Seas & Oceans : Sanctuaries to preserve Grimaldi Forum : Certification ISO14001 confirmed ! Foundation Prince Albert II : Focus on patrimonial trees Tourism : Responsible tourism in the Principality sustainable news by the Grimaldi Forum Monaco NEWS Seas & Oceans p. 03 to 12 GRIMALDI FORUM The Grimaldi Forum blows hot and cold p. 14 Certification ISO14001 confirmed p. 14 MONACO Responsible tourism in the Principality p. 08 Our kids budding eco-citizens p. 16 to 18 SBM botany projectv p. 19 Firmus: recycling waste water p. 19 FOUNDATION PRINCE ALBERT II Two bearded vultures released in Vignols p. 20 Stop food waste p. 20 Together against deforestation: discover Monaco from tree to tree p. 21 SHORT NEWS p. 23-24 02 News Seas and Oceans: Let’s protect them! partners for a 5-year period in order to protect the species through the creation of a Marine Protected Area. It will also be raising the awareness of local players, in particular The summer season rhymes with holidays on the seaside, fishermen, so that they understand and accept the future pleasure and nautical activities, discovery and relaxation. Marine Protected Area and thus contribute towards the An opportunity to review the dangers of marine pollution protection of this emblematic Mediterranean species. which, on a global scale, case disturbing damages. Oceans, which represent 97% of the water available on Earth and feed about 50 % of the population worldwide are threatened and compromised by our behaviour. A true source of life, they must now be subject to very special attention so we can amend our errors and we can act before the situation becomes dramatic and jeopardizes marine balance irreversibly. The United Nations appointed swimmer and maritime lawyer Lewis Pugh ambassador of their programme for the oceans last June in Nairobi. Its mission is to promote the work of UNEP and increase the number of protected marine areas so that 10% of our oceans are managed sustainably by 2020. In the Mediterranean, a hot spot for global biodiversity, the findings are also worrying... Although it represents less than 1% of the world’s ocean area, it is home to more than 10% of all known species. The ever-growing coastal population has increased the various forms of human pressure, placing a threat on the Improving management is top priority environment: In the Mediterranean, some Marine Protected Areas are - mass tourism, poorly managed or not managed at all: they are known - urbanisation as “Marine Protected Areas on paper”. This is often - overfishing, due to a lack of resources or information on the part of - shipping industry. the managers. With the support of the Prince Albert II Foundation, MedPAN* has implemented a two-year action All these environmental threats, inherent to the economic plan focused on a specific goal: to provide managers development of the Mediterranean, compel us to find the with the resources necessary to carry out concrete action right solutions quickly, in order to preserve the fragile bal- at their level. Fifteen “small-scale projects” have been ance between humans and nature. Aware of the issues at selected to receive financial and technical support on stake, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has taken issues ranging from environmental education to the action on several fronts: it is involved on the ground and monitoring of sustainable traditional fisheries. has increased initiatives to promote the protection of biodi- * co-ordinator for the network of managers of versity in the Mediterranean. Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean. The commitment of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean One of the most effective ways to protect biodiversity is to identify areas of high ecological significance and to regulate the human and ecological activities taking place there, in such a way that the marine species and habitats can regenerate. These are what are known as “Marine Protected Areas” and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation supports their development in the Mediterranean. For the Foundation, it is also important that the local economic players, such as fishermen, be involved in the implementation of Marine Protected Areas. Because they have specific knowledge of the particularities of the area; because they make a living from it and because it is in their interest to maintain this balance, they provide the best guarantee for the smooth running of the Marine Protected Areas. Key figures Which actions to develop those Areas ? Although it used to be found throughout the Mediterranean, 90 % of the stocks of fish species of commercial interest have the monk seal is currently critically endangered and is decreased due to overfishing already beginning to disappear from our memories. Several 15 % of the world’s biodiversity is harboured by the oceans working sessions with top international specialists on this topic have been held in the Principality over the last few 55 % of the planet’s coral reefs have also been affected by fishing years. These meetings have resulted in the identification of a key area needing protection: Gyaros Island in Greece. The 90 % of the coastal populations depend on fishing Prince Albert II Foundation will be working with its technical 03 News Update on the bluefin tuna conservation program Focus on two initiatives In 2008, the bluefin tuna was critically endangered. Given Strengthening environmental education in the the urgency of the situation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Al Hoceima National Park, Morocco Foundation launched two initiatives: a conservation project with the WWF and an appeal, in collaboration with The aim of the project is to strengthen environmental the association MC2D, to restaurant owners in Monaco education which has already been introduced to schools asking them to remove bluefin tuna from their menu. The within the vicinity of the National Park, through practical restaurant owners endorsed the approach and made actions and the creation of teaching materials. Today, the Monaco the first “bluefin tuna free” state. field activity programme and the content of the teaching materials have been determined and over 1,000 people At the Doha Conference in 2010, the action implemented will benefit from the educational field trips. A theatrical play, by the Principality and supported by the Foundation led produced by the students, is currently being prepared. The to an official request by the Government of Monaco to play deals with the wealth of the Park’s marine resources list the bluefin tuna on appendix I of CITES (Convention on and environmental respect, and is aimed mainly at raising International Trade in Endangered Species), which would the awareness of parents, many of whom work in the fishing result in a ban on all international trade of the species, industry. but would also strengthen existing sustainable traditional fisheries. Japan, which consumes 80% of the bluefin tuna Support for scuba diving so as to work towards caught globally, carried out a strong lobbying effort which profitable eco-tourism in the Taza National Park, Algeria. led to CITES finally voting against the proposal. The aim of the project is to develop responsible eco-tourism Although the proposal was rejected, the media coverage activities in the future Marine Protected Area of the Taza resulted in increased public pressure on policymakers and National Park. These activities are aimed at generating greater awareness on the part of all the players involved alternative income in order to revitalise the economy in in the industry. Stricter fishing rules and bluefin tuna catch the area in a fair and sustainable manner. At the moment, quotas have been implemented over the last few years, underwater paths have been identified, one of which is in particular by the International Commission for the already open. Divers and instructors have been trained Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which has aligned in order to gain a better understanding of the ecological itself with the recommendations put forward by scientists and economic potential of these paths. Two photographic and conservationists. competitions have been organised to raise visitors’ awareness of the area’s ecological heritage. The Park has In 2012, indications of the recovery of the bluefin tuna been cleaned both on and off shore by divers, scouts and population were observed for the first time. According associations from the region. to a stock assessment carried out in 2012, the population had increased by 13% since 2009, which is encouraging. However the battle is not yet won, since the current population represents a mere 36% of what it was in 1970. Today, the priority is to combat illegal fishing of the bluefin What will the Scandola Reserve’s future be ? tuna. The difference between the quantities sold and the quotas allocated to fisheries is still significant. In 2011, Following the première in Ajaccio on June 20th, the three times more bluefin tuna were sold than the number documentary “Une réserve, des hommes, quel avenir of bluefin tuna declared caught! The two main causes: pour la Réserve de Scandola” was screened for the falsification of declaration documents and illegal sales. opening of the Monaco Blue Initiative on Sunday 23rd June at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Although the latest observations with regard to an increase The Scandola Reserve was created in 1975. For 38 years, in the bluefin tuna population appear to be encouraging, it has been protected by a group of Corsicans who no we nonetheless need to wait another two years to confirm longer count the number of hours spent on the ground. the stock replenishment programme, which is expected to Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is now a reach equilibrium in 2022. sanctuary and media coverage has made it a favourite destination for tourists: 700,000 people visited the reserve in the July-August 2012 period alone.