction of exotic species related and habitats. At the international their biodiversity features, especially for Mediterranean MPAs that would to marine transport, overexploitation of level, the Aichi Target 11 under the deeper sea habitats, are not adequately enable them to fulil international and ishing stocks, as well as to more recent Convention on Biological Diversity represented in the MPA network. European targets, the following lines of pressures, such as the proliferation foresees that by 2020 “[..] 10% of Moreover, with more than half of the action should be prioritized: of aquaculture, the consequences of coastal and marine areas, especially MPAs covering a surface of less than - Expansion of MPA network. climate change and the exploration areas of particular importance for 5 km2 the provision of ecosystem - Reconsideration of MPA and extraction of conventional and biodiversity and ecosystem services, services in Europe’s seas is challenged. network design to ensure better renewable energy sources that affect are conserved through effectively Progress on the aforementioned representativity and connectivity. water quality and population dynamics, and equitably managed, ecologically indicators in the Mediterranean Sea - Improvement of knowledge on but also incur space conlicts with representative and well-connected has been slower compared to the biodiversity components and marine conservation and traditional systems of protected areas and other rest of EU regional seas, especially so ecosystem functions both within practices . The principal regional legally effective area-based conservation in its eastern part. Within the EU, the and outside MPAs. binding Multilateral Environmental measures and integrated into the Natura 2000 network has undoubtedly - Enhancement of the drafting and Agreement for the protection of the wider landscapes and seascapes”. been contributing to the connectivity implementation of MPA management Mediterranean Sea is the Barcelona It is highly likely that this target will of MPAs but also in the application plans across the network. Convention and its seven protocols increase to 30% based on the zero draft of management and conservation - Establishment of a reliable aimed to tackle pollution and enhance for CBD COP15 (UNEP, 2020). The measures in MPAs. Still, the quality monitoring and evaluation system. the marine environment to achieve 10% target is also explicitly included in of management in European MPAs is - Fostering participatory approaches sustainable development in the area. the UN Sustainable Development Goal rated low, given the lack of and/or the within and beyond territorial waters Pursuant to its provisions, since 1950 14 for 2020, as well as in the updated vagueness of existing management to improve local and regional the contracting parties have been agenda for 2030. Furthermore, the plans, the scarcity of fully protected governance. designating Marine Protected Areas IUCN resolution of 2016 called for an areas, the lack of adequate funding and - Improvement of access to (MPAs) and Other Effective area-based even stricter target at a global scale, resources that in turn undermine efforts information through better Conservation Measures (OECMs) according to which at least 30% of each for environmental monitoring, and reporting mechanisms, data sharing, totalling in 2016 1,215 sites that marine habitat must be found within the lack of systematic and transparent and exchange of know-how and correspond to 6.81% of Mediterranean the MPA network of the regional sea reporting (WWF, 2019). Thus, effectively expertise among the network. waters (MedPAN and SPA/RAC, 2019). to ensure representativity and should managed MPAs are not the rule in - Implementation of a clear and At the regional level, the EU’s Marine be designated as no-take zone by 2030 the EU and Mediterranean MPAs are well-enforced and regulatory legal Strategy Framework Directive also to achieve effective management. [29] MedPan. no exception to that. Even more, the framework. calls for Good Environmental Status The majority of MPAs and OECMs Mediterranean Mediterranean MPA network is not - Securing funds and resources for challenges. http:// by 2020, meaning ecologically diverse (90.05% of their total surface) in the medpan.org/ ecologically coherent, its weakest points effective management. and dynamic oceans and seas that Mediterranean Sea are found in EU mediterranean-realities being representativity (only a third of - Establishment of no-take zones.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 26 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 27 THE STATUS OF MEDITERRANEAN MPAS IN NUMBERS Additional resource - MPA coverage in the Mediterranean Sea is 9.68% in 2019 (Gomei et al., 2019) - Only 2.48% of the Mediterranean Sea is covered by MPAs with a management plan (Gomei et al., 2019) - Only 1.27% of the Mediterranean Sea is effectively protected (Gomei et al., 2019) - Only 0.03% of the Mediterranean is covered by fully protected areas (Gomei et al., 2019) - Only 12% of the needs for effective MPA management are covered by regular inancial resources (Binet et al., 2015)

On the right: Albufera de Valencia sealife. Credit: samarucdigital.com

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 28 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 2. Open challenges for governance of Mediterranean coastal and Marine Protected Areas 2.1 Marine governance in action: criticalities, solutions and capacity building Giorgio Massaro

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are similar, are operating in different internationally recognized tools with socio-economic and governance the main purpose of conservation contexts (Dudley, 2008). The type and restoration of marine biodiversity of management structures varies levels (Agardy et al., 2003). As widely (individual local authorities, consortia, demonstrated, this can take place environmental associations, ...) as well more effectively when integrated as the functions, as administrative and approaches are adopted, making inancial management, control and the regulations effective (MPA rule surveillance, environmental monitoring enforcement) (Guidetti el al., 2008), and others. applying a correct management It is important to set up a strategy of activities capable of adequately and a management system capable of adapting to changes (adaptive achieving the conservation objectives management) (Pomeroy et al., 2004) of marine resources through their and involving local populations and sharing, understanding and, if different types of users (ishermen, necessary and possible, a participatory tourists, entrepreneurs, citizens,…) redeinition of the same; this in order in management and governance to establish a set of actions in which processes (citizen science and co- the different parties can recognize management) ( Guidetti and Claudet, their own utility and the satisfaction 2010). of their needs and rights (Di Franco et However, the choice and deinition of al., 2020). management models does not appear The application of participatory simple, and this is partly due to the methods turns out to be fundamental complexity of the contexts in which a both to guarantee an adequate level MPA is established, many times through of transparency in the deinition of processes that have not considered management choices, raising the an appropriate analysis of the local involvement from simple information context and often underestimating the activities to co-management correct activation and maintenance of experiences, and to face and stakeholders’ participatory processes overcome/settle real territorial conlicts (Beunen and de Vries, 2011). that undermine both the achievement Furthermore, as different categories of the conservation objectives, and the of protected areas are identiied on a socio-economic development in MPAs global level according to the speciic (Saarman et al., 2013). objectives and methods of use of the The identiication of participatory territory, in the Mediterranean area approaches formally recognized On the left: Becasseau sanderling. Author: Marc the MPAs, although characterized by internationally can therefore allow to Thibault environmental conditions however overcome any limitations imposed

Chapter 2 Open challenges for governance of Mediterranean Coastal and Marine Protected Areas 33 by some national regulatory systems the functioning mechanisms of MPAs 2.2 A good practice on governance of coastal that do not yet provide for processes and participation in their governance. of co-management of resources, Through the analysis and mapping of wetlands in the Mediterranean: the Handbook introducing sharing and dialogue stakeholders, it is possible to deine Brian Shipman processes to replace the traditional the speciic training needs and build a top-down approach. This can also be capacity-building plan focused on the done through the use of computer and interests and the possible roles and web tools that help every participation positions that the various subjects can / level (Vasiliki et al., 2013). Accordingly, want to occupy in the management and Mediterranean coastal wetlands interrelated phenomena, governance it is necessary to act by developing the governance system of the MPA. are amongst the most fragile and drives the ongoing management, skills of stakeholders in understanding threatened ecosystems, but they are and, in turn management informs declining at an alarming rate. Today’s governance. Governance is about the wetland managers have a complex long-term - building relationships, task, not only have to manage delicate community support, and delivering ecosystems, but also reconcile a actions. Most importantly, governance bewildering array of social, economic is not a short-term project, it is a and political agendas, from the global long-term commitment extending well to the local - this is governance. beyond the typical project lifespan. The need for good, effective and Four Mediterranean wetlands with equitable governance to achieve their radically different forms of governance preservation is therefore urgent. provided valuable insights and In 2020 “the Governance of Coastal relections for the preparation of the Wetlands in the Mediterranean – a Handbook: the Oristano Gulf, on the Handbook1”, along with on-line tools western Sardinian coast in Italy; the by B. Shipman and Ž. Rajkovi2 (PAP/ Ghar el Melh Lagoon, 30 km southeast RAC, 2019) was published as a practical of the town of Bizerte in Tunisia; guide for the governance of coastal the Lower Delta of the Bojana-Buna wetlands to meet this need. Concise River, with its pilot site in Ulcinj and based on real-world expertise, Salina, in Montenegro and the Buna the Handbook is designed to support River-Velipoje Protected Landscape, [1] medwet.org/ hard-pressed managers, oficials and in Albania. Useful insight was also publications/handbook- advisors. This is the irst governance provided by the Transboundary ‘Prespa on-governance-of- mediterranean-coastal- “recipe book” with linked, easy to use, Park’, a protected area including the wetlands/ on-line planning tools to help design Prespa Lakes and their surroundings [2] The Handbook is part of the overarching eficient governance models that extending over the boundaries of initiative of the MAVA reduce conlict and save time. Greece, Albania, and the Republic of Foundation ‘Coastal The key messages of the Handbook North Macedonia. Wetland Action Plan’. Its preparation was are: Among these, the particular case of initiated by the Priority - Governance is about decisions; the Oristano Gulf followed, through Actions Programme - Who has power, authority, the Maristanis project3 , a voluntary Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC), coordinated responsibility to take decisions? contract approach: a negotiated, and published under - How are those decisions taken? shared and agreed process for its leadership. It was supported by the - How effective and eficient are the implementing a coastal wetland International Union for decisions? integrated management model via Conservation of Nature - How accountable are the decision- an open and voluntary agreement in (IUCN) and the MAVA Foundation for Nature. makers? which interested parties joined freely. [3] www.maristanis.org Governance and management are This approach aims at harmonise

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 2 34 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Open challenges for governance of Mediterranean Coastal and Marine Protected Areas 35 already existing planning tools to backgrounds. Figure 2.1 - Figure 2.2 - roadmap, one that: 3. A Vitality Scorecard = uniquely, solve environmental issues of speciic Based on the experience from the Rapid assessment grid Vitality Scorecard - reports progress; the Handbook goes beyond areas, such in the case of the territory pilot sites, project team members - builds a shared vision, and plans a a simple tick-box process and of the Oristano Gulf and its wetlands and interested stakeholders had way forward; meets the challenge of designing including 11 municipalities. In line the opportunity to improve their - tests and reviews existing excellence into management - with the Maristanis project for coastal governance frameworks, and provide governance arrangements; excellence deined by the IUCN wetlands, the Interreg Tune Up project some ideas to be shared with other - helps design and test new as vital and adaptive, empowering presents a methodology for a very Mediterranean coastal wetlands, via governance arrangements. and inclusive, creative, lively and similar governance model, namely that the tips and best practice case studies innovative, and includes that most of Environmental Contracts applied to provided. The key lesson from the The roadmap is designed to work elusive of qualities – wisdom Marine Protected Areas. Despite the four sites is that no one-size-its-all on long-established sites or newly (Figure 2.2). MPAs may have different and particular governance structure or process designated ones, and across territorial backgrounds compared can hope to it the complexity of international boundaries. Tips & Tricks to wetlands, in some cases they may Mediterranean cultures, geographies The Handbook and on-line self- Finally, the Handbook contains a share the same management and and political systems. However, there assessment tools plethora of tips and tricks garnered governance problems, as in the case is a need for a simple, universally Using downloadable tools, the from experienced managers. Such of the transitional zones between sea applicable roadmap. guidance of the Handbook provides: practical tips to make governance and land areas (e.g. areas of marine Integrating the principles and 1. A Rapid Assessment Grid - using effective are provided based on the water the depth of which at low tide practice of Integrated Coastal Zone a widely recognised trafic light real-world governance experience to does not exceed six meters – de facto Management (ICZM), Integrated Water system to measure the user’s help users design the way forward considered as coastal wetlands as per Resources Management (IWRM), governance status quo (igure 2.1). for the governance of their wetland, the deinition of Ramsar Convention and the tools offered by the two 2. A Governance Planner - that to deliver the elusive vitality of on Wetlands). In those terms, the relevant conventions: the Ramsar allows the user to identify actions, governance, and thereby the aid long- voluntary contract approach is a Convention on Wetlands and the indicators, barriers to progress and term sustainability of the process itself. lexible tool adaptable to different Barcelona Convention (UNEP/MAP), priorities. local circumstances and territorial the Handbook provides just such a

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 2 36 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Open challenges for governance of Mediterranean Coastal and Marine Protected Areas 37 2.3 A socio-economic overview of the Mediterranean area Anna Laura Palazzo

The future socio-economic scenarios to the limited demographic growth relating to the 24 countries bordering (+0.5%) and the decrease of in GDP, the Mediterranean mainly concern following the 2008 crisis (-2%). In the two issues. The former addresses same time period, the countries of the demographic growth of more the South experienced high economic than 20% of the current 500 million and demographic growth (respectively people, especially in the countries +6% and +5%), with a corresponding of the southern shore; this will lead energy demand (+6%) (Figure 2.3). to increased energy demand and From the irst graph emerged that for consumption. The latter concerns the Northern countries, the transition the geopolitical framework, mainly scenario envisages a decrease in energy determined by the interests of the demand (-22%), compatible with forms transport giants and terminal companies of energy saving connected to more Figure 2.3 - introduction of cleaner and more the agreements among Russia and China that compete for market shares in lows performing technologies and virtuous Energetic scenarios eficient technologies; in the transport for the primacy of the logistic network practices, while for those of the South, in the Mediterranean. between Asia and Europe. 1a. Final energy sector, the estimated energy saving through integrated platforms of regional The combination of these factors will the increase in aggregate demand consumption by sector of 21% would refer to various factors, interest and the exclusive management determine heavy repercussions for should be around 55%. and by macro-region. 1b. Primary energy such as the use of more ecological of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). the Natural and Social Capital of the The second graphs shows that, consumption in the vehicles, and the implementation of These areas beneit from bureaucratic compared to the business-as-usual Mediterranean area. Mediterranean energy integrated models for organization and tax regimes in the countries where scenario, in the energy transition mix. Source: MEDENER/ OME, 2015 and management of the urban areas. they are located, due to the reduction Demographic and energ y scenarios scenario, compatible with high levels www.ademe.fr/sites/ The electricity sector represents a priority of customs duties, the simpliication of With reference to demographic of energy security, there are estimated: default/iles/assets/ in terms of energy saving, being able to administrative procedures, easier access sustainability, the 24 coastal countries i) a signiicant reduction in primary documents/vers_ engl_25_oct_bat_web. reduce the inal consumption by over 30%. and the reduction of costs of some already involved in the signing of the energy demand (-30%) and inal demand pdf Paris Agreements4 have developed (-23%); ii) an increase in the share of The Mediterranean of lows utilities, the relaxation of monetary through the MEDENER network, which renewable energies, mainly solar and With reference to the geo-political exchange regulations. gathers their respective national energy wind, in the region's energy mix, to projections, the Mediterranean space The lead actors of such initiatives are authorities, two alternative energy become the leading source of electricity appears as a fragile hinge of maritime seldom the coastal countries or the scenarios, one called "business-as-usual production (+ 27%); iii) a 38% trafic between the Atlantic, historic European Union: among the BRICS [4] At the Paris Climate countries, China, Russia and South "(CS) and the second one "transition reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; Conference (COP21, trading area, and the emerging volunteer scenario"(TS) which carries iv) the abandonment of additional fossil 2015), 195 countries Indo-Paciic area, by non-European Africa hold together the ambitious out and reinforces the programs and adopted the irst decision-making, especially by the organization and management of a sources for a power of 200 GW. universal and legally objectives of the oficial documents of With reference to the transition binding agreement so-called BRICS countries (Brazil, service platform, including banking the States. In the bipartition between scenario, energy savings for the on the global climate. Russia, India, China and South Africa). and inance, that favors access to The agreement deines Central Africa from the countries of the countries of the North and the South, industrial sector could reach 25% a global action plan, In recent decades there has been an the former have started transition paths for the entire Mediterranean area, limiting global warming expansion of the major Mediterranean southern shore of the Mediterranean. with a signiicant use of renewable due to the commitments of the to below 2 ° C of average ports with an average annual increase Among the general and thematic temperature increase energies. Here, from 2010 to 2016, main players in the improvement of compared to pre- of 21% in the number of containers institutional networks of the energy demand fell by 4%, in relation quality standards and through the industrial levels. handled (Figure 2.4). Such is the case of Mediterranean governance, the Union

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 2 38 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Open challenges for governance of Mediterranean Coastal and Marine Protected Areas 39 for the Mediterranean (UfM), aiming at and reorganization processes in Figure 2.4 - Annual density of cargo stability and integration throughout the Mediterranean societies, exposes the vessels crossing and/or region, is also set up for negotiating Natural and Social Capital to high passing MPAs and other with global stakeholders. The UfM is erosion risk.A common agenda should conservation areas of the Mediterranean. Source: a forum for discussion and analysis include the participation of the EU WWF of regional strategic issues based and the European countries as well [5] The Union for the on the principles of co-ownership, in programs such as restructuring Mediterranean (UfM) is co-decision and shared responsibility an intergovernmental of ports and enhancing logistics, organisation bringing between the two shores, with action arranging the SEZs, strengthening together all EU countries plans focused on two main factors: the participation of 'European and 15 countries of the (i) favoring human development and Southern and Eastern macro-regions' in extra-European Mediterranean. It was promoting sustainable development; projects. These federative issues founded in 2008 at (ii) identifying and assisting programs the Paris Summit for could also include the monitoring the Mediterranean of regional interest in a multi-level and assessment of the commitments to strengthen the governance, following unanimous underway in the Mediterranean area Euro-Mediterranean decisions by the subscribing countries5. Partnership. The in implementing the 2030 Agenda. As parliamentary assembly Conclusions stated by inluential studies, a shared is divided into ive permanent commissions: The Mediterranean leadership is Mediterranean-based political and politics, security and currently in the hands of individual diplomatic action would lead the human rights; economic, United Nations to formally recognize inancial, social affairs coastal countries and city ports and education; quality of provided with important logistical the Mediterranean basin as an area life, exchanges between connections, directly negotiating huge with a precise identity, homogeneous civil society and culture; women's rights; energy, advantages with their counterparts. and interconnected albeit complex and environment and water. However, the eclipse of institutional fragmented: such acknowledgement On the right: Albufera de networks of a regional governance would certainly help launch more Valencia sealife. Credit: able to effect adaptation, learning stable cooperation forms. samarucdigital.com

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 1 40 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 An Overview on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas 41 3. Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 3.1 The Environmental Contract tool Lisa Ernoul

