Posidonia, the WWF Mediterranean newsletter for the community of environmental organizations in the Mediterranean. Vol 9 No 3, Autumn 2009

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1 Fishing along Neretva River, Bosnia and Herzegovina. WWF-Canon / M. GUNTHER Posidonia, the newsletter for the community of environmental organizations in the Mediterranean. Vol 9 No 3, Autumn 2009 WWF UPDATE Neretva: energy sector discussing environmental flows Monitoring in Hutovo Blato Preserving natural heritage using EU tools Sustainable hydropower in the Dinaric Arc Transboundary protected areas On the Med tuna trail 2009 Regional network of MPAs in the Mediterranean Destinations: sustainable tourism Detecting illegal wildlife trade Management plans for Tunisian wetlands News from Portugal WWF IN THE NEWS Tuna trade ban vital as Commission fails again From Copenhagen to a real deal on climate change Ski areas threaten forests UPDATE FROM NGOs Grants for local projects on environmental education Mediterranean Power Initiative Together for wetlands management in Algiers Workshops on EU and Natura 2000 Natura 2000 Network in Montenegro Announcements and resources P O S idonia

2 WWF update: news from neretva ENERGY SECTOR DISCUSSING ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Branko Vucijak Neretva Freshwater Projects Coordinator The Living Neretva project in Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to make the Neretva river basin an example of proper alignment with the Water Framework Directive in the Western Balkans. Currently the project is working to establish and maintain environmental flow requirements for the Neretva river basin and to make recommendations for the development of sub-laws. One of the first sectors to be influenced by new environmental flow legislation is likely to be the energy sector. WWF has organized a series of workshops, training courses and exchange visits for both the water and energy administrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At a workshop in Sarajevo in December representatives of all Bosnia and Herzegovina river basin agencies and hydropower/electricity production and distribution companies discussed the first draft sub-law on environmental flow, presented by a team from WWF. This sub-law will be developed further in a subsequent phase of the project. The Living Neretva project is supported by and WWF Norway, and is financed by the Norwegian Government. See the Living Neretva website Monitoring in Hutovo Blato FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Zoran Mateljak Sharing Waters Neretva Project Coordinator zmateljak@wwfmedpo.org Hutovo Blato Nature Park is situated in the lower Neretva valley in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. aims to develop environmental flow recommendations for locations in the Hutovo Blato Nature Park that have been identified as the most important for preserving biodiversity. However, important gaps in data and knowledge about the hydrology and ecology of the park need to be resolved before a final design for the flow recommendation is possible. The existing network of hydrological stations will need to be rehabilitated, and new stations may need to be added, in order to measure and monitor water levels and flows in selected locations. Sharing Waters programme is supported by the MAVA Foundation. Thanks to its outstanding biodiversity Hutovo Blato has been internationally recognised as a wetland of importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. ramsar.orgwnw.n.bosnia_livno.htm PRESERVING NATURAL HERITAGE USING EU TOOLS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Semra Fejzibegovic Neretva Freshwater Projects Assistant sfejzibegovic@wwfmedpo.org Europe s Living Heart project is supporting administration in preparation for the future site nomination in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the European Ecological Network Natura The project has entered its third phase which will last until June Current activities include preparation for field mapping, which will be held in spring, and selection of the experts who will define habitat types from the Annex I list of the EU Habitat Directive. A database will be compiled to complete and review the entire list of species and habitats from Annexes I and II of the Habitat Directive registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Europe s Living Heart project is supported by and WWF Norway, and is financed by the Norwegian Government. See the Living Neretva website

