Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)

Date of latest update: 2025-10-02

Description

Description (FR):

GreenList4MMPAs vise à adapter, pour la première fois, le Standard de la Liste Verte (GL) de l'UICN au contexte marin méditerranéen. GL est la première norme mondiale et universelle de meilleures pratiques pour la conservation des zones naturelles. Il vise à fournir une référence internationale de qualité qui motive l'amélioration de l'efficacité et la réalisation des objectifs de conservation. Il développe des indicateurs et des méthodes spécifiques pour évaluer les aires marines protégées (AMP), fournissant un outil exploitable et utile pour les gestionnaires et les praticiens. Le défi commun que GreenList4MMPAs va aborder est la nécessité pour les AMP Med de renforcer leurs capacités à préserver la biodiversité et les écosystèmes marins afin d'atténuer la dégradation globale de l'environnement marin méditerranéen (entièrement conforme au S.O. 2.7). Le projet soutiendra les AMP Med dans la réalisation de leurs objectifs de conservation et sociaux grâce à un système fiable d'évaluation de l'efficacité, basé sur un outil qui assurera une gestion efficace. Les principaux résultats du projet seront l'ensemble d'indicateurs de la GL adaptés aux AMP Med et l'établissement de “AMP MED EAGL” (un comité d'experts formés par l'UICN qui examine les candidatures des AMP pour le Standard GL). Ces résultats bénéficieront aux autorités publiques locales telles que les organes de gestion des AMP, mais aussi aux autorités publiques nationales (ministères et agences techniques) et à l'UICN, qui représente la plus grande organisation internationale de conservation de la nature. Le projet « GreenList4MMPAs » adoptera une approche basée sur l'utilisation d'un grand nombre d'études de cas dans 7 pays de l'UE, 2 pays IAP et 6 Pays Tiers (grâce à un financement supplémentaire de l'UICN), afin de représenter tous les 7 éco-régions existantes en mer Méditerranée. Dans cette perspective, seule une véritable approche transnationale peut permettre d'atteindre les objectifs du projet.

Description (EN):

The “GreenList4MMPAs” Project aims to adapt, for the first time, the IUCN Green List Standard (GL) to the Mediterranean marine context. The GL is the first global and only universal Standard of best practice for area-based conservation. It aims to provide an international benchmark for quality that motivates improved effectiveness and achievement of conservation objectives. GreenList4MMPAs will develop specific indicators and methods to assess marine protected areas (MPAs), providing an actionable and useful tool for MPA managers and practitioners. The common challenge that GreenList4MMPAs will tackle is the need for Mediterranean MPAs to enhance their capacities in preserving marine biodiversity and ecosystems in order to mitigate the overall degradation of the Mediterranean marine environment (fully in line with the Programme S.O. 2.7). GreenList4MMPAs will support Mediterranean MPAs in achieving their conservation and social objectives through a reliable system for the assessment of the effectiveness, based on a tool that will ensure MPA effective management. The main project’s outputs will be the Mediterranean MPAs-tailored IUCN Green List Set of Indicators and the establishment of the MED MPAs EAGLs (a committee of experts trained by IUCN that examine protected areas’ applications for the Green List Standard). These outputs will largely benefit local public authorities such as MPAs’ management bodies, but also national public authorities (e.g. Ministries and technical agencies) and IUCN, which represents globally the largest international organisation about nature conservation. The “GreenList4MMPAs” Project will adopt an approach based on the use of a large number of case studies in seven EU countries, two IPA countries, and six Third Med countries (thanks to an additional funding by IUCN), in order to represent all the existing seven Ecoregions in the Mediterranean Sea. In this perspective only a true transnational approach can allow project’s goals to be met.

