The MedFund is a key player in the long-term financing of MPAs. It was initiated by France, Monaco and Tunisia with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
The MedFund supports the achievement of the collective commitment of several states in the East and the South of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as international environmental organizations. These actors are all convinced that the future of the Mediterranean and its populations requires immediate action.
The MedFund is an innovative tool designed to sustainably finance and mobilize all the actions essential to the management of MPAs over the long term. It contributes to the implementation of many international agreements such as: the Barcelona Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
The Highly Protected Mediterranean Initiative
Guided by science and encouraged by the commitments of several countries to increase the number of highly protected MPAs in the Mediterranean, the MedFund Board of Directors decided in July 2021 to create a new funding window dedicated to MPAs with a high level of protection, called the Highly Protected Mediterranean Initiative. Highly protected MPAs are MPAs that have in their management plan one or more zones under high protection (no-take zones, no-go zones, fully protected areas).
The MAVA Foundation and PEW Bertarelli Ocean Legacy are the first financial partners of this new initiative designed specifically to provide a long-term support to the operational costs of marine protected areas (MPAs) with a high level of protection.
In this context, the MedFund and N.E.C.C.A. signed an Agreement which provides financial support in order to contribute to the efficient management of National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades in Greece regarding the following activities:
- Co-management: Collaboration with NGO’s in order to enhance the protection of the MPA.
- Sufficient and competent human resources.
- Adapted and maintained equipment
- Surveillance and enforcement
- Active governance and stakeholder engagement
- Awareness raising of different audiences / communication
- Scientific monitoring.
- Management activities (conservation/restoration/management of pressures including fisheries, tourism activities, invasive species, etc.) protecting conservation targets.
- Promotion/support of environmentally friendly socio-economic activities.
- Consideration of climate change-related issues.
- Gender approach: how to promote gender equality.
- Long-term and financial sustainability.
- Promotion of high protection at national and Mediterranean level
The Monk Seal Alliance and The MedFund join forces with NECCA to strengthen conservation action in Greece
LIFE MareNatura – The largest marine biodiversity project implemented in Greece
N.E.C.C.A. Greeting at the web conference on: “Challenges and prospects for the development of tourism in protected areas”