There are important pressures and viable strategies (Jager et al., and threats on coastal and marine 2016). Recent research has shown that ecosystems from human activities there are gaps in the designation and and the competing demands for the management of MPAs, highlighting resources in these areas are expected speciically the need for greater to rise. Inadequate management and stakeholder participation and timely practices include environmental and monitoring and evaluation (Álvarez- social costs that are often not factored Fernández et al., 2020). into decision-making processes Voluntary Environmental Contracts (OECD, 2017). This weakens the are tools that can be used to meet resilience of the ecosystems and the these objectives. They are negotiated services that they provide. MPAs are agreements between the parties that one of the policy instruments available take shape through inclusive and to help ensure the conservation and deliberative decision-making processes. sustainable use of these ecosystems. The Contracts are centred around There has been signiicant progress a shared vision of the territory that for the governance of MPA over the takes into account an intersectoral last decade, however, according approach. Once the stakeholders have to the Organization for Economic developed a shared vision for the Cooperation and Development, future of the site, they then identify signiicant efforts are still needed to the activities, responsibilities and ensure their sustainability in the future funding necessary to move toward this (OECD, 2017). vision. With the Contract, the local The Marine Strategy Framework stakeholders can voluntarily commit Directive and other European to implementing different activities directives including the Water by directly realizing the actions or Framework Directive and several contributing through different support Daughter Directives (Habitat systems. Environmental Contracts Directive, Floods Directive, etc.) have been developed and implemented require European countries to foster in some European countries, setting an integrated approach for managing the ground for voluntary-based MPAs and their surrounding wetlands commitments undertaken by various through collaborative governance public and private entities for the processes, combining multi-objective, sustainable management of wetland multi-level and multi-stakeholder systems (Figure 3.1) (Polajnar Horvat decision-making. In particular, a & Smrekar, 2021). Environmental On the left: Amvrakikos participative approach to decision Contracts originated in France in the Gulf fauna, Credit: Amvrakikos Gulf-Lefkada making is promoted as a prerequisite early eighties to control pollution and Management Agency for deining integrated, sustainable looding, manage hydraulic structures,

Chapter 3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 4545 Additional resource THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACT: FROM TOOL TO PROCESS* Marine Strategy Floods Water Habitat Birds Framework Directive Framework Directive Directive Directive 2007/60/EC Directive 1992/43/EECC 1979/409/EEC The Environmental Contract has the proper characters of a governance 2008/56/EC 2000/60/EC 2009/147/EC model more than of a programmatic tool. Referencing this setting, it is possible to highlight that it functions as a process aimed at establishing a common working method among stakeholders to make decisions and not only to share decisions. In this sense it works as an organizational model to build pioneering partnerships capable of lasting over time. Therefore, it is possible to identify three key characters that endorse the Environmental Contract as a process: (i) the irst is strategic and concerns the construction, through the shared scenarios, of an integrated vision and a common framework for territorial policies (see Paragraph 3.4.1); (ii) the second is organizational and takes place when a system of rules is shared Collaborative for the governance of the Environmental Contract target area and is clearly Voluntary Enviromental Triggers established within the formal Agreement’s subscription; (iii) the third is Inclusive Contracts commitment the operational and concerns the need to deine a coherent Action Plan. The governance chain described above must be adaptive and open to any possible update according to the external conditions that eventually determine or change the taken decisions’ implementation feasibility. This and raise stakeholder awareness. nature of the Contract sets the Figure 3.1 - does not relect in a weakening of the taken commitments, but it means Framework and giving the Environmental Contract the ability to overcome unforeseen Some of the activities in the Contracts ground for concerted efforts between directives inluencing the are subsidized by the state, inciting policy makers, stakeholders and Environmental Contract events and changes that are not dependent on the decisions taken but can local stakeholder commitment to communities. The inal format for the tool and its voluntary affect them. the activities and management of the MPA Contracts should remain lexible and negotiated character. Source: elaboration Adapted from: MATTM-Sogesid, 2015 water resources (Brun, 2014). Today to accommodate the different national adapted from MATTM- Environmental Contracts are well and local contexts; however, the Sogesid, 2015 established in France, Belgium and Contracts are technical and inancial Italy, with some isolated experiences in agreements between stakeholders other European Countries, through the for an integrated, concerted and Interreg Med project WETNET. In the sustainable management at a coherent framework of the Interreg Med project hydrographic scale (Gusmaroli et TUNE UP, the Environmental Contract al., 2020). Engaging in participative tool was tested for the irst time in governance schemes such as MPA MPAs in Albania, France, Greece, Italy, Contracts improves conservation, Montenegro, Slovenia and Spain. The restoration, mitigation and pilot sites provided an opportunity to compensation, which are signiicant test the tool to identify the applicability factors considering the increasing of the process in the European impacts of climate change (Vélez et Mediterranean region and make al., 2018); however, these tools are the necessary adjustments to best only effective if they are implemented, it the legal framework and speciic monitored and evaluated appropriately contexts for each MPA. The voluntary (Moore & Rutherfurd, 2019).

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 46 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 474747 3.2 The Environmental Contract process: inputs and outputs INPUTS INTERMEDIATE FINAL OUTPUTS OUTPUTS Serena Muccitelli Socio-economic & cultural factors (Structure of local economy; employment and unemploy- ment; demographic trends; Trend scenario Formal Agreement local cultures) (reproduces the continuity of current trends) (signed legal act, binding for the undersigning parts) This chapter aims at outlining a general risks/opportunities connected to Scientiic-environmental factors methodology for implementing it, as well as the framework of the (Habitat and species; Oriented scenario environmental heritage) (considers of all the possible Environmental Contracts suitable for programmatic tools (existing plans, corrective actions) being transferred beyond TUNE UP programs, projects) Action Plan External drivers (includes responsible bodies, of change necessary economic and partnership, and with a speciic focus - Be aimed at the simultaneous Preferred scenario 1 (economic trends; EU & human resources, to MPAs . Given that the objective adaptation of the environmental national policies) (containing only actions to be implementation terms) of the Environmental Contracts condition of the area, including taken in the short-mid term) Internal drivers is to promote a comprehensive its governance, physical and social of change and integrated vision that openly structures and economic base. (strategies; resources; preferences; collaborations) consider the various objectives and - Put in place a comprehensive and ind solutions to make them coexist, integrated strategy that deals with assuming environmental sustainability the resolution of problems in a simultaneously as a priority objective balanced, ordered and positive Figure 3.2 - different speeds (possibly requiring unemployment; demographic and an implementation strategy manner. Input-output process to redirect resources or to provide trends, local cultures). (MATTM-Sogesid, 2015), a few - Ensure that the strategy and diagram. Source: author’s elaboration additional ones in order to maintain - Scientiic-environmental principles can be listed to support the the resulting programmes of adapted from Roberts, P. a broad balance between the aims factors (e.g. habitat and species; identiication of the challenges that an implementation are developed in (2008). encompassed in the strategy and to environmental heritage). Environmental Contract should embed. accord with the aims of sustainable allow for the achievement of all of - External drivers of change (e.g. For lasting improvements in the development. the objectives). macro trends in economy; EU and governance, local development, and - Set a clear set of measures and The following diagram (Figure 3.2) national policies; regional and local socio-economical condition of the area actions which should, wherever subject to change, an Environmental possible, be quantiied. allows to visualize the interactions regulations; strategies in place in Contract should respect the following. - Make the best possible use of between these factors, illustrating similar areas). - Be based on a participative, natural, economic, cultural, human [1] Developed as the Environmental Contract as an - Internal drivers of change (e.g. an adaptation and input-output process. The diagram existing strategies; availability of inclusive governance process and other resources. improvement of engaging all stakeholders with a - Measure the progress of the WETNET’s common also indicates the variety of themes resources; preferences of residents; methodology (Gusmaroli and topics involved, the interrelated status of collaborations among legitimate interest in the protection strategy towards the achievement et al., 2020), in some the and sustainable development of of speciic objectives and monitor chapter draws on the outputs and the lows of information stakeholders and institutions). the target area, aiming at ensuring the changing nature and inluence methodology described and forces simultaneously at work. The Development stage of the process by the Italian Ministry of The following elements constitutes is the phase when the intermediate a multi-actor and bottom-up inputs of the internal and external forces Environment’s research to the process, able to last over time which act upon the target area. for Italian River Contracts the inputs informing the process, to outputs as well as the inal outputs implementation and be provided within the Preparatory are developed and released. The and oriented to the empowerment - Accept the likelihood that initial deinition (MATTM- of the actors involved. programmes of implementation will Sogesid, 2015) as a stage of the process through the development stage opens up the - Be based upon a structured and need to be revised in line with such common base, and development of the Context analysis implementation phase, once the inal in some parts to the integrated analysis, shared and changes as they occur. mentioned WETNET and of the Participatory process (See formal Agreement is subscribed by key updatable, on the state of the target - Recognise that the various features/ methodology, aimed paragraph 3.3). stakeholders and the Action Plan is area (strengths/weaknesses from conditions that are going to at guiding the project - Socio-economic and cultural released (see paragraph 3.4). partners along the the environmental and socio- inluence and shape the Contract’s process of testing the factors (e.g. Structure of local Starting from the previously built economic point of view) and the strategy are likely to progress at tool in pilot areas. economy; employment and knowledge base and understanding

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 48 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 49 of the target area dynamics and of the The Action Plan constitute the second 3.3 Preparatory stage different actors’ speciic needs, three main output of the process (to be development scenarios are part of the attached to the formal Agreement) 3.3.1 Deinition of the territorial area to be considered decision-making process and need to and is developed according to the by the Contract be shaped as a substantial milestone objectives emerged during the towards the Environmental Contract process, establishing the priority Romina D’Ascanio, Serena Muccitelli successful subscription. Indeed, they actions, the roles, and the methods for are jointly deined and assessed by the implementing the strategy, as well as stakeholders that inally identify, with the procedures to monitor its actual One of the main issues arising since that, in the hypothesis of considering the preferred scenario, the integrated implementation. the launch of Environmental Contract’s as target area of the Contract a speciic and unitary vision for the Contract’s The above-mentioned principles, processes concerns the area to be sub-basin, some problems can arise territorial strategy. together with the input-output process considered by the Contract, as target when facing effects produced upstream The inal output of the Environmental just explained, put substance behind area (hereafter perimeter of the by dynamics that concern much wider Contract is an administrative the general implementation and Contract). areas and diversiied actors (e.g. effects agreement with legal force (hereafter action framework of Environmental Environmental Contracts are not on water lows in the downstream the formal Agreement). With its Contracts. As a irst step and beyond new plans but are tools that should sections or in the mouth of rivers subscription the parties formally these principles the need to recognise bring the existing plans together, in which have several interruptions and commitment to carry out the actions and accept the uniqueness of the order to enhance their effectiveness. barriers along its course). shared in the process; it is binding for target area is crucial, together with the Unfortunately, this step is often Finally, it is important to consider the undersigning parts and must be set necessity to calibrate the actions to the complex, since the Contract must that, since human, cultural and according to national regulations for contextual circumstances within which consider different territorial, sectoral socio-economic dynamics for local public-private partnership. the process operates (Roberts, 2008). and socio-economical dimensions development are pivotal matters within that are intertwined and cannot, by the Contracts, the target areas need themselves, embed and exhaust all to expand and shrink into stronger or the issues at stake. The sectoral nature weaker social or economic network of the planning levels (General Plans, systems. For this reason, it is important Water Management Plans, Landscape to adopt place-based solutions Plans, …) conirms this complexity considering the different stakeholders since each tool corresponds to and the cause-effect relationships at an different perimeters and thematic environmental, economic, and social areas. level. One helpful direction comes from the Based on these initial considerations Italian and French legislation, which it is possible to conclude that the regulate Environmental Contracts, perimeter of the Contract must more speciically River Contracts, and consider a functional area that advise to take into consideration the overcomes administrative borders perimeter of the river basin or sub- and can include all the related basin, as units allowing to overcome issues (natural, cultural, local the fragmentation of administrative development…) and not only the boundaries (Bastiani, 2011). environmental ones. In order to do Furthermore, the basins and sub-basins so, an additional area of inluence, make the overall approach to planning understood as a regional/territorial innovative and convergent, integrating relational area, could be deined in natural and cultural capital, thus order to help integrating issues and responding to one of the main pillars stakeholders which inluence or are of Environmental Contracts. inluences by the dynamics of the Nevertheless, it has to be mentioned target area.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 50 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 5151515151515151 Drawing on the TUNE UP experience negative inluences and side effects; which all public bodies, private subjects technical steps for the construction in the deinition of the of the MPA moreover, when those protected areas and local associations can participate. of the decision-making framework, Contract perimeters, in some cases share the same managing authority, It has the task of contributing to which includes the collection of deined in conjunction with the area of the MPA Contract can represent the the construction of knowledge, data, information, assessments, the inluence, it is possible to highlight a starting point of a more extensive the identiication of problems, the development of technical analysis, deinition of possible solutions and plans and projects, the adoption of set of representative records: Protected Area Contract. 1. Perimeter coinciding with the the approval of choices. It can meet diagnostic and monitoring tools. It has 4. Inluence area selecting municipal/ target area administrative in plenary session or in the form of the task of designing the participation intermunicipal administrative boundary: the perimeter of the thematic and/or territorial tables strategy and of conducting the process, MPA Contract coincides with the boundaries: the perimeter of the according to the speciic needs and as well as the communication activities. limits of the regulated MPA, in order MPA Contract considers the inter- phases of the process. It should be composed of technical to circumscribe the criticalities and municipal scale of the Municipalities The Management Board is the experts from different backgrounds, enhance the possibilities of sea concerned by the MPA as its institutional body composed of public with proven experience in matters of protection. reference unit, in order to prioritize authorities adhering to the Contract. importance for the speciic context of 2. Inluence area selecting speciic the socio-economic inluence. This body undertakes to direct, reference. These experts, together with areas subject to environmental 5. Perimeter coinciding with an instruct and validate the work of competent stakeholders, could set up protection measures: the perimeter island and the surrounding MPA: the MPA Assembly and the Technical thematic working groups investigating Secretariat. It has political-decision- speciic issues for pursuing Contract’s of the MPA Contract is extended when the MPA falls within an making functions as well as the task to goals. By establishing a proper to the adjoining wider Natura island with protected mainland, 2000 site, in order to respect the promote the initiative in the target area governance structure for the Contract the protection on land and sea is by identifying and informing interested coordination, the involved stakeholders environmental and ecological considered into the perimeter of continuity. stakeholders, guaranteeing the oficial declare the common objectives to be the Contract, recognizing the two 3. Inluence area considering a wider communication among the actors of focused on. If applicable or necessary protected area system: when the ecosystems as integrated and in the process, promoting, and organizing (as in the Italian context), this step MPA is part of a wider protected connection with local economies. the Contract process’ activities. It can be oficially formalized by signing carries out its activities through plenary a Memorandum of Understanding areas system, the inluence area The case of the islands, based on meetings and it is supported by the (MoU). The document contains the of the MPA Contract considers their proximity or distance from Technical Secretariat. general reasons and objectives of the the whole system of the wetland the coasts, allows to undertake a The Technical Secretariat is the Contract, the speciic critical issues or national park, in order to hold Protected Areas Contract, an Islands operative body of the Contract covered by the Environmental Contract together all the positive and Contracts or even a Coast Contract. governance structure, with the task to and the working methodology shared support the Management Board and between the actors taking part in the 3.3.2 Governance structure and irst commitment2 the MPA Assembly. It carries out all the process.

The irst pivotal task to accomplish this way its voice will be perceived as when starting an Environmental authoritative, and its communication Contract process is the identiication effort will be effective. It is essential to Checklist BASIC CONTENTS OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING of the coordinator/promotor, who not underestimate the proile of the has the task to coordinate the overall Contract coordinator/promotor. - Values and criticalities of the area. implementation of the process and Besides this igure, the Environmental - Regulatory framework. promote it to competent public Contract holds a governance structure - Main general objectives to be pursued. [2] Main source for - Activities and steps to be implemented. administrations and local stakeholders. mainly composed by three bodies with this paragraph is the For this reason, it is important that it different roles and tasks. Wetland Contract Toolkit - Governance structure: promoters, members and roles. is a local empowered and committed The Forum/Assembly is the organ of of Interreg Italy-Croatia - Timing and duration. CREW Project (2020). - Roles and responsibilities of the signatories. body (can be public or private) widely public participation extended to the Adapted by D'Ascanio, R. recognized as a credit-worthy igure. In entire community of the target area, in Muccitelli S., Pozzi, C.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 52 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 5353535353535353 3.3.3 Inputs: Context analysis3 criticalities of the target area to focus a list of key stakeholders across the the objectives to be developed in entire stakeholder spectrum. It can be the Contract implementation stage developed in three main phases: One of the irst stages of the process as a “negotiated environmental according to the local challenges and Identifying. Listing relevant groups, consists in drafting the Context agreement” (ANNEX VI PART B), it is priorities. organizations, and people, and analysis, to be addressed in a important to understand whether the The target area description can classifying them in 3 macro categories: comprehensive document. The analysis Negotiated Programme is regulated include: (i) public institutions; (ii) structured explores the target area’s features and if it is appropriate to formalize the - socio-demographic and territorial organizations and interest groups under the environmental, social, Environmental Contract. overview; (chamber of commerce, trade unions, cultural, and economic point of views, The second step is to describe the - description of the zoning of the environmental groups on a national and supports the identiication of the national regulatory framework protected area (if any) and its main or regional non-governmental perimeter of the Contract as well as the for the target area management features; organizations, professional inluence area (see 3.1.1.). Speciically, and governance. In the case of - habitat and species abacus; associations, resident associations, it investigates the Regulatory MPAs the analysis will refer to the - main threats and impacts for the groups of ishermen, farmers, framework and the territorial and national regulatory framework for biodiversity; canoeists, associations and consortiums landscape planning and policies; the protection, management and - heritage values (Environmental category local and industry consortia); it frames the main environmental governance of MPAs, management heritage, Archaeological heritage, (iii) unstructured local actors and socio-economic features of the plans of MPAs foreseen at national level Historical heritage, Architectonical (landowners, individual residents, target area and collects the existing and specifying which international/ heritage, Ethnological heritage, people who may be interested by knowledge about the criticalities and European/national protection levels Landscape heritage); the implementation of some actions values (Target area description); it and rules are applied or applicable for - main threats and impacts for the resulting from the process, and opinion includes the Stakeholder analysis that the target area. heritage and landscape. leaders, usually belong to the local identiies and lists the actors to be The third step of the analysis is to - Furthermore, a mapping of local level). involved among civil society and key deepen the speciic objectives and the initiatives can be added in order Analysing. Understanding stakeholders’ groups in the participative process. scopes already foreseen by the sectoral to identify the main drivers to perspectives and interests by The Regulatory framework aims at plans, programs and strategies for possibly frame potential strategies observing the following elements: (i) analysing: (i) the legal framework the management of the target areas for sustainable local development contribution - does the stakeholder related to Environmental Contracts; (e.g. Protected Area Management and to promote the voluntary have formal competencies, (ii) the legal framework related to Plan, Natura 2000 management plan, governance process of the information, counsel, or expertise the target area and focused issues Landscape Plan, ICZM strategy, plan or Environmental Contract. on the issue that could be helpful to (environment and protection programme, …). The Stakeholder analysis identiies the process?; (ii) legitimacy - how schemes); (iii) different level planning The Regulatory framework aims at all the key stakeholders to be involved legitimate is the stakeholder’s claim tools framework related to the target producing a synthetic document in the Environmental Contract for engagement?; (iii) willingness to area. reporting all policies, strategies, laws, participatory process (those who will engage - how willing is the stakeholder As the Environmental Contract tool plans, programmes and projects participate in the Territorial Labs and to engage?; (iv) inluence - how is not homogenously spread across already in action or related to the those who will eventually subscribe much inluence doe the stakeholder European Countries, the irst necessary target area, considering also to extend [3] Main source for this the Contract) by framing them in have? Whom does he inluence (e.g., step consists in conducting an accurate this analysis to the inluence area paragraph is the Wetland different categories related to: (i) other companies, NGOs, consumers, analysis to understand whether the in order to identify where and how Contract Methodology of the stakeholders’ territorial level or investors, etc.)?; (v) necessity of Interreg MED WETNET tool is regulated at national and Environmental Contracts can be used Project “Towards a typology of action (National, Regional, involvement - is this someone who regional level. If not, since at EU level within the local regulations and plans. common methodology Local, civil society, key groups); (ii) could derail or delegitimize the process The Target area description collects for implementing the Environmental Contract tool can wetland contracts – their engagement degree (effective or if they were not included in the be listed among the “supplementary the available information and principles, guidelines potential); (iii) their priority area of engagement? measures with the aim of achieving the diagnosis related to environmental, and best practices” interest. Mapping and Prioritizing. (Gusmaroli et al., 2020). environmental objectives” established cultural, socio-economic aspects. It Adapted by D'Ascanio, R. Stakeholder mapping draws from Understanding the stakeholder by the Water Framework Directive, aims to better identify the values and Muccitelli S., Pozzi, C. multiple perspectives to determine commitment (informed, consulted,

