WWF UPDATE WWF Blue School: Mediterranean Fisheries Rural

Announcements Deconstruction inElCap de Creus Montenegrin NGOsmeetwith parliament FSC exchangevisit Marine stewardship inCatalonia Fishing tourismon theCatalancoast UPDATE FROMNGOs EU’s sustainableenergyfuture Morocco toeliminatedriftnetfishing Slovenia toembarkonmassivebear hunt Bluefin tuna:onthebrink WWF PRESS Progress intheDinaricArc Training visitintheMiddleAtlas,Morocco Rural developmentinMountLebanon WWF BlueSchool:Mediterraneanfisheries WWF UPDATE in theMediterranean. for thecommunityofenvironmentalorganizations Posidonia, theWWFMediterraneannewsletter V OL 7N O 2, F EB /M for alivingplanet ARCH 2007 R Participants oftheWWFBlueSchoolduringafield visit tothePalamósharbour,Spain

POSi DONi A ©WWF-ATW WWF update: Information

WWF BLUE SCHOOL – MEDITERRANEAN FISHERIES

The latest WWF Mediterranean of Palamós where they met training course took place in the president of the Palamós Sitges, Spain last March. The Fishermen’s Association. At Blue School – Mediterranean the end of the workshop the Fisheries: Linking Ecosystem- participants wrote a manifesto Based Management and on Education for Sustainable Education – brought together Fisheries in the Mediterranean 22 participants and lecturers to express their main from Mediterranean NGOs and concerns, priorities, and institutions to discuss education objectives. for sustainability, environmental The Education for Sustainable education in marine conservation Fisheries in the Mediterranean and its integration in formal manifesto is open to other training programmes for institutions and organizations. The WWF Mediterranean/Across the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION fishermen. Trainees visited Waters training course, Blue School, Montse Suàrez Associació Nereo, a Catalan was supported by the Government Capacity Building Assistant NGO which manages a marine of Catalonia and the Diputació de WWF Mediterranean Barcelona. [email protected] reserve, and the fishing museum

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN MOUNT LEBANON

A study of forests on Mount the women’s association, Lebanon, carried out by NGO beekeepers cooperatives and AFDC in 2005, has shown that AFDC local units. They aim to the loss of forest cover due to fire help local communities through is severely affecting livelihoods new and revived nature-based and quality of life in the area. economic activities. The Towards the sustainable production and marketing of management of these forests grape by-products, for example, AFDC recently began a project is an area of great potential. with WWF Mediterranean. Central Environmental education and to the project is the participation awareness programmes for of local communities in two pilot local communities on firefighting, sites, each located in a valuable forest restoration, non-timber and vulnerable forest landscape forest products and eco-tourism – Ramlieh, Aley District and will also be a priority for the Qornayel Ras El Maten, Maten project. district. The project team will FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Funded by.the Gsell Foundation Marco Pagliani undertake reforestation activities and AFDC – Association for Forests, Head of Programme Development WWF Mediterranean in each area, working with local Development and Conservation. [email protected] people, village municipalities,

Grape vine, Ramlieh village, Lebanon (c) WWF-Canon / M. GUNTHER WWF update: Information

TRAINING VISIT IN THE MIDDLE ATLAS, MOROCCO

A two-day training visit to pilot nursery of Béni Sohane, forest restoration sites where a greenhouse for the developed by WWF in the production of autochthonous Middle Atlas mountains was species was set up by WWF organized for beneficiaries in 2004. Finally they visited from the Rif mountains last the honey production March. Personnel from the cooperative of Bouyablane at Station Régionale des Ribat El kheir, to observe how Semences took part. They the healthy composition of were joined by the local project forest species allows for good team and representatives of quality products to be Municipalities and local harvested and marketed in development associations of the region. the areas involved in restoration This visit was organised in the work in the Chefchaouen framework of the project Sustainable region. The visit began at the Management of Natural Resources Institut National des Plantes for the benefit of the population of the Laou river in Morocco funded Médicinales et Aromatiques of by the Agencia Española de Taounate, a new national centre Cooperación Internacional (AECI) devoted to the study and the and the WWF Cork oak Landscapes Programme funded by WWF UK. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION production of aromatic and Alessandro Badalotti medicinal plants. Participants Forest Projects Coordinator WWF Mediterranean made two stops in the Sefrou [email protected] Province, first at the tree

