NEWSLETTER November 2013 Xxxxxx xxxx A view of Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy. RAMPINI / WWF-Italy Mediterranean echo Newsletter of the WWF Mediterranean Programme Issue 14 Generate a sea change in Mediterranean marine management Build a future for Mediterranean landscapes Secure Mediterranean water resources Equip Mediterranean ecosystems to adapt to climate change Oil drilling and exploration activities on the rise in the Mediterranean The Mediterranean currently has 677 MPAs, where harmful human activities are limited or forbidden. Amongst the most destructive of practices for the marine ecosystem is exploration and drilling for oil, activities on the rise in our region due to the global increase in oil prices. Three oil platforms are currently active in the Sicilian Channel, with an average annual production of 280,000 tonnes of crude oil extracted from 35 wells. The Italian government has granted permission to explore the presence of oil under the seabed and extract oil in several sites along the coast of Pantelleria, the large volcanic satellite island situated in the Sicilian channel. Pantelleria island is protected as a designated nature reserve, but not the surrounding sea. It is the only island in the Sicilian Channel that is not a Marine Protected Area. WWF is calling on governments and companies to stop the expansion of oil drilling activities in the Sicilian Channel, especially around Pantelleria. As part of WWF s global Seize Your Power campaign WWF Italy has already collected almost 38,000 signatures on a petition No to drilling in the Sicily Channel, yes to Pantelleria MPA. The Mediterranean is a closed sea any damage it sustains would affect all whose coasts lie within it. From official estimates there is a reserve of only 10.3 million tonnes of petroleum in the seabed of the Sicilian Channel, which would cover Italy s requirements for only 7 weeks. It is simply not worth the risk. Marco Costantini, Marine Officer, WWF Italy WWF-Canon / Richard Stonehouse Italian actor Luca Zingaretti, a recognized symbol of Sicily thanks to his famous character Montalbano, is with WWF to defend his island and support WWF Italy s campaign. Pantelleria amongst the 6 global icons threatened by fossil fuel extraction Some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world are at risk every day from humanity s reliance on fossil fuels. Pantelleria, the unique island in the Sicilian Channel, is one of these landscapes. WWF is working towards establishing a Marine Protected Area around Pantelleria, conducting research to define the threats of oil drilling in the Sicily Channel and the greater Mediterranean Sea. WWF is communicating and raising awareness about the risks and implications of an oil spill in the Mediterranean and advocating for oil and gas drilling activities to be conducted according to management plans using marine spatial planning. Please sign the petition to support this important work: www.wwf.it/appello_contro_trivelle.cfm www.wwf.it/petrolio_mi_sta_stretto.cfm wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/aboutcc/seize_your_power 1
Generate a sea change in Mediterranean marine management RAMPINI / WWF-Italy Pantelleria: black pearl of the Mediterranean Marco Costantini, Marine Officer with WWF Italy visited Pantelleria last summer. This wild volcanic island is often called the black pearl of the Mediterranean. The landscape is a perfect union of mountains and rock beaches, and with its unique position between Europe and Africa it is a crucial resting spot for all migratory birds moving between the two continents. This summer I saw Mediterranean mantas, fin whales, white sharks, bluefin tuna, dolphins and sea turtles in the waters around the island. The channel is also home to the last population of one of the most endangered species in the world, the monk seal. WWF is asking the Italian government to abandon the current National Energy Strategy which specifies a terrifying doubling of the national production of hydrocarbons. Instead, for the future of the country, the government should be making the transition to renewable energy. m.costantini@wwf.it SEA-Med: sustainable economic activities in Mediterranean MPAs WWF Mediterranean recently launched the SEA-Med project to work with MPAs in six Mediterranean countries towards operational and financial selfsufficiency In Tunisia the project focuses on sustainable economic activities in the MCPA Cap Negro- Cap Serrat. In October a delegation from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, a global leader in enabling civil society to participate in and benefit from conservation, visited associations and fishermen and discussed ecotourism activities in the area with them. Despite the summer heat, in Rome WWF Mediterranean held the first training activity of the SEAMed project. Participants from the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park in Albania worked on project cycle management with WWF staff, followed by a field visit to Tavolara MPA, Sardinia, where they explored surveyance, monitoring and practical management. Science does not support any increase in bluefin tuna quotas After great progress was made last year when decision makers agreed for the first time on an annual quota