3 WWF update: news from the dinaric Arc Sustainable Hydropower in the Dinaric Arc In recent years, the wetlands and freshwater ecosystems of southeastern Europe have faced increasing pressure from the planned development of new hydropower infrastructure in the region. An International Conference on Sustainable Hydropower in the Dinaric Arc was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in October. It gathered key stakeholders in dam development and operation to discuss the sustainability of hydropower schemes through the adoption of environmental standards, including the concept of environmental flows. Presentations included examples of sustainable hydropower and innovative approaches from all over the world. The conference provided a step towards improving practices in the Dinaric Arc region. Participants were particularly interested in more intensive cooperation between all stakeholders and in the implementation of the revised IHA Sustainability Protocol in their countries. It was decided to pursue all relevant advocacy activities at national, regional and international level. Angela Klauschen Freshwater Policy Officer aklauschen@wwfmedpo.org in cooperation with the International Hydropower Association, the Global Water Partnership and the World Bank organized the conference on Sustainable Hydropower in the Dinaric Arc in Dubrovnik on 7 8 October All presentations from the hydropower conference are available at transboundary protected areas Further information Emira Mesanovic Transboundary Collaboration Programme Manager emesanovic@wwfmedpo.org A partnership agreement was signed in November in Pluzine, Montenegro, between Durmitor National Park in Montenegro and Sutjeska National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Pluzine council is officially responsible for the decision to be made in the future for the proclamation of a regional nature park which would include territories of the Sutjeska and Durmitor National Parks. This would be one of the first official transboundary protected areas in the Dinaric Arc. These two national parks are rich in biodiversity, cultural and historical heritage. Representatives of the National Parks agreed on priorities: nature protection, sustainable tourism development and educational activities and exchanges involving local communities and businesses. The event for the signing of the agreement was funded through the project Environment for People in the Dinaric Arc that is being implemented by WWF, IUCN, and SNV (Netherlands Development Organization) and is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

4 WWF update: news from the tuna trail On the Med tuna trail 2009 In 2009 WWF carried out ten tuna tagging expeditions in Spain and Italy. Eleven giant bluefin tuna and three juveniles were successfully tagged, allowing the WWF team to record environmental data to clarify aspects of adult tuna migrations. Adult fish (over 40kg) are fitted with pop-up tags that record information once per minute, release from the fish at a specified time and float to the surface for the data to be read by satellite. Important lifecycle information on the bluefin will also come from archival tags clipped onto juvenile fish and recovered at point of catch wherever that may be. The exciting news in 2009 was the recovery of a 2008 archival tag by a professional fisherman. After 390 days the tuna was recaptured only 124km from the release position. WWF are processing the data and will obtain information on the daily activities of this juvenile. WWF s tuna tagging activities planned in partnership with key international scientific institutions and fishing stakeholders in the Mediterranean have been made possible thanks to financial support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION WWF web section with photos, news, mini films, updates, results Tuna tagging on Flikr Bluefin Tuna Bulletin up-to-date news from on the bluefin tuna fishery in crisis. Contact Gemma Parkes gparkes@wwfmedpo.org. Dr Pablo Cermeño,WWF Tuna Tagging Coordinator, during the WWF MedPO tuna tagging trip off the coast of Roses, Spain. / E. PARKER Looking out for tuna from the WWF Columbus boat. Being interviewd by Spanish TV. Pablo Cermeño balances at the back of the small boat, legs braced, harpoon at the ready. Beneath him in the crystal waters his target is clearly visible: a shimmer of metallic turquoise that tacks left, right, left again as it is hauled inexorably towards the surface. The fisherman grunts and sweats as he does battle with the giant fish, reeling, pulling and reeling again. The fish breaks the surface; it is at least a metre long. Its cold black eye stares at us and its razor mouth gapes, exhausted from the fight. As it thrashes back and forth in the water Cermeño strikes, plunging the harpoon into its back to deposit an electronic tagging device. Everybody cheers, and Cermeño kneels to cut the line. The fish sinks back into the water, pauses, then dives for freedom. With three strokes of its powerful muscular tail it has barrelled out of sight into the depths of the Mediterranean sea... From Tagging the tigers of the sea 12/11/2009, New Scientist, UK/Global On a research boat from the University of Cadiz, ready with tagging harpoon to tag a tuna.

