UNEP/MAP and Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean by Atila URAS, Programme Officer UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention 1 October, 2012, Venice What is UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention? • An institutional cooperation framework gathering the 21 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and the European Union; • Goal: to protect the marine and coastal environment of the Mediterranean Sea; • First UNEP Regional Seas Programme; • A resilient cooperation tool among Mediterranean countries; • A catalyser of action by those who conduct has an impact on the Mediterranean environment. UNEP/MAP added value • Regional environmental legal framework • political decision-making body • communication and coordination network • periodic assessment of the status and threats • Integrated strategy of protection and sustainable development measures • network of technical centres and programmes Barcelona Convention and its Protocols Creating synergies for the Mediterranean environment UNEP/MAP Cooperation and Synergies MAP Components: • Strong Partnership MAP/Horizon 2020; EU • Coordinating Unit • MEDPOL • MAP/GEF Strategic Partnership for Large Marine Ecosystem • Plan Bleu • PAP/RAC • World Bank-GEF Sustainable Development Initiative • SPA/RAC • REMPEC • Cooperation with EEA • INFO/RAC • CP/RAC • Assessment of MAP-NGOs cooperation through a • 100 Historic Sites Programme participatory approach • Financial assistance for activities to MAP partners Integrate the environment into sectorial approaches Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development: • framework strategy • 4 objectives towards sustainable development • 7 priority fields of action Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development 6 Priorities of UNEP/MAP work • Governance • Integrated Coastal Zone Management • Biodiversity • Pollution Control and Prevention • Sustainable consumption and production • Climate Change The protection status of the Mediterranean Sea • S ≈ 2.5 million km² • L ≈ 46,000 km • a link between 3 continents • only 3,8% under protection (0.4% without Pelagos) - 0.3 % of ocean volume 7% of known marine species - 0.8 % of ocean surface area One of the 25 Marine biodiversity - Diverse origins (30% of endemism rate) biodiversity hotspots - Unequal distribution (Myers et al., 2000) - Highly threatened The Strategic Approach Decision IG 17/6 in Annex II (15th Meeting of the CoP Barcelona Convention, Almeria, Spain, 2008) “to progressively apply the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities that may affect the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment” the Ecosystem Approach became the overarching principle of MAP’s 5 years strategy and, Decision IG.20/4 on “Implementing MAP ecosystem approach roadmap”, (17th Meeting of the CoP Barcelona Convention, Paris, France, 2012) The Ecosystem Approach is UNEP/MAP’s core implementation strategy… The 7 Step Road Map Definition of an Ecological Vision for the Mediterranean. Setting of common Mediterranean strategic goals Identification of important ecosystem properties and assessment of ecological status and pressures Development of a set of ecological objectives corresponding to the Vision and strategic goals Derivation of operational objectives with indicators and target levels Revision of existing monitoring programmes for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets Development and review of relevant action plans and programmes Vision: “A healthy Mediterranean with marine and coastal ecosystems that are productive and biologically diverse for the benefit of present and future generations”. Strategic goals: • To protect, allow recovery and, where practicable, restore the structure and function of marine and coastal ecosystems thus also protecting biodiversity, in order to achieve and maintain good ecological status and allow for their sustainable use. • To reduce pollution in the marine and coastal environment so as to minimize impacts on and risks to human and/or ecosystem health and/or uses of the sea and the coasts. • To prevent, reduce and manage the vulnerability of the sea and the coasts to risk induced by human activities and natural events Initial Integrated Assessment Despite the value of Mediterranean coastal and marine environments, degradation continues due to direct uses and indirect impacts on ecosystems: • coastal development and sprawl, driven by urbanization and tourism development, leading to habitat loss and degradation, and erosion/ shoreline destabilization • overfishing and by-catch, affecting community structure, ecological processes, and delivery of ecosystem services • destructive fishing, including bottom trawling and fishing methods resulting in benthic disturbance • contamination of sediments and biota caused by pollution, primarily from urbanization and industry, but also from anti-foulants and atmospheric inputs of hazardous compounds • nutrient over-enrichment, leading sometimes to eutrophication and hypoxia, more regularly leading to ecological imbalances (reduced water quality and growth of algae) • disturbance and pollution caused by maritime industries, including shipping, energy, aquaculture, and desalination (operational as well as disaster-related) • invasive species spread, in many cases mediated by climate changes • degradation of transitional or estuarine areas, which serve as critical nursery areas for commercial fisheries and also support unique assemblages of species Improvements in water quality are discernible in many places, thanks to strategic efforts to reduce pollutant loading, and quantities of hazardous substances such as DDT and heavy metals are declining in most areas. But, new issues are emerging which warrant attention: • Desalination and its effects; • Increasing aquaculture, including the grow out operations for bluefin tuna; and, • Cumulative risks due to reduced access and availability of space for multiple conflictive uses. 11 Ecological Objectives of EcAp 1. Biological diversity is maintained or enhanced. 2. Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely affect the ecosystem 3. Population of selected commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within biologically safe limits 4. Alterations to the components of marine food webs do not have a long-term adverse effects 5. Human-induced eutrophication is prevented, 11 Ecological Objectives of EcAp 6. Sea-floor integrity is maintained, especially in priority benthic habitats 7. Alteration of hydrographic conditions does not affect coastal and marine ecosystems 8. The natural dynamics of coastal areas are maintained and coastal ecosystems and landscapes are preserved 9. Contaminants cause no significant impact on coastal and marine ecosystems and human health 10. Marine and coastal litter do not adversely affect coastal and marine environment 11. Noise form human activities cause no significant impact on marine and coastal ecosystems The Ecosystem Approach Road Map • Targets and Good Environmental Status. Work on methodologies for the determination of good environmental status and target for each of the 11 agreed Ecological Objectives; and implement a pilot case which successfully tests EcAp indicators; • Monitoring. Initial steps to prepare an integrated monitoring system based on the indicators and targets; • Assessment. Establish an assessment cycle by developing a UNEP/MAP policy on assessments of the marine and coastal environment to be periodically implemented; and, • Develop and review relevant measures for implementation of EcAp The Vision “A healthy Mediterranean with marine and coastal ecosystems that are productive and biologically diverse for the benefit of present and future generations” United Nations Environment Programme / Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) 48, Vassileos Konstantinou Ave. Athens 11635 Greece www.unepmap.org .