PROGRESS IN THE DINARIC ARC

The Dinaric Arc Initiative (DAI) Albania and Montenegro recently celebrated its second signed in the coming months. birthday with a very satisfactory DAI partners are also record of achievements. Since engaged in developing the its foundation, DAI has added initiative’s first joint field value to the work and project: The territorial programmes of its partner management of Karst Poljes institutions, and has been the — the case of Livanjsko and framework for the development Sinjsko Polje. The aim is to of new, joint programmes. One conserve the outstanding of the most successful of these natural and cultural heritage has concerned the protection of some of the world’s most and management of lake important karst habitats, Skadar/Shkodra, an exceptional promoting rural development territory, unique in Europe. At a and the equitable sharing of meeting in Rome last March resources. partners shared information on DAI partners met in Rome on 26- ongoing work in Skadar/ 27 March. WWF, UNESCO-BRESCE, Shkodra and agreed upon next UNDP Montenegro, Council of steps for the setting up of a Europe, REC Albania, Euronatur, SNV, IUCN-SEE and FAO attended FOR FURTHER INFORMATION transboundary management the meeting. Marco Pagliani commission for the lake. An Head of Programme Development initiative is already underway to WWF Mediterranean [email protected] have an agreement between WWF update: Press

BLUEFIN TUNA: ON THE BRINK With the 2007 fishing season asking wholesalers and for Mediterranean bluefin tuna retailers to support the call on about to begin, WWF is asking the EU, and for those EU members to cut their quota companies dealing in to preserve the stock. This Mediterranean bluefin tuna to would help reduce the threat of take the responsible decision collapse and encourage other not to purchase from fishing nations to follow suit. In countries that refuse to halve a new briefing, On the Brink: their quotas. Mediterranean bluefin tuna – ICCAT — the International the consequences of collapse, Commission for the Conservation WWF shows that ICCAT has of Atlantic Tunas — is the body allowed the quota for 2007 to charged with managing tuna fishery. WWF is calling on the EU increase in defiance of its own Fisheries Council (meeting April) scientists. The EU is to halve the quotas it allocates, responsible for the bulk of the close the fishery in June to protect the peak spawning month, and stay total quota, with France, Spain out of Libyan waters, which are and Italy taking the majority of unregulated and offer the last the catch. Traditional tuna refuge for the breeding fish. fishers will suffer the most from Meanwhile a new international FOR FURTHER INFORMATION the stock’s collapse, while Panda Passport action has been Gemma Parkes large fleets will move on and launched to save Mediterranean Communications Officer tuna: www.passport.panda.org/ WWF Mediterranean plunder a different ocean and a campaigns [email protected] different species. WWF is

SLOVENIA TO EMBARK ON MASSIVE BEAR HUNT

Although one of the first year, which is unscientific and European countries to protect unsustainable. Slovenia, which the brown bear, Slovenia may will take over the EU increase hunting quotas for presidency in early 2008, brown bears, an act that could should use this opportunity to decimate the country’s entire apply the EU guidelines on population. The Slovenian managing large carnivores. government has allowed a These guidelines require a hunting quota of 106 bears in population-based type of 2007. Added to the number of management, urging countries bears killed each year on roads to cooperate internationally and railway lines, and the and to perform transparent mortality rate jumps to as high population estimates. A final as 130 individuals. The decision from the Slovenian Slovenian government claims Environment Ministry as to there are 500–700 bears in the whether the hunt will go ahead country. Based on reliable local is expected. information, WWF believes a Read more on lower estimate is more realistic, www.panda.org/mediterranean FOR FURTHER INFORMATION and has asked for clarification Joanna Benn of the population size and the Communications Manager justification for an official WWF Global Species Programme [email protected] hunting quota of over 20% per WWF update: Press