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 54 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 5555555555555555 High High GREATEST DANGER KEEP SATISFIED MANAGE CLOSELY POWERFUL (the ones to focus on) BUT PREDICTABLE OR OPPORTUNITIES

Power MONITOR FEWER KEEP INFORMED UNPREDICTABLE

Influence/Power (minimum effort) PROBLEMS BUT MANAGEABLE

Low Low

Low InterestInterest High Low DynamismInterest High

involved), considering his level of but may move into group of key Figure 3.3 - Figure 3.5 - communicate frequently and regularly - studying documents, initiatives, Stakeholders’ Stakeholders’ involvement, power and availability in players on an issue of particular engagement process: engagement process: with them in order to ensure that they and expertise related to wetlands, the different phases of the process. interest. matrix “power and matrix “power and understand the progress and needs of protected areas, vulnerable Matrix or grids can help classifying - Low power, interested people: this interest”. Source: dynamism”. Source: the project, besides feeling engaged. environments; Johnson and Scholes, Gardner et al (1986) stakeholders in relation to: power and group should be kept informed, 1999 The list needs to be constantly - conversations with individuals inluence; inluence and impact; power as they could be able to inluence updated during the process in order and representatives of various and legitimacy; power and interest – to more powerful stakeholders. to ensure a coherent involvement of organizations; indicate the nature of the relationship - Low power, less interested people: key stakeholders. It can be drafted by - browsing websites; which should be adopted with each they need only minimum effort and using several online and ofline tools - iled works and interviews. group; power and dynamism – to monitoring. exploiting social and professional - A careful selection of the indicate where political effort should Figure 3.4, matrix “power and networks of the Environmental stakeholders to be involved is the be made before instigating change. dynamism” shows the power a Contract coordinator/promoter with fundamental basis for further steps More speciically in Figure 3.3 matrix stakeholder has in relation to how the support of the Secretariat, such as: of the process, whose results, “power and interest” the position on dynamic the stakeholder is in - brainstorming process which quality and success depend very the grid reveals the actions to be taken changing the position/opinion he/ enables the project team to collect a much on the knowledge and with the stakeholders. she holds. When dynamism is low list of people/groups/institutions; participation of them. - High power, interested people the stakeholder’s position/attitude is (key player > manage closely): predictable and their expectations can this group of people must be fully often be met in a relatively easy way. engaged, their co-operation is key Once the mapping is completed, it is for the process, greatest effort possible to deine a shared strategy needs to be made to satisfy them. with the aim of increasing stakeholders’ - High power, less interested people: consent and support and of minimizing this people are powerful, but their their negative impacts. level of interest is low. They are It is therefore important to understand generally expected to be passive, the stakeholders’ needs and to

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 56 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 57 Wyckoff-Baird, 1992). openness to learning (Schobben, CONTEXT ANALYSIS HIGHLIGHTS Checklist The most beneicial reasons for 2000). undertaking stakeholder engagement Active public participation is - The Context analysis should be a synthetic and clear document to be are to assure (Yee, 2010): understood as involving different shared with local stakeholders. - participatory democracy stakeholders, giving them the - The Regulatory framework collects all the existing plans, strategies, (community empowerment and possibility not just to listen and watch, laws, rules regarding the target area management at national and local providing the opportunity to but giving them the power to interact level. develop knowledge for making with the processes, accepting the - The Target Area description collect all the existing knowledge informed choices); possibility that they could be changed (environmental, economic, cultural aspects) about the target area. - transparency in decision-making by them. Nowadays the use of a - The Stakeholders analysis helps to create a list with all the stakeholders process; participatory approach in the managing engaged in the target area and to select those to be involved (most - community empowerment and of spaces and in this connection relevant) and those to be informed. support; in decision making processes is - Make sure to map both public and private key stakeholders. Carefully - reduction of conlicts over decisions increasing more and more, meaning identify the conlicts among the selected stakeholders and be inclusive. between decision-makers and the involvement of the stakeholders public stakeholders, and between who are interested by the decisions or the private and public stakeholders; have useful knowledge to share (Bole - gaining access to additional and Bigaran, 2013). Communication, information or resources. cooperation, and consensus are 3.3.4 Participation strategy With the stakeholder participation the essential components of the strategy, the traditional and participation process (Gei฀endörfer et Katarina Polajnar Horvat, Aleš Smrekar unidirectional top-down approach is al., 2003). With successful management surpassed, and the multi-actor and of participatory process many goals The participatory management of A stakeholder participation strategy bottom-up model of management is can be achieved: smoothing out marine areas in the Mediterranean has become a way to form “decision- assured. Like that, local stakeholders or differences between perspectives, region, the involvement of actors making body” (voluntary or statutory) disadvantaged group enter the points shaping solutions acceptable to all from different sectors, and the comprising different stakeholders of departure of all development issues social groups, preventing unproductive implementation of participatory who perceive the same resource and negotiations and, consequently, competition, ensuring participation of processes are severely underestimated, management problems, realise their they are equal in relation to other local actors, and strengthening their which has led to inharmonious and independence for solving it, and stakeholders (Arnkil and Spanga, 2003). creativity and awareness. It enables uncoordinated MPAs development come together to agree on action Once people see the sense of involving the expression of various interests and and protection to poor involvement of strategies for solving the problem. It multiple voices, it is felt, they will be makes it possible to take them into relevant stakeholders with the on-going is like a roundtable, where different broadly accepted as the way forward in account during decision-making and processes. Being aware of insuficient actors are gathered with very different dealing with complexity management action (Zumaglini et al., 2008). Besides, inclusion of different stakeholders perspectives. They have so called of marine areas. Furthermore, shaping it includes variety of knowledge within the wetland management stakeholder dialogue, which is not just stakeholder participation strategy blurs that is necessary to effectively carry processes the participatory strategy is conversation, but interactive approach the border between the public and out all sorts of activities in a speciic needed for the successful management to getting things done (Warner, 2005). private sectors, which is expressed in a local environment, and by means of MPAs. However, this does not mean just new form of decision-making, which is of a reciprocal learning process, it In recent years the stakeholder talking about management problems, characterized by the cooperation and builds upon it and enriches it. The participatory processes have become but an active involvement and the division of tasks and responsibilities participatory approach means putting the new ways of managing wetlands participation of different stakeholders among them. The relations between together different points of view as and their hinterlands, and to forestall in the design, implementation, [4] www.accountability. stakeholders become no longer a means to produce innovation. It conlicts among different groups evaluation, and some other aspects org/images/ hierarchical, but equivalent and based has proved to be effective, because it content/3/6/362/ of stakeholders, to ensure more of a process (Environmental Contract AA1000SES%202010%20 on trust, reputation, customs and tends to create links between actors integrated and sustainable outcomes. process in this case) (Brown and PRINT.PDF habits, reciprocity, reliability, and that usually do not communicate,

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 58 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 5959 giving them possibility for familiarizing visions and in a broader sense, themselves with different perspectives implicit and explicit knowledge, thus necessary); and, in this way, opening a space for converting them all into process - follow up with invitees and track responses, assure Attendance by Key discovering new ways of seeing and assets. The actors that take part in the Stakeholders; solving problems (Bole and Bigaran, implementation phase must get to feel - prepare materials for use prior to and during the meeting; 2013). they are part of the process: in order - determine expectations of participants and facility representatives. The participatory approach can be to achieve this, nothing proves more Determine roles for conducting the meeting: used for obtaining: effective than making it clear that the - designate a person to facilitate the meeting; - community development; bottom-up approach is being fully - determine which facility employee(s) should participate in the meeting; - research, teaching and training; followed (Alfarè and Nared, 2014). - designate a person to take notes and/or record stakeholders’ input, - knowledge creation; In order to get necessary information which may be useful for determining which stakeholder feedback to - conlict resolution; and answer to the different needs include in your report. - knowledge sharing between and achieve interactive approaches Hold a Stakeholder meeting different stakeholders; in stakeholder meetings, various Once the meeting is held ensure appropriate roles and expectations are agreed upon, and that stakeholders value the process. - communication improvement; participatory techniques can be used Welcome stakeholder participants: - social development; and implemented. The most used are - set up a sign-in sheet; - rule sharing; brainstorming, focus groups and world - review expectations of participants and facility representatives, - quality improvement. cafe, which focuses on the process and including engagement process and roles during the meeting; It is all mainly about sharing the relationships and aiming at building - consider an icebreaker to orient new and old stakeholders to the group information, perceptions, needs, a creative group of stakeholders. process. Review the objectives for the meeting: - Review the impacts and planned activities or other content-related GUIDELINES FOR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS Additional resource information; - consider giving an overview of key information (including future goals) Planning and holding stakeholder participation strategy is an important in a brief presentation; part of management and implementation of the marine area’s goals. - let stakeholders know the importance of this meeting; One of the main tasks when setting up the participation strategy are - allot time for question and answers. stakeholder meetings. They can be held on-site or at a neutral location Meeting wrap-up: depending on partners´ pilot action implementation and each partner´s - determine if your meeting has achieved its desired outcome; needs. When planning a meeting, we should consider the amount of time - discuss how the project manager plans to review and respond to in which the meeting should be held, as well as an appropriate timeline feedback received; for planning the event from start to end. You should invite stakeholders - review next steps, including reporting process and timeline; to participate in meetings well in advance and provide all necessary - invite additional feedback and engagement going forward; contextual information, including scope and objectives.4 - thank participants for their time. The following steps to better planning of meetings (FRP Guide to Evaluation of the meeting Stakeholder Engagement 2007). After the meeting the evaluation of the task should be done, and report Meeting preparation and invitations: prepared. The organiser of the meeting should answer the following - determine objective of meeting and desired outcome; questions, which should be incorporate in the report as well: - utilize assets within the community; - Who participated in the stakeholder meeting? - dentify potential participants and organize invitations; - What was the main aim of the meeting? - send a personal e-mail to the potential stakeholders and other key - How did you set up the meeting? What did you present and what were players with the purpose and the date of the meeting; if needed call the main topics of the meeting? them personally; - Which participatory technics did you use, how did you encourage the - set meeting date and draft Agenda with stakeholders’ input (if participant to take an active part in discussions and did you have any

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 60 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 6161616161616161 3.4 Development stage problems with the used technics? Did you use other form of group discussion and to encourage inter-personal learning and discussion? 3.4.1 Intermediate outputs: Scenarios - Which topics/problems/ solutions were most discussed/most popular? Shortly present them. Andalusian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces - Which aspects were least discussed/least popular? Shortly discuss why. - Did you have any problems when planning and performing the meeting? - What challenges and resistances did you come across when planning The Environmental Contract process which the territory is demanding and performing the meeting? How did you overcome them (or not)? foresees, as a main step of the for its conservation, protection and - What are the learning points you gained from planning and performing development stage, the creation development, which is considered the meeting? of three different scenarios, to be crucial for the correct human use of - What feedback did you get from participants? (prepare an evaluation conceived as intermediate outputs Maritime Areas (Juda & Hennessey, paper for the participants). towards the elaboration of the Action 2001; Hogg et al., 2021) - What was speciic for your context, which future meeting need to take Plan, where actions and projects are Concepts and knowledge are into account? deined. elicited and structured around - What were the main conclusions you manage to get from the Scenario planning is a technique based three strategic areas, in coherence participants? on the integration of the studies and with the Environmental Contract scientiic diagnosis realized during thematic objectives. These areas are: the irst stage of the process with the governance; environment; economic results of the participatory process. It and social development. It is also aims at identifying a shared mid-term considered that the deinition of strategy (last result of three scenarios) these strategic operational ields helps that combines the general planning to involve in the process a broader objectives with the local development typology of stakeholders. policies, needs, opportunities and The irst scenario is the Trend actual implementation possibilities scenario, which seeks to reproduce (Gusmaroli et al., 2020). It is normally the continuity of current trends developed thought desk activities (positive and negative) and to carried out by the technical secretariat evaluate how this would affect and by participative sessions. The the target area given the case no deinition of different scenarios is corrective measures or sustainable necessary so that problems and projects were to be implemented. criticalities related to ongoing This scenario contemplates a limited trends are identiied. Following this and uninterested involvement methodology, corrective and balancing of the citizens, companies, and guidelines and measures can be administrations towards the target suggested, structured and further area, as well as management and developed to create the initial picture conservation policies which do not of the Action Plan. More speciically, encourage the involvement of all through the creation of scenarios territorial stakeholders Therefore, it it is possible to depict the future of represents the continuation of the the target area by implementing or present development pattern where not implementing certain guidelines current protection and conservation and measures. These scenarios help policies and good practices to identify the most suitable project implemented by stakeholders are not options and the main necessities capable of improving the foreseen

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 62 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 6363636363636363 target area’s future. For this reason, aspects of the Trend scenario and the group of integrated actions to be to national/regional/local regulations it is not considered as the optimal Oriented scenario that are considered implemented in a short-medium for public-private partnership. It framework. as the most relevant to the members term. The Agreement contains a set of consists of two parts, the irst contains The next step in the elaboration of of the community and engaged rules (main recommended contents the forewords that resume all relevant the scenarios corresponds to the stakeholders. It will balance the are listed in Table 3.1) structured regulatory references for the Contract, consideration of all the possible potential reality of the future while according to the chosen legal tool. It the second lists the articles that set the corrective actions which would balance providing, on one side, opportunities Table 3.1 – is a formal, administrative agreement scope, the objectives, and the rules of out the unsustainable tendencies of to adjust to changing development Recommended with legal force, that is binding for the the commitment. the actual processes taking place in patterns (ecological, social, and minimum contents of undersigning parts, to be set according the target area, addressing the same governance-related), and, on the the formal Agreement strategic areas as the trend scenario. other side, addressing the desired This sets up the Oriented scenario: objectives of environmental protection RECOMMENDED its construction relies upon the and economic development, which FIELDS RECOMMENDED (MINIMUM) CONTENTS maximization of the environment are to areas commonly identiied protection actions, the collaborative as incompatible (Rees, 2003). One Each action should be identiied with a code and a concise title, in order to enable governance promotion and the example of this type of opportunities CODE, TITLE AND browsing through the action plan in an easy and speedy way. A comprehensive description should be added too, in order to supply enough references to

WHAT DESCRIPTION economic and social development plans. could be the creation of touristic unequivocally feature what is expected to be implemented. However, this previous scenario needs products based on the ecological value to be subjected to stakeholders’ of the territory (Hose, 2007) and all Highlighting motivations that led the actions to be conceived (i.e. to overcome consideration, incorporating their the economic possibilities this would MOTIVATION a problem, to deepen knowledge, to set premises for cooperation amongst interests, desires and linked-to-the- generate for the inhabitants. stakeholders, etc.). territory knowledge, as disconnection This whole process allows continuous A clear (and possibly quantitative) target should be set for each action, both in term between citizenship, public entities and relective identiication of the OUTPUTS AND of effectiveness (output) and effectivity (outcome). Outcomes should be linked to and the private sector is one of the needs and possibilities of territories OUTCOMES the speciic contribution that any single action is expected to provide to the overall main obstacles to avoid coniguring a such as marine areas, while also tackles WHY objectives of the Environmental Contract. strong and lasting governance model the problem of unrealistic policies CONSISTENCY which would ensure the target area’s or projects which, irstly, are not (REGULATORY Each action should be clearly linked to the target objectives of the Environmental FRAMEWORK biodiversity. manageable or correctly implemented, AND SPECIFIC Contract, both general (i.e. SGDs) and local (i.e. Regional Plans). This is where the participatory and secondly, do not take into OBJECTIVES) activities of the territorial laboratories consideration the needs, desires and become fundamental for the process knowledge of the people who live, Each action should have a single Agreement subscriber in charge of coordination of generating the third scenario, build and are part of the target area. (responsible party), a variable number of Agreement subscribers engaged for ROLES OF implementation (involved parties) and an extra number of other subjects (not the Preferred scenario. It combines

WHO PARTNERS Agreement subscribers) identiied as “to be engaged” during the implementing phase. Roles and responsibilities should be clearly described in the articles of the Environmental Contract. 3.4.2 Final outputs: Action Plan and commitment to act TIMELINE FOR Each action should have a starting and ending date (month/year) within the lifespan Giancarlo Gusmaroli IMPLEMENTATION of the Environmental Contract. WHEN

