EP United Nations Environment Programme UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/13 31 July 2003 ENGLISH MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN Sixth meeting of National Focal Points for SPAs Marseilles, 17-20 June 2003 REPORT OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF NATIONAL FOCAL POINTS FOR SPAs UNEP RAC/SPA - Tunis, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page MAIN BODY OF THE REPORT 1-20 ANNEXES Annex I List of participants Annex II Agenda of the Meeting Annex III Status of the implementation of the SPA Protocol Annex IV Recommendations of the Meeting Annex V Draft Action Plan for the Conservation of Bird Species listed in Annex II to the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Annex VI Draft Action Plan for the Conservation of Cartilaginous Fishes (chondrichthyans) in the Mediterranean Sea Annex VII Draft Action Plan concerning species introductions and invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea Annex VIII Guidelines to improve the involvement of marine rescue centres for marine turtles Annex IX Draft Classification of coastal (terrestrial and wetland) habitat types for the Mediterranean region Annex X Mediterranean Initiative on Taxonomy UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/13 Page 1 Introduction 1. At their Twelfth Meeting (Monaco, 14-17 November 2001), the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution invited the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) to convene the Sixth Meeting of the National Focal Points for Specially Protected Areas in 2003. 2. The Meeting was held at the Conseil Régional de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Hôtel de la Région, Marseilles, France, from 17 to 20 June 2003, and was organized thanks to the generous financial contribution made by the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Participation 3. The Meeting was attended by representatives of the following Contracting Parties: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, European Community, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Monaco, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia. 4. The Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MEDU) and the following Regional Activity Centres (RACs) were represented: 100 Historic Sites and REMPEC. 5. The following institutions and organizations were represented by observers: Aegaen Society for the Conservation of Nature, African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), ARCHELON Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Groupe Tunisien d'Ornithologues, Inter-Islamic Network for Sciences and Technology on Oceanography (INOC), IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Executive Secretariat of ACCOBAMS, MEDASSET, MEDMARAVIS, MedWet, Seagrass 2000, SEO/BirdLife, Tethys Research Institute, WWF France and WWF Mediterranean Programme Office. 6. RAC/SPA acted as the secretariat for the Meeting. 7. The list of participants is attached as Annex I to the present report Agenda item 1 - Opening of the Meeting 8. Mr. Mohamed Adel Hentati, Director of RAC/SPA, welcomed participants and expressed thanks to the Government of France and to the Région Provence- Alpes-Côte d'Azur for the assistance provided in hosting the Meeting. Pointing to the important work ahead of participants, he outlined the main points on the agenda. 9. Mr. Arab Hoballah, Deputy Coordinator, Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP), also expressed thanks to the Government of France and to the Région Provence- Alpes-Côte d'Azur for their support in organizing the Meeting. He underlined the importance attached to biodiversity by the United Nations and UNEP and stressed UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/13 Page 2 the need for countries to show an increase in the practical results of their work under the SPA Protocol. RAC/SPA found itself at an important crossroads. It had acted as catalyst for the requisite legal structures for conservation of biodiversity and the creation of protected areas, but now came the time for a change of direction towards further implementation. In that connection, it was necessary to identify the major actors, to make them aware of the importance of biological diversity and the conservation of species and areas, and to build constructive partnerships to face the challenges together in a strategic and systematic way. 10. The evaluation of RAC/SPA that was on the agenda at the current Meeting provided an opportunity to give new meaning and vision to the Centre. It was necessary for participants to identify new directions and guidance, which could be reviewed at the next meeting of the MAP Focal Points in September 2003 and translated into measures and activities for consideration by the Meeting of the Parties in November 2003. 11. He hoped that the Meeting would provide an important impetus for the debate on the future of RAC/SPA, one of the central pillars of the Mediterranean Action Plan, and would mark a turning point in the history of the Centre and in its contribution to the sustainable use and conservation of the biodiversity of the Mediterranean. 