based on science, WWF warns that any increase this year in bluefin tuna quotas for the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) could jeopardize the timely recovery of the species. ICCAT will meet in South Africa in November, and WWF calls for not increasing bluefin tuna quotas this year. http://bit.ly/17sno5t www.panda.org/bluefintuna Good news for fisheries co-management in the Mediterranean The European parliament plenary has voted on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and decided against the reintroduction of subsidies for the building of new boats. Parliamentarians also included a package on jobs for young fishermen and training for sustainable fishing practices that is essential for fishing communities. http://bit.ly/hbuk7d MedPAN North project: results The MedPAN North project, which officially ended in September, produced a wide range of publications on a variety of issues: innovative aspects of MPA management; sustainable management of fisheries and tourism in MPAs; communication and project management. The project contributed to the establishment of a network of MPAs and to the management effectiveness of MPAs, including the marine Natura 2000 sites in the Northern Mediterranean. http://www.medpan.org/mnp cpiante@wwf.fr In other SEAMed news, in Libya the project was officially launched at Farwa Lagoon MPA, to begin the process of engaging authorities, stakeholders and civil society in decision-making processes, and gain their support for the MPA and its governance framework. mgomei@wwfmedpo.org Semaine de la Mer In Tunisia the 6th edition of the annual training week Semaine de la Mer was held in Tabarka and at Cap Negro. Organised by WWF Mediterranean Tunis office, with national and international partners, 22 participants from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, France and Italy took part in an intense exploration of sustainable management, marine conservation and research. sdhouib@wwtunis.org 2
Generate a sea change in Mediterranean marine management WWF greece MSC and ASC certification in the Aegean The Kavala Fisheries Improvement Project is a multi-stakeholder partnership, just launched by WWF Greece, to reverse the decline in fish stocks, safeguard the income of fishermen and provide consumers with traceable and sustainable seafood. Targetting sardine and European anchovy, the project aims to bring MSC certification to the purse seiners of Kavala, a city in the Northern Aegean Sea. WWF Greece is also bringing together marine conservation and the most dynamic Greek business sector with a project for sustainable aquaculture. The Delhaize Aquaculture Project is developing a Sustainable Aquaculture Code of Practice for Mediterranean species (sea bass and sea bream) and setting the basis for Aquaculture Improvement Projects for imported species, leading to Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification where standards are available. m.livanou@wwf.gr Cyclades Life project For the next four years, WWF Greece and partners will strive to establish an MPA around the Northern Aegean islet of Gyaros, which seems to be the most important breeding nuclei of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. The Cyclades Life project will use an innovative co-management scheme to promote local growth in communities adjacent to the MPA, support sustainable fisheries and protect biodiversity. m.livanou@wwf.gr Protecting the Ocean and its resources for future generations Over 1000 delegates from around the globe met at the 3rd edition of the International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC3) in October. Held for the first time in the Mediterranean, the core of IMPAC3 took place in Marseilles followed by a high-level political meeting in Corsica. WWF is a major supporter of the Congress. WWF Mediterranean manages 15 projects throughout the region, involving all interest groups, from fishermen to political decision makers. Many of the challenges facing the Mediterranean were high on the agenda of the Marseilles Congress including the extension of MPAs to the southern Mediterranean, to include Libya, Algeria, Lebanon and Tunisia, where MPAs are insufficient or have not yet been created. More at: http://bit.ly/16zvwyg North African platform of artisanal fishermen A new initiative a North African platform of artisanal fishermen was launched in Bizerte, Tunisia, in September. WWF and other organizations held a workshop for around 50 participants, representatives of civil society and government, national and international experts, towards the greater involvement and participation of artisanal fishermen in the region. It was a challenging event, which saw the beginning of a whole new process in the region. A committee with the mandate to set up a subregional platform of artisanal fisheries associations and professional organizations in North Africa in the coming months was formed. sdhouib@wwtunis.org wwf mediterranean 3