The whole Environmental Contract target area, with the ultimate scope AREA OF A geographic (extensive or site-speciic) area of intervention (the whole process focuses on collecting requests of building an operational strategy for Environmental Contract reference area or part of ) should be assigned to each INTERVENTION and sharing proposals among its integrated management. Its inal WHERE action. stakeholders that are engaged on outputs are the formal Agreement to a voluntary basis, grounded on a be subscribed by key stakeholders, common knowledge and vision on the and the Action Plan consisting in a

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 64 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 6565656565656565 When available, a - even rough - cost estimation for action implementing should The area to be considered by the Environmental Contract, as target area must be provided. Otherwise cost estimation should be included in action description REFERENCE AREA be deined and the reasons for considering a functional area that overcomes FINANCIAL as an output to achieve in the initial stage of action implementation. If possible, administrative borders described must be described (See paragraph 3.3.1). REQUIREMENT the inancial need should be referred both to human resources (i.e. subscribers’ A detailed description of the Environmental Contract scope and a list of its spe- personnel and/or external assistance) and works/supplies. SCOPE AND SPECI- ciic objectives, as much quantitative as possible, should be provided, possibly FIC OBJECTIVES ranking governance target in terms of relevance for the target area management When available, the inancial coverage should be made explicit. The coverage might be and the stakeholder satisfaction. FINANCIAL granted by any of the Agreement subscribers and/or by any outsource (i.e. public and/ COVERAGE or private funding). If the information is not available, one or more general funding The lifespan of the Environmental Contract should be declared (typically DURATION between 3 and 5 years starting from the signature), drawing any relevant proce- HOW channels should be identiied (i.e. European, national, regional, local funding). dure for establishing an advanced termination or a time extension. If the implementation of the action requires any governance setting (i.e. OPERATIONAL establishment of a negotiation table or coordination board, or the signature of a Governance requires explicit roles and clear responsibilities in order to be effec- GOVERNANCE IMPLEMENTING BO- speciic MoU), any relevant detail and consequent commitment should be reported. tively managed, thus requiring the activation of dedicated bodies for the coor- DIES & dination and monitoring of the implementation phase, the continuation of the participatory process and the establishment of a transparent/collaborative deci- Each action should be monitored along the whole Environmental Contract lifespan, OPERATIONAL GO- MONITORING VERNANCE sion-making arena (with clear rules). A comprehensive map and description of both in term of outputs and outcomes achieved. If possible, indicators, deadlines INDICATORS Agreement signers’ tasks and organizational arrangements should be provided. and responsibilities should be made explicit. The structure of the Action Plan should be described, including the meaning of ACTION PLAN each content. ARTICLES The Action Plan, the priority annex of implementation lifespan and the Signing the Agreement entails subscribers with responsibilities. A clear descrip- the formal Agreement, is constituted by related monitoring activities (main tion of which commitment is implied with the signature should be reported, a list of identiied actions. Each action recommended contents are listed in COMMITMENT FOR with speciic reference to general burdens (i.e. commitment to be actively must specify the type of intervention Table 3.2). Besides the Action Plan, it is SUBSCRIBERS engaged and to support the governance of the implementation phase) and speciic burdens (i.e. commitment to action within any action/activity included (concrete, research, data collection, important to consider that all relevant in the plan of measures). ...), the area of implementation, the documents prepared during the objectives and expected results, decision-making process (i.e. Context A clear description of Environmental Contract performance monitoring should be provided, including an appropriate methodological and operational frame- the responsible bodies and other analysis, Scenarios, …) should be MONITORING Table 3.2 – work for responsibilities, deadlines, reporting and consequent correction stakeholders involved, the necessary added as annexes to the Agreement. Table Recommended actions. inancial and human resources (both The Action Plan should be articulated minimum contents of the Action Plan In case of Agreement amendment (i.e. admission of any new stakeholder, available and to be allocated), the into: (i) a synoptic table, reporting withdrawal of any current subscriber, modiication of the articles and/or of any MODIFICATION OF annexed document, etc.), a clear rule has to be set (in connection with what THE AGREEMENT has been set in terms of implementing bodies, operational governance and RECOMMENDED FIELDS RECOMMENDED (MINIMUM) CONTENTS commitment for subscribers).

A comprehensive mention to the relevant regulations (laws, plans, agreements, ANNEXES A list of annexes should be provided, possibly including a short description of REGULATORY guidelines, etc.) should be provided, including references both to target area the main contents of each of them. FRAMEWORK REFE- regulation and Environmental Contract regulation (including Public-Private RENCES Partnership and/or any other similar participated/negotiated agreement tool) at international, national, regional, local level. in a synthetic way all the foreseen actions to be implemented effectively). An outlook to motivation, scope and general objectives of the Environmental actions and their main features (i.e. It is recommendable that each is RATIONALE Contract should be reported, including any background information useful responsible party, total budget, detailed into operational activities, as to feature the environmental and socio-economic context in which the gover- implementation lifespan, consistency generic commitment typically doesn’t FOREWARDS nance process take place. with regulatory framework and/or lead to action. The Action Plan can be RESUME OF THE An accounting of the governance path that led to the Agreement subscription Contract objectives); (ii) a detailed detailed with a iche for each action PROCESS MILE- should be detailed, including methodological references, event/meeting cita- abacus of actions, containing the and even for each activity (where one STONES tion and key outputs/outcomes reached along the process. following set of records for each action action is implemented through one or (all necessary information for the more speciic activities that requires Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 3 66 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Environmental Contract methodology for MPA governance 6767 more details to be explained). As far phase. Therefore, it is pivotal not only as possible, budget estimation and to target consistently the signature, inancial coverage must be detailed but also to ensure that the process in order to enable the Contract proceeds effectively and eficiently. For to be consistent and attractive for these reasons, it is recommended to funding. Even a rough estimation establish clear responsibilities and to could be ine, given that during the allocate suficient human and inancial implementation of the Contract an resources to continue the process appropriate accounting should be after the signature and to monitor the put in place. Monitoring should be effectiveness of the process and, if action speciic (output and outcomes necessary, to modify and adjust its goals indicators for each action, with basing on a speciic outcome indicators. deadlines and responsibilities) and For all these reasons it has to be contract speciic (outcomes indicators highlighted that most of the efforts of for each objective, with deadlines and the Environmental Contract process responsibilities). Reporting should must be focused on setting the ground be clearly included in the articles of (and the rules) for a governance model the Environmental Contract, in order which has to become a truly shared to provide the subscribers (and the working method among stakeholders. larger public) with evidence of the This attitude, focused on ‘how to work’ or implementation progress and to enable ‘how to make decisions’ as a prerequisite them to take any corrective action that to ‘what to work on’ or ‘what decisions to might be useful for effectively achieve take’ allows to frame proper governance Contract’s objectives. The process of orientations which must be considered the Environmental Contract does not as the corner stone for managing any conclude with the subscription of the change/update that might come during Agreement, which determines only the implementation phase. the opening of the implementation

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS Checklist - The Environmental Contract is a process for creating synergies and integrating actors, not a new planning tool. - The Environmental Contract allows to bring together horizontal and vertical subsidiarity. - The Environmental Contract as a governance process and the formal Agreement have to be lexible and adaptable. - The formal Agreement has many deinitions and many terms. The term is not as important as the key aspects of the governance - The formal Agreement and the Action Plan have to be developed based on an inclusive participative and negotiated decision-making process. - The formal Agreement is voluntary but binding in terms of liability, inancing, and timing. - The formal Agreement takes place among both private and public On the right: Seabed. actors (public-private partnership). Credit: Ventotene and Santo Stefano Islands SNR/MPA

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 68 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 6969 4. Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 4.1 An overlook on TUNE UP pilots 4.1.1 The Environmental Contract as a legal act: constraints and steps forward Serena Muccitelli, Carolina Pozzi

The issue of formalizing the aimed at containing eco-landscape Environmental Contract at a regulative degradation and redevelopment of level is crucial and complex. Even river basins/sub-basins” (National though according to the Water Charter of River Contracts) and were Framework Directive it can be listed recognized at national level in 2015.2 as a “negotiated environmental Secondly WETNET missed to develop agreement” for "the active a comprehensive study aimed at participation of all interested parties understanding how to include the in the implementation of River Basin tool into the local administrative Management Plans” (EU Directive and legislative framework, which 2000/60/CE), negotiated environmental turned out to be an obstacle for the agreements are not always embedded inalization of the inal Agreement. into the national regulations or For these reasons, aside from are translated it into different transferring the Environmental administrative and legal acts. The issue Contract form wetlands to MPAs, TUNE of how to inalize the Environmental UP activities included an investigation Contract process with a inal legal act about the national and regional of commitment emerged already in regulatory framework and strategies for WETNET project. Partners encountered potential integration of MPA Contracts legal limitations concerning the inal to produce the foundation for an Agreement, which becomes binding effective implementation of the tool in in terms of liability, inancing, and Countries other than Italy and France. timing, and thus for incorporating The analysis performed by TUNE UP [1] Regulated by the Environmental Contract into their partners shows that Italian and French Ministerial Circulars in legal frameworks. This was mainly due partners’, having already a regulatory 1981, 1993, 1994, 2004. to two factors. Firstly, the tool that is framework for River Contracts at [2] According to the article 68-bis of the new for almost all European Countries both national and regional level, will Legislative Decree n. 152 except for Italy and France, where successfully integrate the MPA Contract of April 3, 2006. [3] In Spain a Contract its regulatory framework is already tool in their existing legal structure, can only be signed if established and formalized at national whereas the remaining partners it concerns activities level. Environmental Contracts have are still experiencing dificulties in to be implemented through inancial indeed existed in France for over deining an effective integration of resources already 20 years as voluntary and concerted the tool. Partners who tested the available and forecasted action programs that cover a 5-year tool for the irst time (in Albania, in the involved public institutions account. period with a contractual inancial Montenegro and Greece) successfully commitment.1 In the Italian context, implemented the process following On the left: Amvrakikos River Contracts have spread since TUNE UP methodology but faced fauna. Credit: Amvrakikos Gulf-Lefkada the early 2000s as “negotiated and legal constraints in formalizing the Management Agency participatory planning processes public-private partnerships agreement,

Chapter 4 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 737373737373737373 mainly generated by the use of the MoC refers to the attached Action MPA Contract to the attention of the and to ind the appropriate setting for term “Contract”. They proposed to Plan, which is structured including competent regional and national the Environmental Contract into their overcome these limitations by either the deinition of detailed measures, authorities, who have to be involved regulative system. using voluntary “Memorandum of concrete actions, budget lines and in order to be aware of the new tool Understanding” (in Montenegro) or resources to be found (in Spain); (ii) by integrating the process into already a “Memorandum of Understanding” existing legal acts such as the “Law (MoU) deining commitment of the 4.1.2 Key features of the target MPAs on protected areas” (in Albania), the signers to make available appropriate “River Basin Management Plans” or resources for active participation, to Pablo Vera “Natura 2000 measures” (in Greece). cooperate with the possible available Those solutions aren’t entirely resources, implying the responsibilities consistent with the objectives of the for the activities to be agreed through TUNE UP launched the MPA Contract for their economies. A total of 33 Environmental Contract, which should the process (in Slovenia). Neither these process in 10 pilot MPAs of 7 countries habitats present in the pilot MPAs are be a self-standing tool capable of strategies are entirely consistent with (Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, protected by the Habitats Directive, 9 keeping together the existing planning the objectives of the Environmental Greece, Albania and Montenegro), of which are considered a priority for tools, but are to be considered an Contract tool, since the MoC is not a corresponding to 6 ecoregions their conservation in the European intermediate step to irst introduce it binding tool, it foresees no inancial (Alboran Sea, Levantine Sea, Gulf of Union. Due to the marine character in the national or regional regulations. commitment for the signers, nor Lion, Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea and of these protected areas, there is a With regards to the partners who budget provisions, which means that Ionian Sea). This geographical breadth greater representation of the coastal tested the Wetland Contract tool for no legal responsibilities can derive makes it possible to collect a wide and halophytic habitats (11 habitats), the irst time in WETNET (in Slovenia from it. However, once explored all variety of territorial realities, both in as well as the coastal habitats of and Spain), the analysis and TUNE the possibilities of formal adoption of relation to the environmental values for coastal sand dunes and inland dunes UP testing activities conirmed the the tool, it can be considered a irst which these MPAs have been protected (11 habitats). The typology of the dificulties already encountered in step for its integration into the local but also because of the importance of coastline leads to some prevailing formalizing the act, and speciically regulatory framework. these areas for the local economy and environments, which differ according the lack of a structured tool in their Under this perspective, current other relevant socio-cultural aspects for to the belonging ecoregion. Thus, in regulatory framework, as well as integration of the MPA Contract the subscription of MPA Contracts. the western MPAs the most extensive the impossibility to use the term tool in Countries other than Italy In total, the pilot MPAs represent natural habitats include permanent "contract" to implement binding and France needs mainstreaming almost 200,000 ha of protected areas, sandbanks, with the presence of private-public agreements3 , which activities and extensive analysis of which about 80,000 ha correspond seagrass and other meadows species, were inally addressed by introducing speciically devoted to negotiated to strictly marine habitats. The pilots’ tidal shores, as well as coastal lagoons, the tool as: (i) a “Memorandum and participative programming target areas are Nationally designated Mediterranean halophilous scrubs, of Cooperation”(MoC) subscribed addressing environmental topics to MPA, Natura 2000 sites, Marine part pioneer annual vegetation, sandy between the parties to outline a be implemented. Moreover, since of a Ramsar site, Marine part of a and muddy lats, a wide variety of framework for inter-institutional TUNE UP has been designed to incept UNESCO Biosphere reserve, and/or dune habitats, and Mediterranean salt and inter-sectoral collaboration, MPA Contract processes through the Internationally designated Specially steppes. In the oriental pilot MPAs, between administrations and public engagement of reliable/technical Protected Areas of Mediterranean the shoreline is mainly rocky with institutions, social and economic bodies (TUNE UP partners) and Importance (SPAMI). relevant pocket beaches of pebbles actors. The MoC includes a list of management authority of the target These pilot MPAs are distributed along and sand, as well as caves and canyons intentions for the target area, the area (TUNE UP associated partners) the north-west and north-central locally occurring. In this region the responsibilities of each of the signers, as their promoters, major changes shores of the Mediterranean and underwater landscape is of exceptional and their degree of involvement, in policy frames encompassing more shelter diverse habitats. Societies quality with cliffs, submarine caves and and is based on the principles of the adequate legal tools than those in the surroundings of these areas associated fauna and lora. Generally, process to be inclusive and voluntary. already available is beyond the scope established over centuries relationships the benthos of the MPAs are very In order to build a bridge with the of the partnership. Therefore, the based on the provision and exploitation rich, both for the photophilic and for actual Environmental Contract, the bottom-up approach is bringing the of their resources, depending on them the sciophilous sector. The presence

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 74 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 7575 of cavities and small caves along the rice cultivation, generate pollution 4.1.3 Key themes addressed from scenarios rocky cliffs allows the settlement of (pesticide, nutrients) that threatens coralligenous biocoenoses already a marine environments through drainage Romina D’Ascanio few meters deep, some of them of networks. Marine environments receive paramount conservation concern in also atmospheric pollution from criticalities such as: (i) the complexity the Mediterranean context. industrial activities and transport. For each of the TUNE UP pilots, three scenarios - trend, oriented and of the institutional framework; (ii) the Not all pilot MPAs are strictly marine, Other predominant impacts in the preferred – have been drafted on the fragmentation of the responsibility; and some include freshwater and pilot MPAs are considered moderate. three strategic topics of (i) governance; (iii) lack of coordination between local terrestrial conservation values These are residential and commercial (ii) environment, and; (iii) economic authorities, and; (iv) lack of a common closely linked to their marine values. development, over-exploitation and social development in order to strategy for the MPA. In most of the Accordingly, management of these (overishing and lack of control frame the criticalities and potentialities pilots, the lack of participation of MPAs must necessarily be integrated procedures), transport (linked with sea (see Paragraph 3.4.1). From the trend local communities in the governance and consider the complementarity and trafic and ports), human disturbances scenario it is possible to infer the process has been highlighted. (mainly related with recreational areas) interactions between management problems and the negative tendencies Especially in the Slovenian, Italian, aspects and conservation of all and invasive and other problematic affecting the target areas in the current Montenegrin and Albanian pilots, environments. In this sense, a series species (which occurs in almost all the moment; from the oriented scenario small staff and poor inancial resources of freshwater habitats, sclerophyllous pilot MPAs). Also, as it happens in the it is possible to deine a set of positive are affecting the good management scrubs, natural and semi-natural whole Mediterranean basin, the pilot interventions (material and immaterial of the MPA and in turn the nature grassland formations, raised bogs and MPAs are highly exposed to the effects likely to improve the pilot. Finally, conservation. mires and fens, rocky habitats and of climate change, in particular the rise the preferred scenario highlights the Other important issues refer to the caves (including some marine caves), in sea level and the decrease in rainfall, proposals selected to achieve short-mid lack of awareness (Albania, Italy); the and forests, occurs in the terrestrial the latter affecting the hydroperiods of term improvement goals. ineffectiveness or the obsolescence part of MPAs. the wetlands and the freshwater/salt Subsequently, in order to frame a of planning tools (Italy, Greece, On the other hand, TUNE UP MPAs water balance. Most of these threats common insight of MPAs’ criticalities Albania); the lack of a centralized relect other non-environmental and pressures act synergistically on sink and opportunities, a comparison system for data collection regarding 4 interests. Most of them share habitats and ecosystem productivity, between pilots’ scenarios was operated. the status of the environment, human an interest in hosting important potentially negatively affecting also the The issues raised can provide a activities and regulations (Greece); the archaeological, historical and economic sectors. Mediterranean-wide reference presence of uncoordinated operation ethnological heritage, as well as Only a few of these MPAs have framework for MPAs that attempt of individual sectors (Slovenia). high landscape, economy, education developed a management plan aiming to start an Environmental Contract Some of the partners, especially SEO/ and scientiic value. Due to the at balancing between the conservation process or acquire a collaborative Birdlife (Spain), underlined how this historical coexistence between human of its important biodiversity and a governance approach in their conlicting situation negatively affected societies and these landscapes and rational use of natural resources management in order to balance the the whole conservation status of the natural resources, a series of impacts through direct actions reducing needs of nature conservation and MPA. on biodiversity currently occur. impacts, pressures and the described economic development. The proposals for improving the Despite the fact that all MPAs are threats. In fact, the diagnoses made A speciic comparison matrix, reporting governance of the MPAs emerging from protected areas under the national on these spaces generally include two the priority information provided by the oriented and preferred scenarios or international legal framework, key aspects that show the need to partners concerning the main features are numerous and concern mainly the occurrence and intensity of improve environmental governance: emerged in the three scenarios and the improvement of communication some pressures and threats are (i) improvement of knowledge and on the three topics of all pilots has between institutions and stakeholders’ identiied as high. This is the case of monitoring of the natural heritage of been implemented (Figure 4.1). Each participation, and speciically the impacts related to agriculture and the MPAs; (ii) site-speciic governance [4] Sink habitats are partner illed its own speciic row and establishment of cooperation aquaculture, together with pollution, in order to improve coordination and habitats in which then, the analysis of the matrix was networks between key stakeholders, whose intensity is considered high integration between public institutions, populations cannot done for the three strategic topics. as proposed by ZRC-SAZU (Slovenia), survive when they are in most of the pilot MPAs. Intensive scientists, technicians and citizens. isolated from other Governance or of speciic measures to foster agricultural activities, particularly populations. Most of the pilots share several collaboration for transparency and

