New project launched to support management and expansion of marine protected areas in Libya

The new project is being implemented as part of the MedProgramme initiative led by Barcelona Convention UNEP/MAP and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). 

The Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Libya organised on Wednesday, 16 February 2022, the kick-off meeting of the project “Management Support and Expansion of Marine Protected Areas in Libya”. 

The project is being implemented as part of the MedProgramme initiative led by Barcelona Convention UNEP/MAP and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). 

The project overall objective consists on addressing the capacity barriers that hinder the sustainability and effectiveness of the MPA network in Libya, namely through the establishment of MPA management support mechanisms in 3 priority MPAs (Ain El Ghezala, Gara island and Farwa lagoon). 

This would include: (i) the assessment of the legal and institutional mechanisms for MPAs; (ii) the collection and centralization of data on marine biodiversity and ecosystems; and (iii) communication and awareness about MPAs and marine biodiversity and ecosystems. 

The project will then contribute to advancing MPAs in Libya towards a phase of operational sufficiency by building the capacity of MPA practitioners and by developing management plans for 3 potential sites through a step-by-step participatory planning process to ensure the effective protection of ecological and socioeconomic values of the areas. 

SPA/RAC will be particularly leading the component on improving governance and management support. This will be based on the implementation of the Libyan Protected Areas National Strategy and on finalizing the consultations and approval of the national law on protected areas. 

The kick-off meeting of the project allowed a rich discussion between all governmental, research and civil society organisations representatives on the setting of a common framework towards a clear definition of the planned activities, the best mechanisms for their implementation and for the active involvement of communities and stakeholders at local levels. 

The meeting has also served as an on-time opportunity where His Excellency Dr Ibrahim Al-Arabi Mounir, Minister of Environment of Libya approved the Action Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Libya and the Action Plan for Non-Indigenous species in Libya that have been prepared with the technical and financial support of SPA/RAC. 

For more information on the Project, please contact Atef LIMAM Child project 3.1. Coordinator.