12. Mr. Jean-Marc Michel, representative of the French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, welcomed participants and expressed thanks to the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur for hosting the Meeting and helping in its organisation. He added that after Port-Cros in 1998 and Montpellier in 1995 and 2000, France expressed its interest in the technical and scientific work that RAC/SPA is leading with the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention. Stressing his Government's commitment to the activities under the Barcelona Convention, he pointed to the progress France had made in the protection of natural heritage and the creation of SPAs. He notably announced the creation by his country (April 2003) of an ecological protection area (Z.P.E) specific to the Mediterranean that is likely to extend the right of the fight against pollution. He also indicated that France adopted international agreements on migratory birds (AEWA) and on marine mammals (ACCOBAMS). Mentioning the Sanctuary for marine mammals, Mr. Michel underlined that the latter enjoyed a regulatory recognition (decree of 18 July 2002) and will be the subject of a programme for specific study and research. Thus, the management of the area will allow a better involvement of sea workers. Concerning the development of RAC/SPA, one needed to be proud of past achievements, but realistic about what it was possible to accomplish in the future. Referring to the deliberations of the Earth Summits of Rio and Johannesburg, Mr. Michel indicated that it was necessary to find a way to integrate concerns about biodiversity into economic aspects and considerations. The Mediterranean region faced huge challenges, and he expressed hope that new policies and strategies would be found to meet them. 13. Mr. Michel Vauzelle, President of the Conseil Régional de Provence-Alpes- Côtes d’Azur, after welcoming participants, stressed that the Région Provence- Alpes-Côtes d’Azur had always been interested in cooperation with the other regions of the Mediterranean basin and that the present meeting is stressing this UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/13 Page 3 tendency. He stressed that such meetings are important instrument of rapprochement between the Mediterranean countries and a means towards the reinforcement of the links of solidarity and cooperation between them, through activities carried out for the conservation of the environment in the Mediterranean area. In addition, he pointed out the Région's efforts for the protection of its coastal and marine environment. He finally wished a good continuation and full success for the deliberations of the meeting. 14. Mr. Robert Allione, Vice-President of the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, welcomed participants and expressed gratitude at the honour of hosting the Meeting, which he hoped would be significant for the future activities of RAC/SPA. Pointing to the Région's efforts to do its utmost for the protection of its coastal and marine environment, he underlined the need to strike a balance between conservation and economic, cultural and recreational factors. It was necessary to work in close collaboration with all the major actors, and the Région consistently pursued a multi-partnership policy. 15. He wished participants success in their deliberations and in the drafting of their recommendations, and wished them all a pleasant stay in Marseilles. He officially declared the Meeting open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 17 June 2003. Agenda item 2 - Rules of Procedure 16. The Meeting noted that the Rules of Procedure adopted for Meetings and Conferences of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution and its Protocols (UNEP(OCA)/IG.43/6, Annex XI) would apply mutatis mutandis to its deliberations. Agenda item 3 - Election of Officers 17. After informal consultations, the Meeting unanimously elected the following officers: Chairperson: Mr. Patrick VAN KLAVEREN (Monaco) Vice-Chairpersons: Mr. Moustafa Mokhtar FOUDA (Egypt) Ms. Stavroula SPYROPOULOU (Greece) Rapporteur: Ms. Myroula HADJICHRISTOFOROU (Cyprus) Agenda item 4 - Adoption of the agenda and organization of work 18. The Meeting adopted the provisional agenda contained in document UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/1. The agenda is attached as Annex II to the present report. 19. The Meeting approved the organization of work proposed by the Secretariat, as contained in the annotated provisional agenda of the Meeting (document UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/2), with the amendment that the consideration of item UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/13 Page 4 11, on the evaluation of RAC/SPA, would take place in the morning session on Wednesday, 18 June 2003. Agenda item 5 - Country Reports on Conservation of Natural Sites and Species 20. The Director of RAC/SPA introduced document UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.232/3, "Status of the Implementation of the SPA Protocol" which, in line with the format agreed at the Fifth Meeting of the Focal Points for SPAs, contained a synthesis of the reports received by the Secretariat from the NFPs for SPAs on the activities undertaken in their countries to implement the SPA Protocol, as well as the full reports themselves.