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 76 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 7777 SCENARIOS actions that can be put in place for the intensive agriculture worsen the

GOVERNANCE ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT proper protection of the nature. quality of the waters of the MPA, on PP ACRONYM COMMENTS The corrective actions proposed the other hand traditional agriculture TREND ORIENTED PREFERRED TREND ORIENTED PREFERRED TREND ORIENTED PREFERRED within the oriented and preferred (more sustainable) is not practiced

LP ANATOLOIKI scenarios were inalized at monitoring very much resulting less attractive for alien species and implementing new farmers (ZRC-SAZU + AMW). In PP1 FAMP measures against climate change. other cases, where some innovative

PP3 MEDSEA Furthermore, it could be possible and sustainable agriculture practices do to implement tools to monitor the exist, it is dificult to cooperate (RM3). PP4 MIN ALBANIA coastal erosion thought the use of Furthermore, waste management PP5 ZRC SAZU new technologies, as proposed by stands as major problems in some

SEO Anatoliki’s pilot. The necessity to pilots (Anatoliki + RM3 + UOM). PP6 BIRDLIFE increase scientiic knowledge based The lack of mobility infrastructure and PP7 TDV on the value of nature was stressed digital infrastructure proves pivotal

PP8 UOM both in order to implement the especially in remote areas. planning tools (AMV, ZRC-SAZU, SEO/ From the oriented and preferred PP9 AMVRAKIKOS Birdlife) and to increase community scenarios, many positive measures

PP10 UNIROMA3 awareness. Activities of citizen science and activities have been proposed and dissemination campaign have such as the possibility to implement: been proposed in order to diffuse the (i) touristic offer integrating also the open government, as proposed by effects caused by climate change and Figure 4.1 – Scenario Comparison culture of marine conservation. inner areas (ZRC-SAZU) in order not FAMP (Spain). Another operative the presence of invasive alien species. matrix. Authors: to overload the fragile marine habitats; action proposed by AMW (Greece) is Many of them have also identiied D’Ascanio, Muccitelli, Local development (ii) experiential tourism or sustainable to create a platform for data collection habitat fragmentation and loss of Pozzi Many results emerged, mostly tourism liable to further diversify the and dissemination regarding the biodiversity as a central problem. These addressing the effects of unsustainable destinations in the MPAs. environmental status, socio-economic are the pivotal issues recognised at activities. The possibilities offered by green jobs development and regulations that will Mediterranean level. In other pilots Firstly, the lack of support for the were highlighted such as (i) sustainable allow better communication among (France, Greece and Italy), also the local SMEs, budget for implementing ishing that uses traditional techniques all stakeholders. In many of the pilots costal erosion was listed as a relevant sustainable project and cooperation in order to combat the disappearance (Greece, Italy, Spain and Albania), the problem. In these three cases and in emerged under the business point of of these economic practices; (ii) need to adopt or update planning tools Albania also the pollution was listed view. Then, some of the pilots have agriculture with the use of more at different levels, recurring also to among the criticalities. a mainly seasonal tourist economy, sustainable agricultural techniques in participative practices, was identiied Another highlighted group of problems which does not allow diversiication of order not to pollute and to experiment as fundamental for improving the refers to the human impact, such the offer. some innovations with new farmers. management. Finally, speciically for as: (i) inadequate or unsustainable In some cases, isheries management About the waste, awareness-raising the Italian case, the need for enhancing farming systems (ZRC-SAZU), as well problems were encountered. if campaigns on marine litter and the the MPA management ofice autonomy as illegal or overishing (ZRC-SAZU, professional ishing is regulated in reuse of solid waste were proposed. in respect of the municipality (when Albania, MEDSEA, AMW); (ii) the most cases, recreational and sport Finally, dissemination activities of the the latter constitutes the actual effect of seasonal tourism affecting the ishing is not, negatively impacting economic support possibilities offered management authority) emerged. good status of the MPAs’ environment on the ecosystem (SEO/Birdlife). by European resources for SMEs have conservation (ROMA3). Others have pointed out that been recommended. Environment Lastly, the lack of awareness of local traditional ishing is being increasingly From this comparison, the more urgent As for environmental issues, there are communities regarding marine abandoned. criticalities present in MPAs can be more commonalities than differences ecosystem environmental and Also concerning the agriculture, synthetized as follows: among the pilots. landscape values is one of the main different positions have emerged: - lack of a multilevel governance All of them have highlighted the criticalities affecting the small scale on the one hand the pollutants of considering bottom-up initiatives;

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 78 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 79 - lack of communication among a sustainable management could conidence between each other, these number of public bodies; the highest stakeholders from different sectors; provide to the local community; stakeholders allow the involvement number of private businesses was - Managing Authority's inability to - urgency to ind solutions against of other stakeholder who might mapped by FAMP, ZRC-SAZU, Tour organize funds and cooperate with climate change and invasive alien initially feel reluctant to participate du Valat, Amvrakikos and Roma Tre stakeholders; species; in the governance process and are University; the highest number of - absence of a sustainable - need for tourism diversiication and equally important for the subsequent associations and organizations was management of the protected area; alternatives to beach tourism; development of the Contract’s recorded by FAMP, MEDSEA, ZRC- - lack of public awareness on the - need for sustainable ishery and Action Plan. The role of these hinge SAZU, SEO/Birdlife, Tour du Valat and value of the resources of the MPA agriculture. stakeholders is key, since they manage Roma Tre University; SEO/Birdlife and of economic opportunities that to involve small entities that generally identiied the highest number of high are great allies for the development of education and research centres; and the Action Plan. At the same time, small Amvrakikos and MEDSEA mapped the entities are aware that they cannot by highest number of business support 4.1.4 Key stakeholders engaged themselves trigger signiicant changes organizations. in the state of conservation or in the Pablo Vera, Romina D’Ascanio, Carolina Pozzi Both at pilot area level and project local socio-economic environment. level, the mapped stakeholders For this reason, it is very important categorized by ields mainly belong to In all the territorial realities covered by means of their own strategic work. that regional and national public “environment and biodiversity”, follow bodies that have the compass role in by the TUNE UP project, the recurrent Therefore, they must have extensive by “tourism”, “local development” and the process put on the table the need objectives of the implementation of experience in governance models “ishery”. for the participation of these small MPA Contracts are to create synergies and speciic knowledge on voluntary, Regarding the territorial level of entities to ensure the improvement of through cooperative formulas and inclusive agreements. There are activity, at pilot area level the highest to increase knowledge for MPA speciic cases in France (Conservatoire management tools, deining by this way governance models based on shared percentage of local stakeholders was management. All the processes had du Littoral), Spain (Coast Demarcation management or co-management. reported by FAMP, MEDSEA, Ministry involved the public bodies responsible in Valencia) and Montenegro. The analysis of stakeholders conducted of Albania, ZRC-SAZU, Tour du Valat, for the management of the MPAs, Due to the need to develop online by project partners were processed in Amvrakikos and Roma Tre University; which were strategically integrated as most of the participative processes order to identify some main features while Anatoliki and University of associated partners into the project. derived from COVID-19 outbreak and in terms of typology (Figure 4.2), Montenegro identiied more national Their active and proactive participation subsequent sanitary restrictions, the ields (Figure 4.3) and territorial level stakeholders and SEO/Birdlife more is essential since they legitimize the participation of small stakeholders of activity (Figure 4.4). Furthermore, regional ones. In general, at project governance process and are necessary was reduced (lack of logistical at the end of the testing phase an level, it can be highlighted that 50% of to implement strategic or structural capabilities, or dificulties related to additional revision in term of typology the mapped stakeholders act at local actions that may be deined in the MPA the expression of their interests in has been done analysing those level. Contract Action Plan. Indeed, both a comfortable and conident way). stakeholders which have been actively Finally, according to the analysis of the TUNE UP and WETNET experience Among these, the cases found most involved in the pilot processes (Figure stakeholders actually involved in the have shown that in those cases in frequently in the TUNE UP project 4.5). processes, the typology categorization which the involvement of this entities are those entities most dependent At project level, the mapped seemed quite similar to the one was lower, the governance process on the favourable conservation status stakeholders belong mainly to public related to mapped stakeholders but and the involvement of the other of the MPA, such as local ishing bodies, associations and private the number of actors consistently stakeholders weakened. communities, small businesses, and businesses. Speciically, at pilot area decreased except for Tour du Valat, In some of the pilot areas, it has been local associations. Another key set of level, all partners identiied a high SEO/Birdlife and Ministry of Albania. key to have stakeholders who generate stakeholders, such as NGOs, research stability in the process. These entities, centres, or local public bodies, could not necessarily public but acting as be considered "hinge stakeholders". a reference point in the scope of the Thanks to previous joint work with MPA, assume the course of the process other stakeholders that helped to grow

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 80 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 8181 Figure 4.2 - Figure 4.3 - a)Number of mapped a)Percentage of mapped Public bodies Sectoral agencies stakeholders categorized stakeholders categorized Busiess support orgaisa�os by typology for each pilot by ield for each pilot Infrastr. and service providers Agriculture Touris Private businesses b)Percentage of mapped b)Percentage of the Fishery Rerea�os Culture Assoia�os /orgaiza�os stakeholders in TUNE UP mapped stakeholders Naviga�o Schools and training centers Eergy Researh/Moitorig Loal developet Other Higher edua�o/researh project categorized by in TUNE UP project Other typology categorized by ield %%%%% Eviroet/iodiversity

Figure 4.5 - Figure 4.4 - a) Percentage of mapped a)Number of involved stakeholders categorized Public bodies stakeholder categorized by territorial level of Sectoral agencies activity for each pilot Busiess support orgaisa�os by typology for each pilot Local Infrastr. and service providers b)Percentage of the Regional Private businesses b)Percentage of involved mapped stakeholders Na�oal Assoia�os /orgaiza�os stakeholders in TUNE UP Itera�oal Schools and training centers project categorized by in TUNE UP project Higher edua�o/researh categorized by territorial Other typology level of activity %%%%%

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 82 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 8383 4.2 TUNE UP target areas and pilot processes 4.2.1 Thermaikos Gulf, Greece Kostas Kostantinou, Anastasia Lespouridou

Target area ID PARTNER: ANATOLIKI SA

LOCATION: Thessaloniki Regional Unit – Region of Central Macedonia, Greece

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Thermaikos Gulf Protected Areas Management Authority (TGPAMA)

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 4,350.78 ha

INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: 17,135.10 ha (Thermaikos Gulf Protected Areas)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The pilot area is part of the River Basin District of Central Macedonia (EL10). The territory falls within the National Park of Axios - Loudias – Aliakmonas which is designated as an Absolute Nature Conservation Area and Nature Conservation Area, and a Ramsar site (3GR007) since 1974. The area belongs to the Natura 2000 sites. It is a Site of Community Importance (SCI) / Special Area Conservation (SAC) GR1220002. It is also a Special Protection Area (SPA) GR 12 200 10. Most of the Area belongs to the National Park of the Delta Axios Loudias Aliakmon that has been appointed through the Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) 12966/2009.

MAIN FEATURES: The pilot MPA of Axios Delta comprises a large part of the greater area under the jurisdiction of the TGPAMA. The pilot area is expanded around the Delta of Axios River and between the estuary of Gallikos River on the East, the estuary of Loudias River on the west and up to the National Road on the North. The sea front on the south includes 89.43 Km of coastline. The MPA is at the same time a valuable water resource and a place for the development of multiple economic activities in both the marine and land parts such as isheries, mussel farming, livestock breeding and rice cultivation. Part of the pilot area also falls within the Regional Zone (Agricultural Farming Area) of the National Park. Being in the proximity of a metropolitan area such as Thessaloniki creates pressures and opportunities to this sensitive ecosystem. On the left: view of the Thermaikos Gulf. Credit: ANATOLIKI SA

Chapter 4 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 85 Gevgelija

Kilkis

Giannitsa Edessa

Thessaloniki

Veria

Thermaikos Gulf

Situated on the west coast of the the aim of protecting and managing View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in foresees the implementation of the Public authority, 9 Business support Credit: ANATOLIKI SA blue) and inluence area Thermaikos Gulf the Axios Delta the wetland system consisting of the (green pattern) Protected Areas Management Units, organisations, 2private SMEs, 2 MPA is one of the most important Deltas of the rivers Axios and Aliakmon, new entities under which existing Interest groups, 5 Higher education ecosystems in Greece. The area is an the mouths of Loudias and Gallikos personnel of the current Management and research institutes, 1 Sectoral attraction pole for the tourists due rivers, the Kalochori Lagoon and the Bodies will be uniied at Regional Level. agency, 2 Infrastructure and public to the excellent landscape created by salt pans of Kitrus. In 2018, with the The pilot area belongs to the Water service providers. ANATOLIKI invited rivers and wetlands. The rice paddies, law 4519/20.02.2018 that deined new Department of Central Macedonia, for them to participate in the 1st Local the bird fauna, the vegetation, the islets Protected Areas Management Bodies which the River Basin Management Conference, that was held on July and the coastline in form of stripes as legal authorities responsible for Plan has been completed and approved 2020 in the nearby Municipality of across the Delta, contribute to positive management of Natura 2000 protected in 29/12/2017. The purpose of the Chalastra. In this event the Tune impressions from the landscape. The areas in Greece, the Management Management Plan is to fulil the project, its scope and expected results area is an impressive mosaic of land, Authority was renamed to TGPAMA objectives of Directive 2000/60/EC. The were presented and a irst Local wetland and marine ecosystems. Rivers, and took under his responsibility new main goal of the Plan is the integrated Focus Group (LFG) was formulated. lagoons, salt marshes, fertile ields areas of the Natura 2000 network. It and sustainable management of water A series of 3 Territorial Labs followed. and the sea give shelter to hundreds is now one of 36 Management Bodies resources through the determination of During the territorial labs 25 different of species of plants and animals. operating in Greece. Currently there is principles and proposals for measures stakeholders participated in the It is a valuable biotope for many a transitional period for Management for the conservation and protection procedures. Some of them were animal species, some of which are Bodies of Protected Areas in Greece. of water. According to the TUNE UP present in all sessions, others partially endangered. Macedonia's history, both With the late law 4685/07.05.2020 methodology for the formation of an participated. Through round table ancient and modern, is inextricably a new National Policy Governance MPA Contract, the identiication of discussions during local workshops and linked to the plain of Thessaloniki and System for Protected Areas has been possible stakeholders involved in the the distribution of information material the river Axios. There is a museum established. By this Act a new National area was done through a stakeholder’s and questionnaires, the LFG members of Balkan Wars in the wider area. The body responsible for the Protected analysis/mapping. Forty different contributed to the formulation of the Management Authority was established Areas was introduced: The Natural types of entities were mapped: alternative scenarios, shared their in 2002 as the Management Authority Environment and Climate Change 12 national bodies/authorities, 6 views on issues concerning the area of Axios-Loudias-Aliakmon Delta with Agency (NECCA). The new law also regional bodies authorities, 1 Local and their activities and prioritized the

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 86 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 87 most urgent problems to be solved. - organized system of governance 4.2.2 Cabo De Gata-Níjar, Spain The participants acknowledged the and coordination between the positive impact that the elaboration Authorities; Andalusian Federation of Towns and Provinces of the “Local Contract of Axios Delta - improvement of knowledge and MPA” could have in the pilot MPA, monitoring of the area; therefore agreed to sign a First - dealing with the effects of climate Memorandum of Understanding change; (MoU). The importance of water for - rational exercise of productive the region, which is the recipient of the activities; residues of all activities, and its proper - rational management of water Target area ID PARTNER: Andalusian Federation of Towns and Provinces (FAMP) management, aiming at its qualitative resources; and quantitative improvement, was - reduction of pollution. LOCATION: Province of Almeria, Andalusian Region, Spain identiied as a common goal of all the - Initially the irst signatories of the stakeholders and the main objective of MoU, 13 stakeholders in total, soon MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Agriculture, livestock, ishing and the Memorandum of Understanding. to be 14, have decided to formulate sustainable development Department of the Andalusian Region All participants agreed on the need to a management Board named: "Local carry out their activities by adapting Committee for the management MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 12,012 ha sustainable and environment-friendly of Axios - Delta MPA". All possible practices. This speciic objective is stakeholders initially identiied will INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: In addition to the MPA, the Cabo de Gata- to be pursued through the following be asked to participate in the MPA Níjar Natural Park constitutes a territory with a surface area of 37,500 ha. categories of actions that meet the 14 forum. The signatories of the MoU It also includes part of the municipalities of Almería, Carboneras and Níjar. speciic objectives of the preferred will also act as peers to attract new The total surface area of the municipalities is 49,630 ha. scenario for the pilot MPA: entries. ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The pilot area is a Biosphere Reserve, Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) and Place of Community Interest (SCI). Likewise, since June 2001 it has formed part of the European Geoparks Network. The salt lats are included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance of the Ramsar Convention, and the coastal strip is protected under the igure of Marine Reserve, forming part of the list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) of the Barcelona Convention.