Actual Achievements (EN):

GreenList4MMPAs partnership started to meet regularly (mainly online) since the announcement of the Programme approval “under conditions”, to resolve conditions and finalize the contracting procedure. This took quite a long time, also because in February JS communicated the need to have a new PP from an additional eligible country, since the withdrawn of the Albanian PP reduced the total number of participating countries. The new PP (Cote Bleu MPA) was formally taken on board in early March, while the kick-off meeting (with PSC establishment) was held online on January the 26th. Concerning project implementation, first activity, was the drafting of the Project's activities workplan (Del. 1.1.1). The following activity was the “Review of existing national and international standards to assess MPA effectiveness” (Act. 1.2). Thanks to the results of Act. 1.2, Act. 1.3 “Development of a Mediterranean MPAs-tailored IUCN Green List provisional set of Specific Indicators based on reviewed information” has started. To harmonize knowledge of all the PPs about the starting reference of the project, a specific training on IUCN Green List Standard was carried out during the presential 2nd PSC project meeting in Rome (9-10 April 2024). Act. 2.2 “Drafting of Med MPA EAGLs’ Terms of Reference” (ToRs) has been finalized, with the IUCN Headquarter agreement too. Publication of an open Call for experts (based on the approved ToRs) is expected in October. Consequently, Act. 2.3 “Selection of experts and establishment of Med MPA EAGLs committee” needs to be moved to the 2nd semester and will be finalised by November 2024. LP and PP2 attended the event organized by the Dialogue4Nature governance project (June 27th 2024). Internal communication is carried out mainly through e-mails and monthly online meetings. The primary external communications tool implemented is the Project’s website, finalised and published in early June 2024. PP2 has developed a communications strategy for the project which, after inputs and approval from the rest of the partners, identified key communications objectives, target audiences, platforms and tools to guide the project´s external communications. The project is running smoothly. LP assured permanent monitoring activity on the overall project implementation through a stable (monthly) exchange of info among PPs and a regular decision making process (2 Project steering Committe meetings wereheld). CO2 related data have been input by each PP on the Programme Calculator. Concerning WP1, all the steps (analysis of similar existing standards, interviews to MPAs already labelled by Green List, exploitation of results from similar projects - Act. 1.2 and partially 1.3) have been fulfilled and have allowed to prepare a first draft of the Mediterranean MPAs-tailored IUCN Green List provisional set of Specific Indicators (called also "Guidance Notes") that constitue the deliverable 1.3.1 and have been shared with the project partnership in the final days of the 2nd semester. Concerning WP2, ToRs and operational rules for the selection and functioning of the "Marine Mediterranean Expert Group for the Green List (Med-EAGL)" have been drafted and adopted by the whole partnership, thus allowing the publication of the "Call for expressions of interest to join the Med-EAGL" that opened on the 14th of November and closed the 11th of December. Candidatures evaluation process, involving also IUCN Headquarters and the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), was finalised in February 2025. Concerning the coordination with the "horizontal projects", LP attended the capitalization event organized by the Italian National Contact Point in Florence (November 21st), and the public event organized in Malaga on November 28th and 29 by the mission's governance project. Finally, as far as communication is concerned, project's section in the Programme website was finalized and the first draft of the project introduction video was realized. During the IUCN Regional Conservation Forum held in Bruges, where IUCN MED presented GL4MMPAs project, the Albanian agency of Protection of Environment (NAPA) expressed its interest in joining the project as Associate partner, in order to be informed of the development of the project and contribute to the last phase of the project.

Project outputs: Number of project partners(EN)
N.A.(FR)
N.A.(FR)
Action Plan for the establishment of an EAGL at national level, and for the testing at national level of the list of Med MPAs GL Specific Indicators(EN)

Thematic information

Sustainable management of natural resources Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_EM_2) Greener MED

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4894530635 | IT120000058 | - (EN), - (FR)

Address: Villa Comunale , 80121 Napoli, Italy

Department address: Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Total budget: EUR 160 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 128 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 000.00

Contractors:

Name: INTERFORUM S.R.L.
VAT registration or tax identification number: IT02607420920

Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue

Name: Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 877951075

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 32639507600010 | FR120000018 | - (EN), - (FR)

Address: PLAGE DU ROUET 31, AVENUE JEAN BART, 13620 CARRY-LE-ROUET, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: https://parcmarincotebleue.fr/

Total budget: EUR 40 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 32 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 8 000.00

