Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection (IMELS) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection (IMELS) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) was signed in September 2016 to provide a framework of cooperation and understanding and to facilitate collaboration towards shared goals and objectives.

This Bilateral Cooperation Agreement has effectively addressed key common priorities of IMELS and UNEP/ Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), with a particular focus on biodiversity conservation and protected areas management, marine litter prevention and reduction, establishment of Coastal Areas Management Programme network and promotion of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Marine Spatial Planning and other relevant governance tools for Blue Growth.

The design of the Bilateral Agreement’s workplans, supporting a number of activities of a cross-cutting nature, and the delivery of multi-dimensional outcomes, such as ecosystem-based MSP or marine litter management in MPAs, has further promoted coordination and integration, which are at the core of the Regional Seas Conventions scope and mandate. This covers both integration of responses, by addressing different sectors in a holistic manner, but also institutional integration through a coordinated work between different UNEP/MAP Components for common activities under the overall guidance of the Secretariat.

During the Agreement’s implementation period, a number of activities were executed by the different MAP Components under the coordination of the Secretariat and the guidance provided by the Steering Committee, using an important financial support provided by the Italian government. The Agreement implementation led to the delivery of a number of tangible outcomes with a positive impact on the Mediterranean region, including reports, guidelines and analyses, capacity building activities, trainings and tools, regional and sub- regional meetings, pilot activities, twinning agreements between marine protected areas etc.

The importance of acting and achieving concrete results on the ground at sub-regional level has been continuously acknowledged by different UNEP/MAP bodies. In this respect, focus has been placed on the Adriatic area with some outcomes being tailored to the Adriatic needs and specificities. Sub-regional activities have been implemented in a manner to ensure significant benefits to the whole region, for example by developing and testing best practices, tools and methodologies that can be then expanded/ replicated in other areas or at regional level.

On the other hand, efforts have been made to ensure linkages of the activities with key global processes and instruments, including among the others the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its relevant SDGs by contributing to effective management of protected areas in the Mediterranean.