MAIN FEATURES: The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park constitutes a territory with a surface area of 37,500 and 12,012 marine hectares, with a maximum altitude of 562 metres at the level of La Serrata in the municipality of Carboneras and a minimum of - 60 metres at the bottom of the sea. The identity of this area is based on its semi-arid nature, being one of the few protected areas in Europe of volcanic origin, with a sub-desert and steppe vocation, and because it has the 63 km of best- preserved cliff coast of the Spanish Mediterranean coast and some of its best seabed.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 88 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 89898989 Nijar

Almeria

Las Negras Cabo de Gata

Gulf of Almeria

The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park also formed part of the list of Specially View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in Ministries and public administrations establishing a participated governance Credit: FAMP blue) and inluence area has been established as a pilot area Protected Areas of Mediterranean (green pattern) involved and representatives of for the MPA Contract of Natural Park and the municipalities of Almería, Importance (SPAMI) of the Barcelona other interested bodies, who ensure Cabo de Gata-Níjar. The main result Carboneras and Níjar are included as Convention since 2001. compliance with the rules of protection of the territorial laboratories has been an area of socio-economic inluence. It Another element that contributes and defend the values and singularities the deinition of 8 projects for the is the irst maritime-terrestrial Natural to conigure the Natural Park is of the site. Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park Action Park declared in Andalusia. The limits the presence of a strong anthropic FAMP held a series of participatory Plan: 3 within the Governance and of the protected area were established component. The extensive historical events in October 2020, November Management work group; 4 within the in Regional Decree 314/1987 of 23 footprint of the different cultures and 2020 and March 2021, involving Conservation and Environment work December 1987, declaring the Cabo their uses continues to be appreciated various stakeholders, including: group; and 1 within the Economic and de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. The main in the presence of numerous features technicians and politicians from Social work group. The objective of characteristics of this Natural Park and elements of the territory, Almería, Carboneras and Nijar City are derived from its semi-arid climate which have become differentiated the MoU will be outlining a framework Councils, Natural Park Cabo de for inter-institutional and inter-sectoral and its volcanic origin, which gives from its landscape. This, together Gata-Níjar, Agriculture, livestock, rise to a territory of high landscape with its natural values, gives it an collaboration, between administrations ishing and sustainable development and public institutions, social and and ecological value, which is why, in unquestionable anthropological value, department from the Andalusian economic actors, committed to 1997, it was recognised by UNESCO as it allows us to follow, step by step, Government, Levante Almeriense as a Biosphere Reserve. In addition to the way in which man has exploited Rural Development Group, Local the preservation of an area and the the aforementioned Natural Park and its resources, modelling a landscape Action Group of the Fishing Sector promotion of a sustainable socio- Biosphere Reserve, the Cabo de Gata- "made by man". The Cabo de Gata- Costa de Almería, Tragsa Group, Isub economic development model. Níjar area is also SPA and since 2012 it Níjar Natural Park is thus a living San José, Buceo las Negras, Tibulox, has been a SCI. It has also been part example of the interaction between Ágata Verde “Environmental Education of the European Geoparks Network man and nature. and Ecotourism”, Serbal Association, since June 2001. The coastal strip, due The Natural Park is managed through Buceo en Cabo de Gata, Mal Caminos to its ishing interest, is protected as a the Governing Board, made up “active tourism”, Aquatours Almería Marine Reserve at national level. It has of representatives of the Regional and La Isla Activa with the aim of

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 90 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 91 4.2.3 Sinis Peninsula – Mal Di Ventre Island, Italy Giorgio Massaro

Target area ID PARTNER: Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation (MEDSEA)

LOCATION: Municipality of Cabras, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Municipality of Cabras

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 26,703 ha

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: Penisola del Sinis – Isola di Mal di Ventre” MPA has been established in the 1997 by a decree of the Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection. It has been recognized as international importance wetlands by the Ramsar Convention. MPA is also recognized as Special Area of Conservation, according to the “Habitat Directive”, and Special Protection Area, according to the “Birds Directive” for the presence of important nesting sites for marine bird species.

MAIN FEATURES: Penisola del Sinis Isola di Mal di Ventre is established on 1997 by a Ministry decree and recognized as a Special protected area (SPAMI) according to the Habitat directive, and Special Protection Area according to the Birds directive. Located in the western centre coast of Sardinia, including the southern part of the Sinis peninsula, Mal di Ventre island and Catalano rock. It is related with a wide wetland system (Cabras and Mistras Lagoons). It is characterized by Posidonia oceanica meadows, precoralligenous and coralligenous habitas. Rocky bottoms are colonized by bryozoans (e.g. Myriapora truncata) and incrustant sponges, facies of Cladocora caespitosa and Cnidaria as Eunicella singularis, and Astroides calycularis. In deep sites and caves is possible to observe populations of Corallium rubrum and colonies of the black coral Savalia savaglia. Sinis MPA hosts a ish assemblage, includes species like Epinephelus marginatus and Sciaena umbra.

On the left: view of the Peninsula Mal Di Ventre. Author: Giorgio Massaro

Chapter 4 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 93939393 Cabras

Torre Grande Oristano

San Giovanni di Sinis

The MPA “Penisola del Sinis – Isola di centres, research centres and business View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in blue) of Cabras (D.C.C. of 29 January 2011, MPA in Cabras, applying the Metaplan Mal di Ventre” has been established organizations. The fulilment of the Author: Egidio Trainito n. 33), in order to allow the effective moderation method”. Territorial labs in the 1997 by a decree of the stakeholder analysis showed that the participation of persons and economic have been conducted in order to, at Ministry for Environment, Land and main stakeholders of the pilot area are and social actors operating in the irst, identify strengths and weaknesses Sea Protection; it is regulated by represented by ishermen and boaters. municipal territory in the deinition of the MPA area, secondly, identify a Discipline Regulation governing However, from a consultation with of guidelines and implementation priorities and expected results, and the activities allowed within MPA the management body of the MPA, it programs in the individual areas inally select the main objectives and (adopted on the 11th July 2011 by turned out that the upon mentioned of intervention in the municipal activities to be included in the MoU. the Ministry of the Environment, n. stakeholders are facing a complex administration (Art. 72, c. 1 of the The objectives framed within the MoU 188) and an Implementation and conlict, on which the MPA has already municipal statute). The participatory are: improving environmental quality; Organization Regulation (adopted on responded organising thematic process, started in February 2021, increasing scientiic knowledge of the the 28th April 2017 by the Ministry meetings, aiming at negotiating win- involved the “Youth Municipal natural heritage; increasing public of the Environment, n. 113). There win solutions. For this reason, it has Council of Cabras”, together with the awareness about the environmental is no speciic Management Plan for been investigated the opportunity to representatives of the Municipality of value; improving protection of the MPA, but an "Activities and Financial apply the project testing activities to Cabras and of the the “Penisola del most vulnerable beaches; enhance Programme" exists, Ministerial “ISEA” the local youths of the Municipality of Sinis – Isola di Mal di Ventre” MPA. tourist experience in terms of Initiative, act to identify its own Cabras (aged between 18 and 30 years Local public/private research entities environmental, social and economic management strategy and Conceptual and representing the 10% of the local operating in the same MPA have sustainability; increasing control on Map (“Penisola del Sinis – Isola community population), grouped in been involved too. The participatory overishing practices and promoting di Mal di Ventre” MPA ISEA plan). “Youth Municipal Council of Cabras, process has been greatly impacted sustainable ishing techniques; MEDSEA mapped 57 stakeholders as main subjects for the deinition by the social distancing imposed supporting employment opportunities that have authority, inluence or and implementation of speciic by Covid-19 health emergency and linked to the sustainable use of the territorial labs have been held online area; encouraging higher integration interests in the pilot area within the commitments on the future of the MPA. via Skype and Zoom platform and in between public institutions, technicians categories of national, regional and The Youth Council of the Municipality presence at the headquarters of the and citizens. local Public Authorities, environmental of Cabras is one of the participation associations, local educational bodies recognized by the Municipality

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 94 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 95 4.2.4 Karaburun Sazan, Albania Elvana Ramaj

Target area ID PARTNER: Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment

LOCATION: Karaburun- Sazan, Vlora city, Albania

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Regional Agency for Protected Areas, RAPA Vlore

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 12,570.82 ha

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: Marine National Park Karaburun-Sazan was proclaimed on April 28th 2010. The total area of MPA Karaburun - Sazan is 12,570.82 ha. Marine area is around Karaburuni Penninsula 9,848.95 ha. Marine area around Sazani island is 2,721.87 ha. According to Birdlife International (2014), the area of Vlora bay, Karaburuni peninsula and Cika mountain is listed as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) for Albania (IBA assessment was done in 2000). About 70 species of water birds have been recorded among which the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) and the pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus).

MAIN FEATURES: The Marine Protected Area of Sazan – Karaburuni is located in the Vlora County of south-western Albania. It is home to a vast array of landforms, including mountains, caves, islands, depressions, bays, cliffs, canyons and rocky coasts, all contributing to an exceptionally considerable biological diversity and richness in lora and fauna. The park is home to at least 70 species of mammals, 144 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles and 11 species of amphibia. It also contains a vast array of invertebrates represented with 167 species. The diverse landscapes of the park, with an exceptionally considerable marine and terrestrial life free of any marks of human disturbance, maintain a particular appeal.

On the left: view of the pilot site Sazan Karaburun. Credit: Regional Agency for Protected Areas District of Vlora

Chapter 4 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 979797979797979797 Vlora

Adriatic Sea

The MPA is designated on the sites This area is certainly the best and most View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in blue) in the country for its diversity of habitats Defence, Ministry of Infrastructure and Credit: Regional Agency of Karaburuni Peninsula and Sazani impressive part of Albanian coast for for Protected Areas and its richness in lora and fauna Energy, National Agency of Tourism, Island being the central element for the development of nautical activities District of Vlora species. Except for wetlands, coastal National Spatial Planning Agency, nature conservation and the city of such as scuba diving which is not well area is mainly rocky with important National Coastal Agency, National Vlora and the central element for its developed in Albania. The island of calcareous limestone cliffs covered Urban Planning Inspectorate, National development. This marine environment Sazani (16km long and 3-5km wide), at by typical Mediterranean vegetation Environment Agency, Inter Institutional is characterized by many diversiied the north of Karaburuni Peninsula, has in some places & locally along the Marine Operations Centre. Regarding ecosystems and a diverse range of an ellipsoid form-oriented NNW-SSE coast, pocket beaches of pebbles and Regional Administration stakeholders marine species with ecological and and culminates at 345 m with Gryka e sand. The underwater landscape is of are: Vlora prefecture, Vlora municipality, economic importance. The Peninsula Djallit. Sazani Island separated from the exceptional quality with cliffs, submarine Orikumi Administrative Unit, Chamber is situated in the middle of Albania, in northern tip of the Karaburuni Peninsula caves and associated fauna and lora, of Commerce and Industry Vlora, front of the city of Vlora, sharing sea by the Mezokanali Strait. This island is and in some places archaeological Fisheries Management Organization waters of Adriatic and Ionian Seas. a Natural Recreational/Touristic Zone remains. The close collaboration – OMP, Organization of Touristic The rocky coast with, in some places, with remarkable cliffs, landscapes and including their inluence in planning Operators, Marina of Orikum. Regarding important calcareous limestone cliffs diving areas. Since summer 2015 Sazani strategies of all involved stakeholders Civil Society Organizations: Organisation covered by typical Mediterranean Island is opened for public visits as a constitutes a major priority for the for Environmental Education – SEEP, vegetation and locally along the coast, relict of Cold War and a natural site. management of the pilot site, including Association for Vlora Bay Protection, pocket beaches of pebbles and sand Orikumi Lagoon covers around 130 groups of central government, local Centre for Research, Cooperation and represents exceptional scenic quality ha with a maximal depth of 3 m and is government, and regional associations. Development – CRCD, Auleda Centre, especially by boat when visiting caves, permanently in communication with It is carried out the identiication of Human Rights and Environment, canyons and small bays, e.g., Haxhi Ali the sea by a channel 50 m long. It has a possible stakeholders involved in the Aulona Centre, Aarhus Organisation, and Duk Gjoni caves. The underwater limited input of freshwater southwards. area done through a stakeholder’s Agribusiness, Dukati, Oriku. The MoU landscape is also of exceptional It is located in a restricted military analysis/mapping. The management will be signed between MoTE, NAPA and quality with cliffs, submarine caves area. Orikumi is an archaeological site of the site is shared between: Ministry RAPA Vlore and will foresee the political and associated fauna and lora, and in of prime importance. The whole area of Tourism and Environment, National and practical will and main focuses for some places archaeological remains. displays the highest biodiversity values Agency of Protected Areas, Ministry of the integrated management of the MPA.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 98 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 99 ^ 4.2.5 Secovlje Salina, Slovenia Aleš Smrekar, Katarina Polajnar Horvat

Target area ID PARTNER: Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU)

LOCATION: Slovene Istria, Slovenia

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: SOLINE, Pridelava soli, d. o. o.

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 673 ha (673 ha Natura 2000 sites / 100 %)

INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: 758 ha (15 ha Natura 2000 Sites / 2 %) - Emys orbicularis habitat area

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The area of Sečovlje Salina Nature Park has been designated as Ramsar site (no. 586) in 1993. Additionally, it has been protected under Natura 2000, where Habitats Directive (SCI and SAC) protects two sites, Kanal Sv. Jerneja (SI3000239), covering 31.8 ha and Sečoveljske soline in estuarij Dragonje (SI3000240) comprising 366.3 ha. Moreover, the area has been protected under Birds Directive (SPA), Sečoveljske soline (SI5000018) covering 892 ha.

MAIN FEATURES: The Sečovlje Salina Nature Park is located in the south-western part of Slovenia and connects the Adriatic Sea Coast with a lood-plain of Dragonja River. The protected area extends approximately 4 km in NW-SE and 3 km in SW-NE direction, covering around 673 ha. Saltmaking has been the main activity in the area probably from antiquity, yet irst written sources about salt-making date back to the 13th. As such, the area has been transformed into a network of canals, dykes, salt ields, barriers, wind and hand pumps and other ethnological, technical and historically important elements. Nowadays, there are two types of saltpans: the Lera area, with modernized salt production and the Fontanigge area, which represents the medieval part of the saltpans. Especially the Lera area has been considered as an important habitat and “stepping stone” between other coastal wetland areas in the southern parts of the Eastern Adriatic coast towards the Golf of Trieste, Venice Lagoon and towards the On the left: view of northwest. Secovlje Salina Nature Park, old salty pans. Author: Jure Ticar

Chapter 4 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 101101101101101101101101 Seča

Korte

Parecag Kanegra

Sečovlje

Sveta Marija Na Krasu

Plovanija

was able to regulate the water level and View of the target area Map of the MPA (in 2011–2021. Since 1993, the area has The newly delineated border runs Sečovlje Salina is one of the most Author: Iztok Skornik blue) and inluence area northern active saltpans in the transform the natural environment. (green pattern) been included in the List of Wetlands along the Dragonja riverbed and no Mediterranean. There are no The Sečovlje saltpans are evaluated of International Importance under longer along its left bank. The area of inhabitants in the protected area. as ethnological, technical, historical, the Ramsar Convention. The salt pans the park thus decreased by 48.8 ha Besides salt production, small private settlement and landscape heritage of together with the Seča peninsula are (6.8%). Approximately 200 potential agricultural areas consist of meadows, utmost importance in the national and recognized within Slovenian legislation stakeholders were addressed in the pastures, ields, orchards and wider sense. Salt work date back to the as an ecologically important area and as local community and wider (with vineyards. Educational and tourist offer 13th century. In the past, the Sečovlje a natural value of national importance. particular knowledge and interest) is strengthened by the Museum of Salt- saltpans were of the great strategic Following Directive 2009/147/EC on through the questionnaire. Further, making, which, in addition to nature and economic importance of the city the conservation of wild birds, the 64 potential stakeholders participated conservation content, is the centre of of Piran. Nowadays, natural processes entire Sečovlje Salina with part of the in the questionnaire and provided activities within the park. are reshaping the landscape again, open sea in the Piran Bay was deined answers. According to the response, Due to long-lasting human activity, especially in the inactive Fontanigge as a special protection area (SPA) for 16 they were invited to participate in a typical salt ecosystem has formed. area. Sečovlje Salina Nature Park was bird species by the Decree on Special the further River Contract process In the nature park, as many as 45 established in 2001 by the Decree on Protection Areas - Natura 2000 sites. of preparation of the MPA Contract species from the red list of endangered the Sečovlje Nature Park. The Park Individual parts within the salt pans through three Territorial Labs and plants thrive along with identiied 6 is located in the southern part of the following Council Directive 92/43/EEC two local conferences. This approach species of amphibians, 9 species of Municipality of Piran, right next to the on the conservation of natural habitats was implemented due to the diverse reptiles, more than 300 species of birds border with the Republic of Croatia. and of wild fauna and lora as special activities and stakeholders’ interests and 11 species of mammals. Their Since 2003, the area has been managed areas of conservation (SCI) for 3 animal in the small coastal cross-border greatest abundance is on the areas by the company SOLINE Pridelava soli species and 6 habitat types. In 2017, area. Within the three pillars - nature where human inluence is limited; in d. o. o. with a concession granted. with the inal ruling of the Arbitration conservation, tourism and agriculture particular, where the water regime is In 2011, a 10-year management plan Agreement between the Government - the groups addressed challenges and maintained. The base of saltpans is the was prepared by the Decree on the of the Republic of Slovenia and the sought solutions in the area of the estuary of the Dragonja River. With the Management Plan of the Sečovlje Government of the Republic of Croatia, Sečovlje Salina Nature Park and the system of dykes and canals, the man Salina Nature Park for the period the boundary of the park was changed. wider hinterland. Under each pillar,

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 102 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 103 stakeholders in groups discussed coordination and development, (6), 4.2.6 Albufera de Valencia, Spain problems, suggested solutions, and good condition of natural habitats, (7) highlighted the challenges they conservation of European Pond turtle, Pablo Vera identiied in the park's area. Altogether (8), strengthening the value of nature 34 stakeholders participated in the in the protected area, (9) establishment Territorial Labs. ZRC-SAZU has boosted and effective management of brands, a participatory process in October (10) valorisation and promotion of 2020 – March 2021, leading to the natural and cultural heritage, (11) subscription of the Memorandum of improving transport infrastructure and Understanding (MoU) towards the sustainable mobility and (12) design Target area ID PARTNER: SEO/BirdLife MPA Contract of Sečovlje Salina Nature and promotion of sustainable tourism Park by 14 key stakeholders on 10. 3. products. The Memorandum is not LOCATION: Province of Valencia, Valencia Region, Spain 2021. The main objectives of the MoU regulated by the law, but is rather a are (1) establishment of a network of voluntary commitment by the signatory MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Generalitat Valenciana. Department of cooperation between key stakeholders, bodies. The integration and following Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition. (2) stable management of agricultural of MoU speciic goals are foreseen in General Directorate of Natural environment and environmental assessment land, (3) regulation of water regime, later successful project proposals, such (4) sustainable management and as Life etc. MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 8,475.24 ha development, (5) cross-border INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: The MPA's area of inluence is the Albufera wetland, protected within the same Natura2000 site. The marine area represents 28.94% of the protected area, which has a total area of 29,285.57 ha.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The pilot area includes the Albufera wetland and the marine front, as a single space that protects all ecosystems in an integral way. With small variations in the limits, both the SAC (ES0000023) and SPA (ES0000471) igures coincide. In addition to the MPA, the coastline of the Gulf of Valencia is protected as Protected Areas of Fishing Interest (Zone 3), according to Decree 219/1997, of August 12, of the Valencian Government, which declares protected areas of ishing interest.

