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CREATION OF THE TRUST FUND FOR MEDITERRANEAN MPAS

This fund is designed to sustainably develop • Contribute to securing funding, particularly for
and improve the management of Mediterranean underfunded MPA activities in these areas:
MPAs by contributing to their financial autonomy - governance (long-term continuity of
and their territorial integration. It will advance governance bodies and processes),
the goals of the Barcelona Convention and the - daily operations (light equipment,
Convention on Biological Diversity by mobilizing maintenance, etc.),
additional funds. - monitoring (enable effective monitoring of
the MPA),
MPAs not only enable protection of the marine - integration of the MPA as an economic and
ecosystem and conservation of its biodiversity, social development vector for its territory;
they also contribute to value by providing • Stimulate investment in MPAs by creating
sustainable economic development to local innovative financial mechanisms;
communities. • Assist regional networks that support MPA
managers (capacity-building; experience-
The Mediterranean counts 1,231 MPAs sharing, etc.).
– of which 898 are Natura 2000 marine sites –
which represent 7.14% of the sea’s surface. Finally, this fund is a secured, efficient financial
The Pelagos Sanctuary accounts for 3.48% mechanism for:
of this area. The management effectiveness of • Mobilizing and consolidating private sector
these MPAs varies greatly. Generally speaking, funding from businesses and foundations,
it remains insufficient and inconsistent due to a namely via innovative financing mechanisms
lack of sustainable resources and funding, which such as entry rights or payment for
threatens MPAs’ ability to fulfil their conservation environmental services, and that of bi- and
and sustainable development ambitions. multilateral lenders involved in development
and environmental issues.
The Trust Fund’s role is to intervene throughout • Supporting and complementing local and
the Mediterranean eco-region, with a particular national funding strategies that enable MPAs’
emphasis on its eastern and southern shorelines. financial autonomy.
Its goal is to contribute to the sustainability of
MPAs designated by participating countries.

Alongside activities led by national authorities,
Barcelona Convention bodies or international
projects, the Trust Fund will:

• Reinforce existing MPAs in their ecological,
social and environmental roles and thereby
stimulate creation of new MPAs;

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