MOROCCO TO ELIMINATE DRIFTNET FISHING

King Mohammed VI of Morocco indiscriminate and wasteful has put his signature to an fishing method is estimated to kill agreement which will subsidise about 3,600 dolphins and 23,000 the phasing out of driftnets in sharks per year in the south- Moroccan waters. Under the western part of the new EU-Morocco Fisheries Mediterranean Sea alone. The Partnership Agreement, 119 EU banned driftnet fishing in European vessels, mostly 2002, and ICCAT followed suit Spanish, will be allowed to fish in the Mediterranean in 2003 with in Moroccan waters in pressure from WWF. The exchange for an annual General Fisheries Commission compensation package. A for the Mediterranean also portion of this compensation, banned driftnets in the as requested by WWF, will fund Mediterranean in 2005. the phasing out of Morocco’s driftnet fleet, the largest of its Driftnets, though illegal, are still widely used. WWF welcomes this major kind in the Mediterranean. milestone in the banning of destructive FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Stretching up to 14km in length, fishing methods in the Mediterranean. Gemma Parkes driftnets are buoyed by floats or Communications Officer Read more on WWF Mediterranean attached to a boat and drift with www.panda.org/mediterranean [email protected] the tide or current. This

Sardines for sale at the market of Essaouira, Morocco. (c) WWF-Canon / M. GUNTHER

EU’S SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE

The commitment by European 30% if other industrialized leaders to reduce greenhouse countries take action. Despite gas emissions by up to 30% by resistance from countries such 2020 is a positive step towards as France and Poland, the EC controlling climate change at has also decided on energy the global level. WWF warns, consumption targets of which however, that the EU needs to 20% will come from renewable put in place laws and measures sources and 10% from FOR FURTHER INFORMATION so that this goal is achieved. environmentally-certified biofuels Claudia Delpero Leaders have agreed to a by 2020. Communications Manager greenhouse gas reduction in WWF European Policy Office Read more on www.panda.org [email protected] Europe of 20% by 2020, and Update from Mediterranean NGOs

FISHING TOURISM ON THE CATALAN COAST

In Catalonia, Spain, the many others are becoming more Environmental Department of interested in it. Some months ago the Diputació de Barcelona is the Marine Studies Centre promoting fishing tourism – participated in an exchange with taking tourists for a day of fishermen of the Italian fishing at sea – through its association Federcoopesca to Marine Studies Centre in Sitges. get first-hand experience of how Working with NGOs such as fishing tourism may be Fundació Natura and with conducted. fishermen’s associations, the The Diputació has supported many of Diputació sees fishing tourism the activities of WWF Mediterranean/ as a way of improving the living Across The Waters for the past seven standards of fishermen and of years and is now supporting initiatives that contribute to the more sustainable FOR FURTHER INFORMATION reducing fishing pressure on management of fishing resources in Montse Suàrez marine resources. Fishing Catalonia. Capacity Building Assistant tourism is not regulated in WWF Mediterranean [email protected] Catalonia, but fishermen and

MARINE STEWARDSHIP IN CATALONIA

Four Catalan NGOs have Fisheries Department. The most formed a working group to important aspect of marine create a marine stewardship stewardship is the voluntary strategy for Catalonia. They plan nature of the agreement, where to involve administrative bodies users change their normal and users of the marine activities or behaviour without a environment (fishermen, law forcing them to do it. tourists, etc.) in the The Catalan Stewardship Network (Xarxa conservation and better use of de Custòdia del Territori) is a network of the landscape and its cultural more than 120 organizations and natural resources. A good specializing in marine stewardship. The marine working group includes example is Ses Negres Fishing Associació Nereo, Fundació Natura, Reserve. The NGO Nereo Fundació CRAM, and Consorci El Far. promoted the creation of the WWF, Greenpeace, universities and local administrations will act as observers FOR FURTHER INFORMATION reserve in 1993 and signed a during the process. Associació Nereo management agreement with [email protected] www.custodiaterritori.org the Government of Catalonia

Ses Negres marine reserve, a protected area off the Catalan coast, Spain. © Associació Nereo Update from Mediterranean NGOs

FSC EXCHANGE VISIT

An exchange to promote FSC Eucalyptus plantations for cork initiatives in Tunisia took place oak forests is in process. They last February. Three also visited the stone pine forests representatives of the Tunisian of Huelva (Parque Natural de la government were hosted by Sierra Norte de Sevilla), learning La Junta de Andalucía in about the management of these southern Spain and visited two forests, and the Santiago Perea FSC-certified public forests in processing industry which sells Cadiz and Huelva. During the certified organic stone pine visit the Tunisian team was seeds. accompanied by specialists in The DG Forêts of Tunisia, his assistant, forest certification and had the and the DG du Dévelopment Socio- chance to study the FSC économique were hosted by La Junta certification process. They de Andalucía, 12-14 February. This exchange was part of the WWF FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visited the public forest of Las Mediterranean/Across The Waters Xavier Escuté Exchange Programme, and was Capacity Building Officer Navas-Berrocal (Parque WWF Cork Oak Landscapes Nacional de Los Alcornocales) supported by IPADE and the WWF Cork oak Landscapes Programme Programme where the substitution of [email protected] funded by WWF UK.