MAIN FEATURES: The marine area extends along 28 km of coastline, and is 3 km wide. The main habitats present are: communities of sands and muddy dendritic bottoms, meadows of Caulerpa prolifera, Caulerpa racemosa, Cymodocea nodosa, and non-vegetated hard substrates. Most of the ancient posidonia meadows are dead and only few isolated bundles survive. This is especially negative since it supposes the habitat of Pinna nobilis, as well as places of high production of small ish, mollusks and cephalopods, which are the food of dolphins and of threatened seabirds such as Pufinus mauretanicus and Calonectris diomedea. The MPA provides food resources to colonies of seagulls and terns breeding on the wetland. Professional ishing is not allowed in the MPA, recreational ishing is allowed but not regulated. The productivity of the area is key to ishing in the buffer area. Leisure activities (i.e. sliding water sports), have a growing relevance in recent years.

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Balearic Sea

Cullera

The Albufera MPA protects the entire and fauna are closely related to the View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in The governance process began in After the irst round of contacts with Credit: SEO/Birdlife blue) and inluence area coastline located between the mouth existing connectivity with the Albufera (green pattern) April 2020 with 51 stakeholders, stakeholders, there was a general of the Turia and Cabo de Cullera. Due wetland through three channels that with a diverse representation of engagement in their involvement in to the inluence of the Júcar river and connect with the Albufera lagoon and national, regional and local Public the process. Research institutes and its historical contribution of sediments, through several channels connected Authorities, Sectorial Agencies, as well NGO, more implicated in the MPA this entire coastline has sandy bottoms to irrigation systems. for growing rice. as environmental, neighbourhood conservation and used to participate with very soft slopes that allow the For this reason, the protected area is and leisure associations, higher in governance processes, focused on establishment of communities of deined as a single Natura2000 site, education and research centres and conservation strategies and the need seaweed and algae. Rocky outcrops highlighting the need to address a some touristic SME. Due to the health to boost the managing capacities based are very rare, although they represent comprehensive management of the situation generated by Covid-19, the on conservation evidence. Leisure small hotspots of biodiversity. The protected area. This is one of the few contacts were mainly online. The irst and sports associations followed designation as SAC (since 2001) and cases in which this situation occurs phase of the territorial labs consisted up the process with the interest of SPA (since 2009) coincides on this area, in Spain, where the designation, in the deinition of the trend scenario, improving regulation both to reduce due to its values in the conservation planning and management of MPAs allowing at the same time to construct their impact on biodiversity and of habitats, lora and fauna, especially is the responsibility of the central in a participatory way a context to clarify some regulations about seabirds. The MPA is recognized as government through the ministry analysis that would compile for the the development of their activities. an especially important enclave in responsible for environmental irst time the existing knowledge about Public bodies involvement focused action plans for the conservation of aspects. However, the Generalitat the marine area and deine its main on the establishment of regulation seabirds in the region. Due to the Valenciana proposed to include the threats and impacts. Once this trend of activities through a collaborative importance of the habitats present, marine area within a single protected scenario was deined and presented and inclusive process. The weakest it is protected against certain ishing area with the wetland, by virtue of to the stakeholder community, interest was found in professional activities that have an impact on Law 42/2007, of December 13, on the deinition of the targeted and ishermen, who do not work in the the environment, such as trawling, Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, the preferred scenarios continued. MPA but in the buffer area, or the although recreational activities are competence in the declaration and From the beginning, the project has artesian ishermen who abandoned allowed, including sport ishing. At management of the Natura2000 spaces had a high degree of interest and their activities. The engagement of all present, the conservation of its habitats falls to the regional governments. commitment from stakeholders. these entities and “community feeling”

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 106 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 107 built in the starting up process gave responsible of the management of the 4.2.7 Former Saltworks of Camargue, France a strong relevance to the governance MPA. The main issues identiied to process and helped to include new work on are the improvement of the Lisa Ernoul stakeholders as small neighbourhood knowledge on the conservation status associations and local sports clubs. of the MPA are related with overcoming One of the main drivers in the lack of knowledge, management and process were the consensus in that governance through the improvement collaboration between agents can be of the knowledge on the conservation improved, since current collaborations status of the MPA, improvement of occur in an uncoordinated manner. the connectivity between the sea and Target area ID PARTNER: Tour du Valat Also, the lack of information and real the wetland, improvement of the involvement of the management bodies water quality monitoring network LOCATION: Camargue, France of the marine area have led to a poor and alert systems, improvement of state of conservation, so there is a the competitiveness of the artisanal MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Conservatoire du Littoral common will to promote biodiversity ishing sector, deinition of a public and sustainable practices. Also, it was use plan based on the compatibility of MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 6,527 ha considered by most of the stakeholders activities and uses and conservation that the project is an opportunity to of the marine area, transfer of the INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: 150,000 ha strengthen and improve collaboration results of the Tune Up governance networks, and test a governance model process to the management plan of the ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The site is part of the Camargue Regional that allows stakeholders to work at Natura2000 network and improvement Natural Park; it includes the Ramsar site n.346, the UNESCO Biosphere the same level and in a collaborative of coordination and collaboration Reserve 1432 and two Natura 2000 sites (SCI FR9301592 and SPA way with the regional government as between stakeholders. FR9310019) MAIN FEATURES: The site includes 23 habitats of community interest, including 6 priority habitats. It hosts the largest and most diversiied sand dune system at the regional scale. 540 plants species are inventoried, including 27 protected species. 312 bird species are inventoried, for 6 of them the site is of international importance. 51 ish species are inventoried in the coastal lagoons including the Critically Endangered European Eel. The site also hosts an important population of Pond Terrapin (Emys orbicularis), while other threatened fauna includes the rare dragonly Lestes macrostigma. The most extensive natural habitats include: Coastal lagoons (3544 ha), Mediterranean halophilous scrubs (660 ha), pioneering annual vegetation with Salicornia and Suaeda (350 ha), sandy and muddy lats (270 ha), dune marshes (61 ha), white dunes and embryonic mobile dunes (63 ha), grey dunes (172 ha), saltmarshes (270 ha), Mediterranean salt steppes with Limonium sp (19 ha). Territorial sea covers 180 ha and mainly includes Sandbanks with low permanent seawater cover Shallow marine bay.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 108 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 109109109109109109109109109109 Arles

Aigues-Mortes Saint-Martin-de- Crau

Le Grau-du-Roi Étang de Vaccarès

Saintes Maries de la mer

Saline de Giraud Port-Saint-Louis- du-Rhône

The Former saltworks of Camargue that served as a surveillance and View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in to the hydrological regime of the ishermen, and hunters with the Author: Marc Thibault blue) and inluence area has a very important landscape value, defence tower until 1700. The ruin was (green pattern) lagoons and the sediment dynamics aim of establishing a participative with natural coastal landscapes (dune recently consolidated and protected (hydrological restoration actions have governance for the MPA Contract of massifs, very extensive beaches) and to prevent further deterioration. The been implemented since 2012). The the former saltworks of Camargue. lagoons developed for salt production. site also includes Mas de la Bélugue, a site is highly exposed to the effects of The different activities carried out Part of the site is characterised by traditional farm that is thought to be climate change, in particular the rise in during the territorial labs allowed the luvio-lacustrine marshland landscapes. constructed during the 18th century sea level and the decrease in rainfall, various stakeholders to raise their The site includes 23 habitats of and hosts traditional bull farming the latter affecting the hydroperiods awareness about the site and increase community interest, including 6 activities. In the immediate vicinity of the wetlands and the freshwater/ the dialogue between the different priority habitats. It hosts the largest of the site, there is a village of built salt water balance.The site has a actors. During this phase it became and most diversiied sand dune huts which developed gradually from tourist value with nature discovery, evident that new communication system at the regional scale. 540 plants the late 1950s onwards. A few people, hiking and cycling, seaside activities. A actions were necessary in order to ind species are inventoried, including 27 including ishermen, live there all management notice was developed for a common vision and management protected species. 312 bird species year round. Intensive agricultural the site in 2013 and the objectives for strategy. The preliminary site visits are inventoried, for 6 of them the activities, particularly rice cultivation, site management were elaborated. The and joint meetings were a irst step site is of international importance. generate pollution (pesticide, main focus includes: management of in this direction, with a consensus 51 ish species are inventoried in nutrients) through drainage networks coastal sand dunes, restoration of the on the preferred scenario involving the coastal lagoons including the that threaten aquatic environments. hydrological and biological functioning nature-based solutions, the continued Critically Endangered European Eel. Aquatic environments are also the of the coastal lagoons, foster breeding re-naturalisation of the site and The site also hosts an important receptacle of atmospheric pollution colonial waterbirds, restore halophilous management of risks related to marine population of Pond Terrapins (Emys from industrial activities and transport scrubs habitats and integrate human submersion and climate change. Four orbicularis), while other threatened on the periphery. The site was heavily uses. A series of participatory events key stakeholders have signed the MoU fauna includes the rare dragonly developed from the 1950s onwards (territorial labs) were held from which establishes the guidelines and Lestes macrostigma. In addition to the for salt production and part of the November 2019 to April 2021 involving the action plan to develop a formal biodiversity value, there is also historic coastline was equipped with dykes and various stakeholders, including: management plan for the site using the castle built during the 17th century protective groins, resulting in changes the site managers, local authorities, preferred scenario as a guiding line.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 110 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 111 4.2.8 Boka Kotorska Bay-Sopot and Drazin vrt, Montenegro Dragana Drakulović

Target area ID PARTNER: University of Montenegro-Institute of Marine Biology

LOCATION: Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: PE “Morsko Dobro”

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 26,543 ha

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The Bay is about 28 kilometres (17 mi) long with a shoreline extending 107.3 kilometres (66.7 mi). It is surrounded by two massifs of the Dinaric Alps: the Orjen mountains to the west, and the Lovčen mountains to the east. The narrowest section of the bay, the 2,300-metre (7,500 ft) long Verige Strait, is only 340 metres (1,120 ft) wide at its narrowest point. The bay is composed of four smaller broad bays: Herceg Novi and Tivat, which form the outer part, Kotor and Risan bay, which are connected with two straits -Kumborski and Verige. The narrowest section, Verige strait, is only 300 m long, and can be crossed by a ferryboat. The outermost part of the bay is the Bay of Tivat. When it comes to marine biodiversity especially valuable are areas of unique coralligenous assemblies are at Sopot and Dražin vrt. The largest populations of Savalia savaglia Bertoloni, species were recorded at these two sites, and a much smaller number was found at Cape Sv. Nedelja and even less near the island of Sv. Ðorđe, and in the wider zone of Strp towards Lipci.

MAIN FEATURES: The Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, comprising the inner, best-preserved part of the Boka Kotorska on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 under cultural criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). Area of Sopot and Dražin vrt with corraligenius assembiles is at the moment in the process of proclamation for preventive protection. The colonies of S. savaglia inside the Boka Kotorska Bay may even be unique in the world in terms of the depth at which they are located and the biocenoses they build. This should be the reason for the organisms that have been present there for centuries to continue their lives unhindered. PE “Morsko Dobro” will be manager of the area. Area Sopot and Dražin vrt will be protected as On the left: view of the Special Nature Reserve. There is still no Management Plan. pilot site Kotor Risan Bay. Author: Branka Pestorić

Chapter 4 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 113113113113113113113113113113 Perast

Herceg Dobrota Novi

Tivat Bay of Kotor Kotor

Boka Kotorska is one of the in the world in terms of the depth View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in blue) labs problems in protection of the pursued by the MPA MoU are: most renowned stretches of the at which they are located and the Author: Slavica Petrović Kotorsko-Risanski Bay with focus on - to identify joint activities that are Montenegrin coast, part of which biocenoses they build. Area of Sopot coralligenous assemblies at area Sopot optimal for the potential marine has been designated as UNESCO’s and Dražin vrt with corraligenius and Drazin vrt were discussed. All protected area of Sopot and Dražin World Heritage Site. The area hosts a assembiles is at the moment in the stakeholders welcome the initiative for vrt with the aim of achieving the rich biodiversity, expressed in a huge process of proclamation for preventive better cooperation and exchange of goals of improving the biodiversity variety of landscapes, from the bay protection. Law on Nature Protection information in between stakeholders. of this area, taking into account the itself to the mountains that surround it. (Oficial Gazzete 54/16) prescribe Discussions were focused on each Law on Nature Protection; When it comes to marine biodiversity manager of the marine protected areas element of Trend, Orientated and - to start and continue a dedicated especially valuable are areas of unique and that is PE “Morsko Dobro”. During Preferred scenario. Detailed list of joint and consultative process, coralligenous assemblies are at Sopot process of mapping of 24 stakeholders measures and activities are developed involving all stakeholders through and Dražin vrt. The largest populations were mapped and that are: Public and provided within Scenario’s wider involvement and animation of Savalia savaglia Bertoloni, species body / authority: 13, Regional Body: template. Institutions agreed that for the realization of activities; were recorded at these two sites. 1, Local public Body: 1, Organisation/ Memorandum of understanding can - to promote and encourage the According to that research, it is Association: 3, Private company: 1 and be good framework for straightening deinition and implementation of assumed that these organisms are NGO: 5. Institute for Marine Biology coordination and cooperation of decision-making processes through among the oldest living organisms on Kotor has boosted a participatory the institutions what is necessary to the involvement of stakeholders in the planet because the age of some process in February and March 2021 perform all recognized protection order to develop strategic goals. colonies is estimated at 2700 years. involving six stakeholders (Ministry activities. The speciic objectives to be The colonies inside the Boka Kotorska for ecology, spatial planning and Bay are certainly very old because the urbanism, Nature and Environmental thickness of some of the branches of Protection Agency, PE”Morsko this coral that is a few centimetres. Dobro”, Administration for Inspection It should be borne in mind that the controls, Municipality of Kotor, colonies of S. savaglia inside the Boka Maritime Safety Administration, and Kotorska Bay may even be unique Port of Kotor). During three territorial

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 114 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 115 4.2.9 Amvrakikos Gulf, Greece Christina Kassara, Kallia Spala

Target area ID PARTNER: Amvrakikos Gulf – Lefkada Management Agency

LOCATION: Regions of Epirus and Etoloakarnania, Greece

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Amvrakikos Gulf – Lefkada Management Agency

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 60,104 ha; the MPA surface corresponds to the delineated area by the Natura 2000 site GR2110001

INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: 18,033 ha; the inluence surface corresponds to the delineated area by the National Park of Amvrakikos Wetlands

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The pilot site features a marine (gulf ) and a coastal (wetlands) area in the northern side, which as of 2017 (Joint Ministerial Decision 50743/2017) are designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC: GR2110001). The coastal area is also designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA: GR2110004), a Ramsar wetland (3GR009) and an Important Bird Area (GR081).

MAIN FEATURES: The Amvrakikos Gulf protected area is an enclosed gulf, reaching 63m depth, surrounded by nearly 390km of coastline and is part of the National Park of Amvrakikos Wetlands. Its coastal part has been designated as a Nature reserve zone in National Park and as a Special Regulations Zone (other in CDDA database) (Ministerial Decision 11989/2008). Although no zoning system exists to date for the marine part licensing of projects and activities require the opinion of Amvrakikos Gulf-Lefkada management agency. A Management Plan is currently in elaboration according to which a new zoning system with speciic regulations will be established for the entire area. The pilot site belongs to several administrative units, namely two regions and six municipalities totalling nearly 136,000 inhabitants (census data of 2011). Various economic sectors depend on the Amvrakikos Gulf protected area (i.e. isheries, aquaculture, tourism) and its adjoining region to the north (i.e. On the left: view of agriculture, stock breeding, processing units). Amvrakikos Gulf. Credit: Amvrakikos Gulf, Lefkada Management Agency

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Kanali Menidi

Amvrakikos Gulf

Prevesa

Lefkada

The Amvrakikos Gulf protected area marine biodiversity of the pilot site. View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in Management Agency is supervised by its environment, socioeconomic Credit: Amvrakikos Gulf, blue) and inluence area features a mosaic of ecosystems of Human presence in the area dates to Lefkada Management (green pattern) the Greek Ministry of Environment development and governance, as well high ecological value, consisting of the 7th century BC. The Amvrakikos Agency and Energy and aims at the protection, as about possible lines of action for an extensive hydrographic network Gulf harboured two ports for trading conservation and management of a further improvement. To date, the with numerous lagoons, including goods (ish, agricultural and livestock wider region that was expanded in MoU has been signed by stakeholders one of the largest in Greece and in products) since ancient times as well 2018 (Law 4519/2018). The Amvrakikos pertaining to academic institutions, the entire Mediterranean region, and as shipbuilding facilities in the 18th Gulf-Lefkada Management Agency private business and local public a double delta system, one of the century. In Roman times methods originally mapped 53 stakeholders, bodies, and its objectives are related largest complexes in the country, as and techniques for lagoon isheries, mainly business support organisations, to: (a) establishment of an information well as a marine part that includes suited to the migratory habits of the private business, local and regional collection and distribution network on a few small islands. The northern ish populations, were developed and public bodies and NGOS, active in ecosystem protection, socioeconomic (coastal) part of the pilot site supports are still practiced today. Funded in 31 the ield of isheries, agriculture and development, and governance, (b) a high biodiversity of conservation BC and situated to the west of the pilot environmental protection. Following creation and promotion of synergies, concern at European and national site lies the ancient city of Nicopolis, an informational event addressed to (c) improvement of knowledge and level and is a renowned birdwatching an archaeological site of unique natural all stakeholders, the participatory monitoring of the pilot site, (d) place in the country. Moreover, the beauty that constitutes the largest process that took place for the sustainable management and use of Amvrakikos Gulf along with its coastal in area ancient city in the country. formulation of the local Memorandum resources, including promotion of lagoons constitutes also a highly Pursuant to the Law 3044/2002, the of Understanding (MoU) involved green entrepreneurship, (e) prevention rich ecosystem for ish fauna of both management of the pilot site falls in three territorial, sector-oriented, labs, of environmental degradation, and conservational and commercial value. the jurisdiction of the Amvrakikos in which 24 stakeholders participated. (f ) promotion of citizen science. The marine part is an important Gulf-Lefkada Management Agency The latter were mainly business The main challenges related to the foraging area for the Loggerhead Turtle (originally named as Amvrakikos support organisations and private formulation of the local MoU and and home for an isolated and dense Wetlands Management Agency). Six business. The territorial labs aimed at the future drafting of a MPA Contract population of Common Bottlenose years later, in 2008, the National Park arriving at a common agreement about involve: (a) lack of a common vision dolphins. However, further research of Amvrakikos Wetlands is funded the current state of the Amvrakikos for the area, which is related among is required to fully catalogue the (Ministerial Decision 11989/2008). The Gulf protected area regarding others to the scattered knowledge

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 118 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 119 of the key mechanisms and driving the lack of a specialized regulatory 4.2.10 Ventotene and Santo Stefano Islands, Italy forces leading to the deterioration tool for contracts. Thus, even though of the natural environment, (b) the all participants recognized that the Romina D'Ascanio, Serena Muccitelli, Anna Laura Palazzo diversity in the proile of stakeholders, current model of management and including the degree of dependence on development is not sustainable and a speciic economic sector and on the expressed their will to participate organization of economic activities (e.g. in new initiatives, their trust and individual, SMEs, cooperatives, large degree of engagement in bottom-up enterprises), and (c) the complexity of approaches cannot be ascertained. the institutional framework, including Target area ID PARTNER: Department of Architecture, Roma Tre University LOCATION: Province of Latina, Lazio Region, Italy

MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT Y: Municipality of Ventotene

MARINE PROTECTED AREA SURFACE: 2,799 ha

INFLUENCE AREA SURFACE: in addition to the MPA, the “Ventotene and Santo Stefano Islands” State Natural Reserve of 174 ha has been considered in the boundaries of the Contract

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMES: The pilot includes the two islands of Ventotene and Santo Stefano. There are a Marine Protected Area, a State Natural Reserve and 3 Natura2000 sites: SAC IT6000018 "Seabed surrounding the island of Ventotene" and IT6000019 "Seabed surrounding the Island of Santo Stefano", and SPA IT6040019 "Ponza Island, Palmarola, Zannone, Ventotene and Santo Stefano".