5 WWF update: regional news Regional network of MPAs in the Mediterranean Anna Ludlow Capacity Building Officer A training workshop bringing together a diverse and interesting group of people from key ministry positions related to MPA management as well as MPA management bodies in the Mediterranean was held in Tabarka, Tunisia in November. The first regional training event of the MedPAN South project, an intensive 80-hour workshop on Management Planning for MPAs, was led by staff from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with Mediterranean experts providing case studies that complemented the theoretical work. More than 40 participants from 13 countries along the east and south of the Mediterranean enjoyed the friendly working environment and found group-discussions and collaborative work stimulating. It was a positive step towards a truly regional approach to effective MPA management in the Mediterranean. The workshop was organised by WWF Mediterranean with UNEP-MAP and RAC-SPA and was the first of three planned annual regional workshops within the MedPAN South project. The MedPAN South Project is part of the biodiversity component of the GEF project Strategic partnership for the Mediterranean sea large marine ecosystem led by UNEP. See Fieldtrip at the Management Planning for MPAs workshop, Tabarka, Tunisia. / F. MAAMOURI destinations: sustainable tourism in the mediterranean Vanessa Perez WWF Global Tourism Strategy v.perezcirera@gmail.com The three-year DESTINATIONS project closed in November with an international conference on sustainable tourism held in Casablanca, Morocco. Attended by more than 60 participants, the conference presented the main results of the project. These included strategic guidelines for sustainable tourism in three project areas (Tipasa in Algeria, Al Hoceima in Morocco and Cap Bon in Tunisia) and guidelines for sustainable investments in tourism, proposed by WWF. The directors of three pilot hotel structures committed to continuing to uphold the environmental policies and the European eco-labelling process started within the project. The DESTINATIONS project Defining strategies for sustainable tourism in Mediterranean countries was a joint venture of six project partners and was supported by the EC LIFE Third Country programme and WWF Germany. The final conference, November 2009, was organised by the Priority Actions Programme/ Regional Activity Center (PAP/RAC) and the Moroccan partner SEEE/DE/ DSPR. The WWF publication Towards sustainable tourism investments is available as a pdf file. See

6 WWF update: news from north africa detecting illegal WILDLIFE TRADE Alessandro Badalotti Forest Officer Twenty-five Moroccan customs officers completed a three-day training course, in Ifrane in October, designed to increase their capacity to stop illegal wildlife trade. A senior officer with the United Kingdom Custom and Border Patrol trained the officers in special techniques used to detect illegal wildlife trade. They were also trained in the implementation of the CITES an international treaty about wildlife trade to which Morocco is a signatory. The training focused particularly on stopping illegal trade in the endangered Barbary macaque, a species unique to Morocco and Algeria. An estimated 300 infant macaques are illegally captured in the wild every year and illegally exported to Europe where they are kept as exotic pets. This trade and habitat destruction have caused wild populations of the macaque in Morocco to decline by up to 80% in the past two decades. If poaching and illegal trade are not stopped, the species is likely to become extinct in Morocco. The workshop was organized by WWF in cooperation with the Moroccan Forestry Department and the Species Survival Network. It was a component of the project Enabling conditions for Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) conservation in the Middle Atlas, Morocco financed by WWF Netherlands with contributions from the Netherlands Committee of IUCN and running until February MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR TUNISIAN WETLANDS Irene Mosqueira Tunisian Wetlands Project imosqueira@wwfmedpo.org The Tunisian Wetlands project began a year ago with a clear objective: to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in Tunisia. This includes the designation of new Ramsar sites and the establishment of effective and sustainable management plans for the sites already established. WWF Tunisia has launched a series of six workshops on the production of management plans for Ramsar sites. The second workshop was held in Bizerte at the end of November. Staff from the Tour du Valat centre, in France, led many of the training sessions and participants also enjoyed field visits to the Lagoon of Ghar el Melh and the Mejerda Delta. By the end of the workshop, participants produced four minimanagement plans covering the essential aspects of the Ghar el Melh Lagoon. The Tunisian Wetlands project is funded by the MAVA Foundation with the collaboration of DGF Tunisia and WWF Tunis Office. View of the old port of the Ghar el Melh Lagoon, Tunisia. / F. MAAMOURI

7 WWF update: news from portugal renewal of support for WWf in portugal Angela Morgado Communications and Fundraising, Portugal in Portugal has been successful in a number of initiatives recently. At a fair of sustainable products and green ideas held in Lisbon in September WWF had a stand for the first time. This was important for WWF s visibility in the country and to establish closer contact with people of all ages who showed an interest in WWF s campaigns and field work. Then, in November around 30 people, staff of Coca-cola Portugal, visited WWF s project in the Guadiana basin in southern Portugal. With renewed support from Coca-cola Portugal for this project WWF will be able to continue improving the conservation status of the area, protecting the natural habitat of endemic species like the Saramugo (Anaecypris hispanica), an endangered fish, and restoring forests that have suffered as a result of catastrophic fires. WWF s participation in the Green Festival was made possible with the support of Ikea, Coca-cola Portugal, LPR, Ogilvy Portugal and Amorim. The Restoration of Guadiana River Basin project is part of an innovative collaboration between WWF and Coca-cola Portugal. Coca-cola Portugal is also joining GFTN Iberica a WWF alliance group with around 20 Portuguese and Spanish companies working towards improving forest management and has committed to use only FSCcertified paper to produce labels and promotional materials. Coca Cola Portugal staff field visit, Ribeira do Vascão, Guadiana river basin. Lanterns for Copenhagen. WWF-Mediterranean / A. MORGADO vote earth campaign Angela Morgado Communications and Fundraising, Portugal amorgado@wwfmedpo.org Earth Hour in March 2009 did a lot to raise awareness of climate change issues. But beyond switching off lights for an hour once a year, the Vote Earth campaign is about giving people a voice on the future of our planet, and the chance to send a message to world leaders for decisive action on climate change. In the lead-up to the COP15 climate summit in Copenhagen in December, Vote Earth in Portugal gathered companies and citizens to express their vote for a living planet. Through WWF s Portuguese website and WWF s Portugal page on Facebook millions of people voted Earth. Television and radio advertisements helped spread the word and several Portuguese celebrities focused people s attention on the campaign. Children participated in WWF s Earth Hour Lantern Project, sending dozens of lanterns to Copenhagen to illuminate the city with the light of hope. See