Xxxx xxxxx Build a future for Mediterranean landscapes urgent call to action from greece In a draft law soon to be brought to parliament, the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change is declassifying 15% of Greek territory, opening up lands that are mainly covered with sparse arboreal, maquis and phryganic vegetation to real estate development. Many of these areas host valuable ecological treasures but are being treated as open land for new constructions. If the provisions of this outrageous law are implemented, we will have lost lands that currently constitute our common natural heritage and seriously jeopardize our chances for a more sustainable economy and future. The crisis is no excuse for environmentally destructive policies. Please sign the petition and join WWF Greece in urging Environment Alternate Minister Stavros Kalafatis to withdraw the draft law. www.wwf.gr/petition/ Last minute news... The response to the petition has already been remarkable: WWF Greece was urgently invited to a meeting early this month, in which Minister Kalafatis discussed improving the draft law in a conservation-oriented way. It is crucial that we have as many signatures as possible, to help avert the worst and achieve the best outcome. Theodota Nantsou tnantsou@wwf.gr WWF has channel on Portuguese TV An important step for the visibility of WWF in Portugal in July a new TV channel was launched. MEO Kanal WWF is designed especially for those who love nature and want to learn more about WWF s work in Portugal and worldwide. As a result of the WWF-Portugal Telecom partnership for Earth Hour, MEO invited WWF to develop an environmental TV channel, alerting people to the need to create a sustainable future for our planet and a more environmentally friendly way of life. Topics such as Earth Hour, the illegal trade in wild animals, fisheries and the most emblematic species have been well accepted by an audience that follows WWF s work. MEO Kanal WWF can be seen at 506050 on MEO s platform. See http://bit.ly/1fgvadp amorgado@wwf.panda.org Ancient Forest hot spots A recent study analyses 52 forest stands, representative of the diversity of habitats of France s Mediterranean region. This study gives the first regional references about forest naturalness at a stand level. It opens discussions about the need to enlarge the PA network to protect ancient forests and inspire the development of close to nature silvicuture in the Mediterranean. To download the report (in French with an Excecutive summary in English) www.foretsanciennes.fr/protegermieux/france/ dvallauri@wwf.fr Sustainable forest management in Tuzla Canton In Bosnia and Herzegovina WWF enabled FSC certification of more than 56,000 hectares of forests owned by public enterprise Forests of Tuzla Canton Ltd., while the company Ramex Ltd. received a confirmation that they meet all the requirements for gaining the FSC Chain of Custody Certificate which facilitates sustainable forest management and wood processing. msubasic@wwfmedpo.org Dinaric Arc Parks International conference in Budva The Dinaric Arc Parks project connects 79 parks from the region. It has a strong capacity building component focusing on EU integrations and climate change.sixteen parks from the region have begun the process towards obtaining the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, while more than 20 protected areas have been evaluated by their main stakeholders. WWF gathers protected area practitioners through the Dinarides brand each year. This year s Dinaric Arc Parks International Conference will be held in Budva, Montenegro, at the beginning of December, when a document with commitments to protected areas in the Dinaric Arc region will be signed by the governments of 8 countries. See www.discoverdinarides.com to find out more about Dinaric Arc Parks. For more on the the Budva conference ikorn@wwfmedpo.org Connecting Albania and the Dinaric Arc As an extension of the Dinaric Arc Parks project WWF has started activities in Albania to integrate this country with others in the region in terms of environmental protection. Connecting Albanian People Through Shared Natural Patrimony to the Western Balkans began in October with a kick-off meeting in Tirana. msubasic@wwfmedpo.org 4
Secure Mediterranean water resources Xxxxxx xxxx Michel Gunther / WWF-Canon WWF Mediterranean freshwater jewels of the dinaric arc At the beginning of September, WWF organised a press trip to demonstrate the Dinaric Arc s freshwater jewels in the shadow of hydropower development. The trip was for international journalists in the Adria region, and included the Neretva Delta in Croatia, Hutovo Blato Nature Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Morača River and Skadar Lake in Montenegro. The main objective was to alert the European public to the threats facing these areas and to exert pressure on IFIs and national governments to revise their plans on developing destructive hydropower projects. The trip was attended by journalists from National Geographic and AFP (France), while correspondents of ANSA (Italy) and Anatolia (Turkey) press agencies published articles. The articles were picked up by national media in all Adria countries, providing additional pressure on national decision-makers to revise their plans and stop supporting destructive hydropower. bstojanovic@wwfmedpo.org Water is life to karst WWF and Youth Centre Livno organised an exhibition of photos in Sarajevo in October, devoted to the phenomenon of flooded karst fields, their high biological value and the pressures they face, especially