MAIN FEATURES: The Municipality of Ventotene has about 800 permanent residents and about 5000 visitors in summer. The Marine Protected Area "Islands of Ventotene and Santo Stefano" extends off the coast of about 10 km up to the 100m bathymetry. The MPA is divided into three zones with different degrees of protection: (i) zone A: integral reserve which extends along the southern side of the island of Santo Stefano for about 410 ha and 828 m of coastline; (ii) zone B: general reserve which extends for 1600 ha and 5828 m of coastline and includes most of the western side of the island of Ventotene and (iii) zone C: partial reserve which extends for 789 ha and 3180 m of coast and almost entirely includes the northern side of the island of Ventotene. MPA zoning is currently under review. Concerning the State Natural Reserve, there is still no Management Plan and zoning.

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 120 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 121121121121121121121121121121 Thyrrenian Sea

Ventotene Santo Stefano

The islands of Ventotene and Santo Altiero Spinelli, wrote here together View of the target area. Map of the MPA (in MPA “Ventotene and S. Stefano Islands” to be equally distributed within the Credit: Ventotene and blue) and inluence area Stefano are part of the Pontine with other companions the so-called Santo Stefano Islands (green pattern) established the General Protected Area categories of national, regional and Archipelago in the province of Latina. “Ventotene Manifesto” about the SNR/MPA Framework and the division of the local Public Authorities, environmental The archipelago of volcanic origin future of Europe. The prison, closed MPA in the 3 zones. It also established and cultural associations, local cultural is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in 1965, was declared a "Property of the Municipality of Ventotene as the centres and higher education and includes two distinct groups of islands particularly important interest" by Management Authority of the MPA research centres and a relevant number that are about 39 km away from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage in “Ventotene and S. Stefano Islands”. of touristic SME. This distribution each other: the North-West group 1987. It was then declared a "National The Ministry Decree of 11.06.1999 unveils the mainly touristic vocation of (Municipality of Ponza): Island of Monument" in 2008 by the President designated the State Natural Reserve the area. Moreover, the participatory Ponza, Island of Palmarola, Island of of the Republic's Decree (DPR n.1746 “Ventotene and S. Stefano Islands” process, started in November 2020, Zannone, Island of Gavi and the South- of 18.03.2008). A large regeneration and deined the main protection involved about 30 participants East group (Municipality of Ventotene): project is underway coordinated levels and proposes. Furthermore, the including delegates and individual, Island of Ventotene and Island of Santo by a Government Commissioner Ministry Decree n.123 of 18.04.2014 representing organizations of the Stefano. The entire archipelago boasts Structure. Ventotene is a well-known Regolamento di esecuzione e di public and private sectors, stakeholders a very complex landscape consisting birdwatching location as the island organizzazione dell’area marina and citizens, and was divided into of high cliffs, submerged caves and serves as an essential stopover point protetta Isole di Ventotene e Santo information meetings and thematic rough basalt cliffs interspersed with for large numbers of migratory birds. Stefano (DM 18.04.2014 - GU n.112 laboratories. The participatory process green promontories that descend The bird observatory is part of PPI 16.5.2014) identiied the Managing and the methodology used have been towards the sea. Ponza and Ventotene (Progetto Piccole Isole), a project Authority (Municipality of Ventotene), greatly impacted by (i) social distancing are the only ones inhabited. Santo which has studied the bird migration the Head of the MPA and the Reserve imposed by Covid-19 health emergency Stefano was a land of coninement across the Mediterranean since 1988 at Commission. The provisions of these and (ii) season during which the since Roman times. In 1795 the 46 sites in seven countries. The results Regulations constitute the conservation process was developed: winter. The Bourbon prison was inaugurated. of these studies led to the creation of measures for the two SAC and the SPA. objectives framed within the MoU are: It was a place of imprisonment for the Ventotene Bird Migration Museum The partner mapped 69 stakeholders (i) collaboration with the MPA Secche important exponents of modern in 2006. The Ministry Decree of that have authority, inluence or di Tor Paterno in order to implement Italian history during the Fascism: 12.12.1997 for the designation of the interests in the pilot area. They appear joint research and monitoring activities;

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas Chapter 4 122 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Lesson learned from TUNE UP pilots 123 (ii) enhancement of the two protected activities in collaboration with local areas of Ventotene and Santo Stefano; actors (associations, diving, ...); (vi) (iii) strengthening the network of promotion of environmental education local associations and cooperativism and awareness raising activities and among SME; (iv) development of (vii) strengthening of surveillance and sustainable tourism practices; (v) control systems. promotion of research and monitoring

On the right: Albufera sealife. Credit: samarucdigital.com

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 124 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 125 Conclusive remarks Recommendations for an effective process Stefano Magaudda

Governance model In order to have a successful process Moreover, in this kind of contexts, in terms of governance, some adaptive governance applied to recommendations are needed. the contractual tool, together with A irst group of recommendations the lexibility of the administrative concerns the elements that can procedures, allows to adapt strategies support the effective and eficient and interventions to local needs and to implementation of the Environmental better exploit the opportunities offered Contract in the long term, starting by European funding. from its acknowledgement as a lexible, Some key principles required to the open and continuously updated governance structure in order to apply tool, adaptable to transformations an adaptive approach are the following: and changes in social and economic - To build a lexible condition and conditions and policies. Indeed, make continuous efforts towards the lexibility of the tool and the adaptation in order to obtain simpliication of administrative incremental results based on the procedures it enables should favor principle that a good relationship the creation of synergies between is not a "one-off" effort, but it is public and private actors for the a continuous achievement that implementation of shared priority requires time and considerable interventions for the local context. interaction (Racinska et al., In a ‘magmatic context’, such as the 2015). In this sense, collaborative one of Marine Protected Areas, where governance processes require that multiple actors act, plans and programs the promoter and the governance overlap at different levels, it is advisable structure devote resources and to use an adaptive governance people to maintaining good approach. This approach is based on a relations with stakeholders continuous supervision and reorientation throughout the Contract lifetime, work performed by the managing board, thus allowing the two groups that also enables the process to better – governance structure and perform and react to the changing stakeholders – evolve together. conditions of the context. This implies - To acknowledge that "one encouraging the debate among different size" does not it all: therefore visions, as well as their mutual adaptation Environmental Contract should and embedding by monitoring the be characterized by lexibility and process, and holding the decision-making should be able to adapt to the On the left: fauna in Amvrakikos Gulf. Credit: power necessary to eventually deine new structural characteristics of the Amvrakikos Gulf, Lefkada objectives and new actions (Gabaglio and context, but also to the change Management Agency Silvestri, 2014). produced by the Contract itself

Conclusive remarks 129 (changing, learning, and adapting to vision at regional scale and local needs. can be functionally extended at an On this basis it will therefore be circumstances as they change over Secondly, the ability of the promoter archipelago, coast and sea scale, or as possible to build new relationships time) (Racinska et al. 2015). to address the measures and funds an island, consequently including in based on mutual trust between - To create, within the governance of European, National and regional the process the relevant stakeholders administrations and stakeholders. structure, working groups or programming (eg. EAFRD, ERDF, ESF) (eg non-local ishing groups). The Participants in the process need to dedicated structures capable of in favor of the implementation of the absence or lack of involvement of these feel that principles of fairness and managing the low of information Contract has a direct inluence on the actors would make the implementation justice are applied, and they need to (communication, awareness rising, effectiveness of the process. of the Contract’s Action Plan ineffective have positive opinions towards the scientiic knowledge) in order In an effective process, the promoter and not sustainable. promoting institution: if they perceive to govern and favour the mutual plays not only the role of coordinator, the Contract’s efforts to be justly and adaptation of participants, the but also that of negotiator/ mediator Engagement and communication effectively implemented, they will possibility of new stakeholders and must be legitimized to represent Another group of recommendations grant legitimacy to the promotor and to join, and inally to knowingly the local needs at institutional concerns the participation, thus, they may voluntarily collaborate. support the negotiation. In this discussions at regional or national level. communication and relationships Legitimacy and accountability are context also local partnerships have The promoter has the task of among stakeholders to solve some required for effective and inclusive the chance to get stronger and thus elaborating the mapping of the problems that tend to emerge in governance (Racinska et al., 2015). enhance the role of some “strong” stakeholders, and to verify the any participatory process such as: Moreover, to ensure the effective actors, increase the stakeholders availability of the key actors to actively (i) the dificulty of the promoter involvement of stakeholders and local responsibilities and develop participate in all phases of the process. in transmitting the potential of the communities communication must be virtuous and replicable modes Among these, it is necessary to involve process and the expected results eficient, continuous, timely, effective, of action (Gabaglio and Silvestri, public bodies from the early stages (consequently making the tool of stimulating, and clear (Racinska et 2014). of the process (preparation phase) the Contract perceive as not very al., 2015). It is therefore important It appears therefore that it is essential and especially those who can be concrete); (ii) the risk that local to activate a communication strategy to manage the process according considered, following Dente deinition stakeholders are already heavily from the very beginning of the process. to adaptive methods, irst of all (2011), the gatekeeper, the body that solicited by recent participatory The participation in the process empowering the staff of the promoter manages the allocation and distribution initiatives or in progress - an excessive must be considered by stakeholders and the managing board of the of funds, that can therefore interrupt overlapping of processes of this attractive and useful. Continuous Contract. the decision-making process with his type could in fact compromise the updating of the participants on power to veto, thanks to the resources continuing interest of the actors the results of the laboratories and Promoter and key stakeholders it controls (Dente, 2011). involved; (iii) the costs of participation, in general of the activities of the The analysis of the processes The identiication and involvement of in particular for private actors, for Contract is recommended so that developed within the framework of stakeholders is closely connected to the whom the time and resources for they can perceive and understand the the Interreg Med TUNE UP project and identiication of the area of inluence participatory processes represent a participative sessions’ practical results the experiences in the literature shows of the Contract (see paragraph real cost. These issues affect the quality (eg documents / strategies). that the identiication of a promoter 3.1.1). Indeed, environmental and of stakeholders (in terms of number, It is also useful to clarify that the in charge of coordinating the Contract socio-economic problems need to capacity, inluence, and interest) actions to be included in the Action on the territorial scale is fundamental; be addressed through a regional because some of the most relevant Plan must be implemented in the in fact, this organization has a key role approach, which implies going beyond actors may self-exclude or participate medium-short term; this can help in deining, managing, and monitoring local and administrative limits but also with a low level of involvement. avoiding that the stakeholders consider the Contract. Some aspects emerge as involving all stakeholders that have It is possible to effectively overcome the Contract with little seriousness key features for ensuring the success authority, competence in the speciic these critical issues through an and only as a "wish list", risking a and effectiveness of the processes. ield or whose interests are somehow accurate preliminary analysis regarding decrease in their involvement during Firstly, the promotor is an institution related to the target area. In the case of participatory experiences and local the process. with a consolidated experience in the Environmental Contract in MPAs, initiatives already developed in the Therefore, it is crucial to keep governance processes, it will be able such as the ones promoted by the target area in order to identify any pre- monitoring the level and quality of the to combine in the process a strategic TUNE UP project, the inluence area existing conlicts between stakeholders. engagement by collecting feedbacks on

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 130 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Conclusive remarks 131 the level of eficiency, effectiveness and was activated in the context of speciic performance of the process in order to funding opportunities offered by EU identify critical issues and unexpected Progammes or private resources. factors, and inally indicate any need Therefore, it is important to highlight for reorientation in case of challenging that, although European Programmes circumstances. can act as a starter for such governance processes, an administrative system Timeframe and inancial resources capable of guaranteeing to those The timeframe of the process should processes an ongoing and funded basis be planned according to the local should be built. context speciicities and criticalities. A inal recommendation is to If the process is too long it may not consider in the preparation phase be effective in relation to the political of an Environmental Contract the implications and of the possible lack opportunity to evaluate carefully of continuity in the management and in advance the capabilities of and political bodies. It is important the promoter and the other subjects to ensure the simpliication in the involved, in terms of human resources, evaluation and approval procedures of relations with local and institutional of the formal Agreement and stakeholders, and of inancial resources implementation timing consistent that can be mobilized to both manage with those of the local administrative/ the governance process and implement political mandate. the Action Plan. A clear and complete The Italian experience in River picture of the available economic Contracts, unlike the French one which resources, the inancing possibilities is more structured at institutional and the conditions within which these and administrative level, shows that can be activated under the Contract for about 200 processes launched is in fact essential also to involve throughout the country in the last stakeholders. twenty years, only a few dozen have With reference to the work to be reached the subscription of the Formal done by TUNE UP in developing a Agreement (Dodaro and Battisti, Regional Policy Toolkit for each region 2019). Some of these Contracts were targeted by Project Partners’ work, it is subscribed only after a very long important to anticipate some issues on time from the launch of the process which National and local public bodies and the long duration of the process can focus. Ministries and Regions, inally resulted in the depreciation of being the competent administrations, the function of the Contract itself, as should commit to allocating the an arena devoted to the easement of proper resources for the activation and decision-making (Dodaro and Battisti, implementation of the Environmental 2019). Contracts, also to fully exploit the Furthermore, in many cases it was opportunities offered by European proved that the governance process policies.

On the right: Sansouires En- fores de la Vignolle. Author: Marc Thibault

Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas 132 NU3#03 - leNote di U3 Afterword matter of fact, ecological connectivity is brought about by ish and bird migration routes irrespective of boundaries and human activities. On the other hand, the Anna Laura Palazzo reasons for environmental protection are to be rooted in human communities, raising awareness both in insiders and outsiders of the values to be preserved and enhanced on the spot. The MPA Contract stem from previous experience of river contracts, voluntary commitments undertaken by various public and private entities in various capacities interested in environmental restoration and socio-economic At the crossroads of three continents, the Mediterranean basin is home to nearly regeneration of water systems. 7% of the population and accounts for 8% of primary energy consumption in the In the TUNE UP pilot areas, the participation process was incepted and world. By 2040, this condition is expected to further increase, under the double performed until the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding. Hopefully, effect of a strong population growth (+105 million inhabitants compared to in most cases awareness raising and motivation from stakeholders will be 2013) and economic expansion (+ 2.3% per year). supportive to the forthcoming phase and the Action Plan. All coastal countries are committed to compelling climate change and energy transition issues, as well as to environmental issues speciic to the Mediterranean basin, acknowledged as a major biodiversity hotspot hosting 15,000 to 25,000 plant species, 60% of which are unique to the region, 1,912 species of amphibians, birds, cartilaginous ishes, endemic freshwater ishes, crabs and crayish, mammals, dragonlies and reptiles, 19% of which are threatened with extinction (IUCN, 2008). Despite such shared commitments, several processes are at work that hinder a common vision, such as legal frameworks and jurisdictions of the Mediterranean countries as well as the protagonism of city ports provided with important logistical connections directly negotiating huge advantages with their counterparts. However, the eclipse of institutional networks of a regional governance able to effect the ecological transition within Mediterranean societies, exposes the Natural and Social Capital to high risk. As wished by inluential studies, a shared political and diplomatic Mediterranean- based action could lead the United Nations to formally recognize the Mediterranean basin as an area with a precise identity, homogeneous and interconnected albeit complex and fragmented, whose problems, ambitions and goals are speciic to 'macro-regions'. Such acknowledgement would certainly incept more stable cooperation arrangements addressing the main criticalities and shaping a coherent governance road-map, linking lexible institutional planning tools and decision-making, for the years to come. The main challenges from now to year 2030 concern the extension to 30% of the sea surface protection deemed crucial to perform best connections among the MPAs in view of their effective management. In coupling economy and environment, the urge to share knowledge, experiences, tools, results and even failures is crucial to promote a Mediterranean Blue Economy transition, as stressed by Plan Bleu (UN Environment/MAP Regional Activity Centre, 2020). In turn, the Interreg Med TUNE UP project contends that environmental protection should rely upon a twofold approach. On the one hand, protection policies urge for an upscaling including all the MPAs in order to overcome fragmentation in their management and remoteness from decision-making; as a

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142 143 NU3 - leNote di U3 leNote di U3 are a section of the online journal UrbanisticaTre urbanisticatre.uniroma3.it/

U3 - UrbanisticaTre ISSN 1973-9702 July 2021 Environmental Contracts in Marine Protected Areas

This issue of leNote di U3 is an intermediate output of the project Interreg MED TUNE UP - Promoting multilevel governance for tuning up biodiversity protection in marine areas, which faces the need for a strategic and collaborative approach to Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) management and biodiversity protection. The core idea of the project is to exploit the feasibility and lexibility of the Environmental Contract methodology in Med MPAs. This document has been developed in the framework of ‘WP4 - Transferring’ under the coordination of the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University and with the contribution of all partners in order to transfer the tested methodology beyond this project partnership. It resumes the main steps and phases faced by the TUNE UP partnership, coordinated by ANATOLIKI SA, in the implementation of 10 MPA Contracts in Mediterranean countries.

NU3 - leNote di U3 NU3 is a section of U3 - UrbanisticaTre (ISSN 1973-9702) an online scientiic journal recognized by ANVUR and promoted by Scholars of the Department of Architecture of the Roma Tre University working in the ield of the Urban Studies. U3 is an online platform interested in studying, designing, and developing cities and regions, giving voice and space to ideas, research, and experiences of collective production.

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