8 wwf in the news: bluefin tuna tuna trade ban vital as commission fails again Gemma Parkes Communications Officer The international commission that sets catch limits for tuna has failed, once again, to do what is necessary to give bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean an adequate chance of survival. The Atlantic tuna commission ICCAT, at their annual meeting in November, ignoring the recommendations of their own scientists, approved an annual catch quota of 13,500 metric tonnes for Saving the tuna will now depend largely on an international trade ban due to be discussed in March. WWF had lobbied the ICCAT meeting for a suspension of fishing and determined action against illegal fishing, estimated at times to catch as much again as the authorized quota. Almost all tuna harvesting countries have been formally identified by ICCAT for breaking its rules - such as EU tuna fattening farms accepting fish without proper documentation. The massive overcapacity of industrial fleets in the Mediterranean also continues to hamper conservation efforts, yet the problem remains insufficiently addressed by the tuna commission. The season for industrial fishing for bluefin tuna with purse seine fleets was reduced from two months to one, but remains open during the peak of the spawning period of 15 May to 15 June when the tuna are most vulnerable. ICCAT also continued to ignore long-standing calls to establish sanctuaries in key bluefin tuna spawning grounds such as the Balearic Islands off Spain. For latest updates see org/tuna. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas met in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil, 7 15 November The EU votes en bloc at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, whose next Conference of the Parties is in Doha, Qatar, March WWF s work on fisheries is supported by the Oak Foundation. Atlantic bluefin tuna feeding in the Mediterranean Sea. WWF / F. BASSEMAYOUSSE

9 wwf in the news: climate change from copenhagen to a real deal on climate change Kim Carstensen Leader, Global Climate Initiative WWF International k.carstensen@wwf.dk The UN climate talks in Copenhagen in December ended with an outcome far too weak to tackle dangerous climate change, according to WWF. Millions of lives, hundreds of billions of dollars and a wealth of lost opportunities lie in the difference between rhetoric and reality on climate change action. The draft Copenhagen Accord is a long way from developing into the legally binding framework for decisive action on climate change that millions globally have been calling for. However, if governments build on the good aspects of the Accord and commence further meaningful negotiations, it could be one of the stepping stones toward a fair, ambitious and binding deal. The essential elements of such a deal are that it leads to a global emissions peak before 2017, holds global warming to well below 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels with an eventual decline below 1.5 degrees, and supports adaptation to the warming that does occur. Attention will now shift to follow up negotiations which need to fill out many details in the often vague accord. On a more positive note, a host of initiatives by countries, cities, companies and communities have emerged that are starting to build low carbon economies from the base up. Full story on mediterranean. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty. The parties to the convention have met annually since 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change. COP 15 took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, 7 18 December COP 16 is expected to be held in Mexico from 29 November to 10 December Opening of the WWF Arctic tent in Nytorv Square, COP15, United Nations Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark. WWF-Canon / R. STONEHOUSE ski areas threaten forests Andreas Beckman WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme abeckmann@wwfdcp.org Plans for new skiing areas in the region around the Carpathian Mountains and in the Balkans threaten to harm major protected areas that house some of Europe s last remaining untouched wilderness. Construction of ski facilities have a very significant impact on habitats and species with removal of forest cover and other vegetation to make way for ski runs, access roads and infrastructure. Many of the projects in EU countries expect to receive significant support from the EU, including those that clearly contravene EU and national legislation. Full story on mediterranean.