Comité français de l’UICN

Name: Comité français de l’UICN

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 41502562600045 | FR220000010 | - (EN), - (FR)

Address: Rue de Paris, 93301 MONTREUIL, France

Department address: France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 50 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 40 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 10 000.00

Πανεπιστημιο Αιγαιου – Ειδικος Λογαριασμος Κονδυλιων Ερευνας

Name: Πανεπιστημιο Αιγαιου – Ειδικος Λογαριασμος Κονδυλιων Ερευνας

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999840693

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 090264862 | EL120000042 | - (EN), - (FR)

Address: University Hill, 81132 Mytilene, Greece

Department address: Greece

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Total budget: EUR 80 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 64 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 000.00

WWF Adria– Udruga za Zaštitu Prirode i Očuvanje Biološke Raznolikosti

Name: WWF Adria– Udruga za Zaštitu Prirode i Očuvanje Biološke Raznolikosti

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 917832528

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR92278052107 | HR220000008 | - (EN), - (FR)

Address: Gundulićeva, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Department address: Croatia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 100 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 80 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 000.00

Contractors:

Name: ACEPSD
VAT registration or tax identification number: L72302453G

Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature et de ses Ressources

Name: Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature et de ses Ressources

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999918972

Partner’s ID if not PIC: W0391213F | ES530000304 | - (EN), - (FR)

Address: Calle Marie Curie, 29590 Campanillas, Spain

Department address: Spain

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 170 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 136 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 34 000.00

Contractors:

Name: ASTRAcademy Pte. Ltd.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 202021782G
Name: GRUPO DE AUDITORES PÚBLICOS
VAT registration or tax identification number: A92015254

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Côte Bleue Marine Park

Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Partners and Projects info

International Union for Conservation of Nature - French Committee

Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Partners and Projects info

University of The Aegean - Research Unit

Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Partners and Projects info

WWF Adria - Association for the nature protection and conservation of biological diversity

Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Partners and Projects info

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Partners and Projects info

Zoological Station Anton Dohrn

Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Project acronym: GreenList4MMPAs

Project ID: Euro-MED0200594

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2026-03-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Green list for Natura 2000 (EN), N.A. (FR) | N.A. (FR), The LIFE “Green list for Natura 2000” project has developed a feasibility method for assessing the applicability of Green list to the broader Natura 2000 terrestrial network. This project has run in parallel with the IUCN “Programme for Green list development”. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 600 000.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 480 000.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Project's activities workplan
Review of national and international standards to assess MPA effectiveness
Mediterranean MPAs-tailored IUCN Green List provisional set of indicators
MPAs’ assessment of applicability of the Med MPAs-tailored IUCN Green List set of indicators
Report on “National Focus Group meetings”
Finalised list of the Mediterranean MPAs-tailored IUCN Green List set of indicators
Report on Programme-related capitalization activities
ToRs for the Med MPA EAGLs
List of selected EAGL including signed letters of commitment from EAGL members
Training Report
Action Plan for: establishment of EAGLs, and testing of the List of Med MPAs GL Specific Indicators
Project pilot phase concept note

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal N.A.
TerritorialAgenda2030 N.A.
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion N.A.
MediterraneanSeaBasin One of the three main goals of the “Initiative for the sustainable development of the blue economy in the western mediterranean region” (WESTMED) is to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity in the western Mediterranean region, and Westmed specifically refers to the 481 marine protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites located in the Western Med. In addition one of the 6 priorities included in the Westmed ministerial declaration and Roadmap agreed by the signatories is “Biodiversity and marine habitat conservation and restoration”. In this perspective the “GreenList4MMPAs” Project will be able to support the Westmed’ goal by enhancing MPAs capacities to actually foster marine biodiversity protection and restore marine ecosystems.
Other N.A.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 6.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSI1 - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: organisations

Delivered result indicator(s):

PSI1 - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders: 6.0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B EURO Mediterranean (EURO MED)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-02

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

78 / 78 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

733 / 733 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Adapting IUCN Green List Standard to the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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