MONTENEGRIN NGOS MEET WITH PARLIAMENT

Last March, in the framework In Network. This would give civil of the Green Is In Campaign, society a chance to collaborate representatives of four NGOs with the Parliament’s working met with Ranko Krivokapiæ, groups, to participate in Chairman of the Parliament of discussions on environmental Montenegro, to discuss the issues, and to play an active role proposed Declaration on the in the approval of legal documents. Environmental Development Green Is In is supported by the WWF of Montenegro. Mr Krivokapiæ Northern Montenegro Green Belt Project agreed that the Declaration will and is financed by the Across The Waters be discussed in Parliament Grant Programme and the Gsell FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Foundation. See the Green is In website Siniša Stevoviæ and offered to sign a contract www.ngo-most.org/razno_in.php Development, Cultural and between the Parliament of and civil society portal www.odjek.com. Information Centre Most [email protected] Montenegro and the Green Is

DECONSTRUCTION IN EL CAP DE CREUS

During the 1960s and 1970s, Ministry of the Environment unplanned and often illegal bought the property in 2005 and tourist developments some months ago started to transformed the Spanish coast demolish all the buildings and along with many other constructions of the Club Med, Mediterranean regions. An a pioneer operation in this area example, on the Costa Brava, financed by the Ministry and the is the Club Mediterranée in Catalan Government. This is the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Cadaqués (in what is today the first time that a whole tourist Spanish Ministry of Environment Natural Park of Cap de Creus) development will disappear to www.mma.es Government of Catalonia, which was seen as restore the original ecosystem. Department of Environment and an environmental atrocity by Housing www.gencat.net/mediamb many locals. The Spanish Update from Mediterranean NGOs

ANNOUNCEMENTS International Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference on Culinary Herbs. The consumption of medicinal and aromatic plants has increased significantly in the past 20 years. Sustainable production of quality plant materials is very important as is conservation of plant biodiversity. 29 April-5 May 2007, Antalya, Turkey. Organized by Akdeniz University. http://www.underutilized-species.org Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism in North Africa. Workshop organized by AECI (Spanish International Cooperation Agency) in the framework of the Programa Azahar 7-12 May 2007, Valsaín, Segovia, Spain. http://www.programa-azahar.org/en/seminarios/record-formacion.asp?Id=63 International capacity building field courses: Ecological monitoring and its applications for Mediterranean wetlands and management. Organized by the Albufera Initiative for Biodiversity. Albufera Natural Park, Mallorca, Spain, 14-27 May and 28 May-10 June 2007 http://www.fsd.nl/TAIB/mainalbu.html Kick-off of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme. WWF has been involved recently in the EU’s Horizon 2020 initiative, to enhance coordination and efficiency of environmental activities in the Mediterranean. First call for proposals for the 7th framework programme for research and technical development. Deadline: 2 May 2007. Contact [email protected] http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enlarg/med/pdf2020_timetable_phase1_en.pdf

WWF Smart Gear Competition seeks new designs for fishing gear that reduces marine bycatch – the accidental catch and related deaths of millions of marine species in nets and longlines each year. www.smartgear.org European business wakes up to tuna sense. Major companies and organizations have joined WWF in a commitment to healthy oceans by signing an open letter appealing to the EC and Member States to take action – before it is too late – for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. www.panda.org/tuna and click on ‘Business’ WWF report World’s Top Rivers at Risk. Rivers on every continent are drying out, threatening severe water shortages, according to a report released for World Water Day (22 March), which lists the top ten rivers that are fast dying as a result of climate change, pollution and dams. More information: [email protected] / www.panda.org/mediterranean. Pan-European Children’s Environment and Health The Government of Austria invites groups involved in promoting children’s environmental health in Europe to participate in a contest of best project activities. Deadline 11 May 2007. More information: [email protected] Greenpeace Spain’s report Renewable 100% demonstrates the feasibility of a renewable electric system for Spain. http://www.greenpeace.org/espana/reports/informes-renovables-100

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