10 news from ngos: capacity building grants for projects on environmental education Nine Mediterranean NGOs were chosen by the Across the Waters Programme to receive small grants in 2008, to carry out local projects on environmental education. In Autumn 2009 several of these organisations completed their projects. Their achievements are outlined below. Across the Waters Grants Programme is funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya. Croatian NGO SUNCE Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development with their Life in blue Education for marine conservation project aimed to develop a positive attitude towards nature in young people, and teach them how they can contribute to the protection of the Adriatic Sea. SUNCE developed a set of lectures and interactive workshops for primary school children covering different topics of marine biodiversity, processes and conservation, and presented these to 10 schools in Split. A book Blue journey was published and its launch was covered by local media. Montenegrin NGO Green Home developed a youth education project about the necessity for rational usage and consumption of energy. The Green energy Project organised workshops and a competition for primary schools in the Municipality of Podgorica and Kolasin. With their project Linking conservation to sustainable development in the southern coast of Lebanon, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon promoted the conservation and sustainable use of the Qoleileh Marine Hima in Qoleileh village through environmentally friendly practices and eco-tourism. The project supplied local fishermen with fishing and diving equipment under the agreement that they are used legally, and provided a six-day training course on their proper use and techniques. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Montse Suarez Capacity Building Assistant msuarez@atw-wwf.org The environmental education programme of the Association Talassemtane pour l Environnement et le Développement, Morocco, was aimed at school children who live within the Talassemtane National Park. Workshops were organised at 9 schools in the region of Chefchaouen, with the programme focusing on the geography and natural characteristics of the Talassemtane National Park. Interactive field studies with two colleges also took place - one concentrating on the river of Chefchaouen, and the second on the pine forests of the Talassemtane National Park.

11 news from ngos: capacity building mediterranean power initiative FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Montse Suarez Capacity Building Assistant NGOs and experts from north African countries and the Middle East working on renewable energies and solar power met over three days in October in Palamos Spain, to discuss energy policy in the Mediterranean region. The workshop was the first activity of the Mediterranean Power Initiative which WWF is currently developing to create the enabling conditions for the sustainable development of renewable energy and the achievement of energy efficiency and energy security in the Mediterranean. The 26 participants learned about concentrated solar power (CSP), identified potential environmental, social, and economic impacts (both positive and negative) of CSP development in north Africa and the Middle East, discussed the role of civil society in the process, and identified organizations and experts interested in collaborating on a regional initiative on the sustainable development of renewable energy. The Mediterranean Power Initiative will complement other projects and initiatives in the field of sustainable energy and will combine research and policy work at the regional level with concrete activities in target countries, Morocco and Tunisia as a first step. The NOAH school on climate change and renewable energies in the Mediterranean region, October 2009, was organized by WWF Mediterranean Across The Waters Programme, WWF EPO, and WWF International. The workshop was funded by the Diputacio de Girona, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Heinrich Boll Foundation. Windturbine at a wind farm, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. WWF-Canon / C.G. VALLECILLO Together for Wetlands Management in Algiers Nadia Bellal Freshwater project coordinator n_bellal@yahoo.fr Around fifty people from NGOs, civil society and public administration in Algeria took part in a workshop in Algiers in December. Participants collaborated on developing a management plan for wetlands, an inventory of wetlands, and a programme for the public use of wetlands. Participants expressed their satisfaction and the hope to have other opportunities to raise their knowledge and skills on wetlands conservation and management. Algeria has more than 1,500 wetlands, ecosystems which are both precious and fragile and need urgent and effective attention. Wetlands management and public use was organized by the Algerian Ministry of Planning, Environment and Tourism (MATET), the National Center for Environmental Training (CNFE), and WWF. The World Deserts Foundation, active in sustainable development in arid and semi-arid areas, also supported the workshop. This activity was funded by the MAVA Foundation in the framework of the project Field and Policy Initiatives for Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation in North Africa and western Balkans.