as a result of changes to the hydrological regime. The focus of the exhibition was Livanjsko polje, the largest karst field in the Dinaric Arc and a wetland of international importance protected by the Ramsar Convention. The exhibition was opened by Josip Dolušić from the Federal Ministry of the Environment and was attended by many important stakeholders including the mayor of Sarajevo, Ivo Komšić. WWF also developed a special publication on karst fields, which was distributed at the exhibition. mgotovac@wwfmedpo.org Agricultural production in the Neretva Delta threatened by hydropower development The annual Days of Neretva, event is held in Zagreb to raise awareness about the Neretva Delta region in Croatia, bringing together farmers, NGOs and decision makers involved in the management of the delta. Agricultural production in the Neretva Delta is threatened by the Upper Horizons project, currently one of the biggest hydropower developments in the Western Balkans region. WWF participated in the event with a stand in Zagreb s main square, highlighting the threat posed by hydropower on a big regional map of existing and planned hydropower developments. More than 1000 people visited the stand, which successfully promoted WWF s work and shared the issue of hydropower development with mayors from the region and representatives of national institutions. bstovanovic@wwfmedpo.org Amazon of Europe Day The inaugural Amazon of Europe Day was celebrated on 14 July with various events taking place along the riverbanks of the Mura, Drava and Danube. The three rivers span Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia and are set to become Europe s largest cross-border protected area under the UNESCO flag. The celebration was organized by WWF in alliance with EuroNatur and many partner NGOs and was marked by a Big Jump event on the confluence of the Mura and Drava in Croatia, with more than 100 participants. WWF handed out a Declaration for the preservation of Croatian rivers to representatives of the Ministry of the Environment and Nature Protection, signed by hundreds of people who expressed their wish to keep rivers alive, free from navigation and hydropower dams. ipopovic@wwfmedpo.org WWF Mediterranean 5
Equip Mediterranean ecosystems to adapt to climate change Limiting funding for coal power plants The World Bank s decision, announced recently, to limit funding to coal power plants to only rare circumstances is a welcome step towards a sustainable energy future; other finance institutions should immediately follow suit, says WWF. International public finance institutions, such as the World Bank, the Asia Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the African Development Bank, have an opportunity to shape the world s shift to sustainable energy sources. http://bit.ly/12rjke4 1986 Panda symbol WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature WWF Registered Trademark Lessons from a country powered by the sun WWF-Turkey takes us to the imaginary island state Heliosthana, somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, in the year 2020 in the report Lessons from a Country Powered by Sun. It describes a decade-long harmonious transition towards a sustainable energy system that respects people and the planet, while sustaining balanced economic and social development. By combining low energy intensity (20% less than in 2010) with a promising share of renewable energy (20% of primary energy supply) Heliosthana has become a role model for its neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean. Through ambitious but realistic measures described in six steps, the island is looking towards a fossil-free future and is an ideal partner for the Mediterranean Solar Plan. These steps are immediately applicable in most Mediterranean countries. WWF-Turkey used the Heliosthana, A Sustainable Mediterranean Country report and added Turkey s situation, energy vision and targets. As the world s second greatest user of PV panels for water heating (after China) Turkey has great potential in solar energy and has a lot to learn from Heliosthana. tugur@wwf.org.tr İkim Ağı: Climate Network in Turkey The UN climate panel s latest report on climate change, compiled by more than 800 scientists, underlines a very clear fact: climate change is unequivocal. In Turkey, İklim Ağı a network of 9 NGOs, including WWF-Turkey works on common concerns and a search for solutions to climate change. The network organized a press conference in September to coincide with the release of the report and to share their concerns with the wider public. Turkey, by being a part of IPCC, must accept the importance and urgency of acting immediately to address climate change and its expected risks. The energy vision that depends on coal has to be abandoned; energy efficiency, renewable energy and adaptation to climate change policies should be put into practice. Governments will meet in Warsaw in November for the next round of international climate talks in preparation for negotiations in Paris in 2015, to produce a new global agreement on dealing with emissions. tugur@wwf.org.tr Stay tuned for our next newsletter For more information croberts@wwfmedpo.org 6 the mediterranean initiative november 2013 mediterranean.panda.org