12 news from ngos: natura 2000 workshops on eu and natura 2000 Andrea Štefan Policy Officer In October and November a series of intensive three-day workshops provided training for 45 environmental NGOs from the Dinaric Arc region (Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) on the Natura 2000 process. They learnt about EU institutions and EU nature protection legislation, the importance of the Natura 2000 network and the process for the establishment of Natura 2000 including the role NGOs can play in preparation, implementation and funding possibilities. The workshops had an additional value in both Montenegro and Serbia with the participation of representatives from ministries, expert institutions and the EC Delegation which ensured a range of experience. In fact, following the workshop in Serbia, organised a meeting with the Serbian Government to demonstrate the relevance of Natura 2000 as a state project, with key government sectors beginning to integrate EU nature conservation requirements into policy making. The workshops were organised within the project Serbia, Montenegro and Natura 2000: Strengthening capacities of Government and civil society to adapt to EU nature protection aquis which is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through WWF Norway. These events were held in Ulcinj, Montenegro, October with the support of local NGO Green Home and in Fruška gora/vojvodina, Serbia, 8 11 November with the support of Young Researchers of Serbia. natura 2000 network in montenegro Natasa Kovacevic Programme coordinator Green Home Natasa.green@t-com.me Following the three-day workshop on the role of NGOs in the preparation and implementation of Natura 2000 in Montenegro, participants had a clearer understanding of the structure and work of EC institutions and the role of NGOs in the Natura 2000 process. In Montenegro NGOs have organized an informal network, the Natura 2000 info centre. The workshop gave them the opportunity to analyse various initiatives that the network could launch and possible ways of funding them. In order to strengthen communication and information sharing, Natura 2000 info centre has launched a website gathering and presenting information and activities on Natura 2000 in Montenegro and positive experiences from other countries. on the Natura 2000 info centre as well as material for the preparation and implementation of the Natura 2000 ecological network in Montenegro. indyact in copenhagen Andira Raslan andira_raslan@hotmail.com Two people from the policy team of IndyACT The League of Independent Activists, Lebanon attended the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen and followed the negotiations first hand. Their analysis and evaluation of daily outcomes were used for lobbying and to push for a fair, ambitious and a binding deal. Meeting with the delegations was one of their main tasks, as was following the response measures issues. Attending the Climate Action Network strategy meetings was very enriching. Regardless of the unclear repercussions of the Copenhagen accord, they are determined to keep up the political momentum for COP16 later in IndyACT s participation at Copenhagen was sponsored by the Across the Waters Exchange Programme, funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.

13 news from ngos: resources announcements International Conference on Integration of Gender Dimensions in Water Management. An opportunity to discuss the work and experience of the GEWAMED project, reviewing major gender and water related issues and identifying future actions. Amman, Jordan, March Partnership and participation for a sustainable tomorrow: Continuing the UN Decade of ESD. Bergen, Norway, April HKA, a youth organisation from Hungary, will hold a youth training on Environmental Education in May 2010, for NGOs from Euro-Med countries. The organisers are looking for participants who are experts, experienced educators and active in the field of EE, who have designed or carried out innovative, successful educational programs. The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity and for each day of 2010 a different species will be featured on a range of websites and through various other media channels. resources Seafood Ecolabels. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) comes out on top in a report commissioned by WWF Assessment of On-Pack, Wild-Capture Seafood Sustainability Certification Programmes and Seafood Ecolabels, that reveals poor performance among other assessed seafood ecolabelling schemes and calls for improvements across the board to strengthen their effectiveness. Natural Solutions: protected areas helping people cope with climate change is a new report in WWF s Arguments for Protection series, published in partnership with IUCN-WCPA, TNC, UNDP, WCS, the World Bank. Explains how protected areas contribute significantly to reducing impacts of climate change and what is needed for them to achieve even more. The world s diverse regions and ecosystems are close to reaching temperature thresholds that can unleash devastating environmental, social and economic changes, according to a new report by WWF and Allianz Reinsurance, Major Tipping Points in the Earth s Climate System and Consequences for the Insurance Sector. The newly launched HYDRIA PROJECT uses water as a vehicle to unfold the diverse, yet common, tangible and intangible Mediterranean cultural heritage.texts, photos, maps and animations are included in the case studies of HYDRIA. The Arabic version of the webpage is under development. UNESCO has published the recent review of related contexts and structures for the development, promotion and evaluation of Education for Sustainable Development initiatives, projects and frameworks worldwide. The Monachus Guardian, the biannual electronic journal focusing on Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean monk seals. November 2009 issue available Prepared by Programme. To subscribe, unsubscribe or contribute to Posidonia, please send an to msuarez@atw-wwf.org Posidonia is available on the web at Panda symbol WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature WWF Registered Trademark