April 2008
A monthly e-newsletter by UNEP/MAP
IN THIS ISSUE:
UNEP NEWS
Disposal of garbage into the Mediterranean from
Scheme to save water is unveiled
ships is prohibited from 1st May 2009
Greek Minister of the Environment, Planning, and Public Works
The Marine Environment Protection (MEPC) of the
Giorgos Soufl ias presented a national plan to manage Greece's
International Maritime Organization (IMO) at its 57th
water resources so that no island or area of the mainland will be
UNEP appoints new Director of the Division for
Session, has adopted an MEPC resolution establishing the date
left without access to water in the future.
Communication and Public Information
on which the MARPOL Annex V special area regulations shall
Mr. Satinder Bindra (India/Canada) was appointed as the new
take eff ect in the Mediterranean Sea.
EU initiatives on tourism in the Mediterranean
Director of the Division for Communication and Public
region
Information at UNEP, Nairobi.
Strategic Partnership UNEP/MAP ­ World Bank
Dr. Joe Borg, Member of the European Commission responsible
$250 MILLION TO DEPOLLUTE THE MEDITERRANEAN
for Fisheries and Maritime Aff airs, tackled the issue of EU initia-
A Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Large Marine
tives on tourism in the Mediterranean region at the Euro-Med
MAP COMPONENTS
Ecosystem between the Mediterranean Action Plan of UNEP
Ministerial Conference on Tourism (Fez, Morocco, 3 April)
(UNEP/MAP) and the World Bank for the de-pollution of the
and BARCELONA CONVENTION
Mediterranean Sea, has been endorsed by the Global
List of Natura 2000 protected sites updated
Environment Facility (GEF).
With the adoption on 28 March of the updated list of Natura
Greek student wins UNEP European prize for glo-
2000 protected areas in the Mediterranean region, a total of
bal painting competition
18,784 square kilometres (489 new sites) have been added
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
to the European network of protected sites since 1 January.
A Greek student from Lesbos is the 2008 winner of the
Natura 2000 now covers nearly 20% of the continent's landmass
seventeenth International Children's Painting Competition on
and 100,000 km2 of its seas.
the Environment organized by UNEP
Biodiversity: Human activity serious threat to
Union for the Mediterranean : EIB and Commis-
Mediterranean region
Spain gets new environment minister
sion present projects for Mediterranean Union
Out of the 25,000 known Mediterranean plant species (9.2% of
Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has re-
placed Spanish environment minister Cristina Narbona as part
French plan to forge closer political ties with Europe's North
the world's identifi ed species on a territory representing just
of a reshuffl
e following confi rmation of his own re-election as
African and Middle East neighbors on the Mediterranean Sea
1.5% of the planet's surface), half are particularly well adapted
Spanish prime minister last Friday.
was announced in March in Brussels.
notably to dry periods and are not found anywhere else in the
world (endemic species).

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INDEX
UNEP NEWS
UNEP APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF THE
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),

A selection of winning paintings will be shown in
UNEP NEWS
DIVISION FOR COMMUNICATION AND
the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and
exhibitions in Wellington. They will also be exhibited on
Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon. The painting
the Internet and used for posters, postcards, calendars
UNEP appoints
PUBLIC INFORMATION
and in publications by UNEP, the Foundation for Global
new Director of
Mr. Satinder Bindra (India/
Peace and Environment, Bayer and Nikon. Eventually all
the Division for
Canada) was appointed as the
paintings submitted to the global competition will be
Communication and
new Director of the Division
stored at the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka,
for Communication and Public
Public Information
Japan.
Information at UNEP, Nairobi.

The International Children's Painting Competition
Bindra has had a distinguished
MAP
on the Environment is part of UNEP's TUNZA strategy
career in the fi eld of media and
for children and youth. TUNZA is a word in Kiswahili
COMPONENTS
communication, including the
that means to "treat with care". The programme aims
and BARCELONA
electronic and print media.
to provide young people with information and tools on
CONVENTION
Until recently, he was the CNN
how to "treat Mother Earth with care" and how to act for
Bureau Chief for South Asia and Senior International
a better world.
Greek student wins
Correspondent based in New Delhi, India. One of his
unep european prize
main assignments included the 2004/2005 Tsunami
competition has been held since 1990 and in that time
for global painting
disaster, for which he and his team received the
UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN : EIB
has received over 200,000 entries from children in over
competition
DuPont Award. Mr. Bindra also drew to world attention
AND COMMISSION PRESENT PROJECTS FOR
100 countries.
a number of other environmental issues and stories
MEDITERRANEAN UNION

This year's competition theme was Climate Change:
Union for the
during his more than seven years with CNN - ranging
Actions you can take now. Children aged 6 to14 were
Mediterranean : EIB
from melting glaciers to rain-water harvesting.
French plan to forge closer
invited to express through painting actions they can
and Commission

Mr. Bindra will formally join UNEP by the end of May
political ties with Europe's
take to reduce the impact of climate change such as
present projects for
2008.
North African and Middle
Mediterranean Union
East neighbors on the
MAP COMPONENTS and
Mediterranean Sea was
announced in March in Brussels, at the end of the fi rst
day of a two-day EU summit, but the specifi c details of
BARCELONA CONVENTION
the plan will still have to be worked out and launched
GREEK STUDENT WINS UNEP EUROPEAN
at the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean (UM),
PRIZE FOR GLOBAL PAINTING COMPETITION
to be held in Paris on 13 July, which would make it the
highlight of France's turn at the helm of the six-month,

A Greek student from Lesbos is the
rotating EU presidency, offi
cials said.
2008 winner of the seventeenth

The project would involve 39 partners -- the 27-
International Children's Painting
nation EU plus a dozen on the Mediterranean's southern
Competition on the Environment
shores, from Mauritania to Algeria, Egypt, Israel, the
organized by UNEP, the United
Palestinian Authority to Syria and Turkey.
Nations Environment Programme.

The plan outlines the creation of a joint presidency,

The 13 years old winner
with one EU member and one non-EU member state
using renewable energy, introducing energy saving
Evdokia Vallis received the 1000US$
assisted by a permanent staff of 20 bureaucrats.
light bulbs at home, sharing vehicles and using public
Prize from Greek Deputy Minister of Environment

Addressing the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea
transport, planting trees etc.
Physical Planning and Public Works Stavros Kaloyannis
is likely to become one of the key objectives to be

The global winners from all regionas of the world will
and UNEP/MAP Coordinator Paul Mifsud during the
announced during the launch summit of the Union
be announced on 5 June 2008 at the main international
event "Facing a new scenario in the Mediterranean",
for the Mediterranean (UM), to be held in Paris on 13
celebrations to mark World Environment Day in
organized in Athens on 16th April.
July. On 10 April, the European Commission and the
Wellington, New Zealand.

This annual competition is jointly organized by
European Investment Bank (EIB) presented a series of

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
44 concrete projects to fi ght the sea's pollution by 2020
the Mediterranean Sea, on 1st May 2009. Consequently,

A grant of $90 million has already been approved
that could be endorsed by the Union Mediterraneenne
for all ships, as from 1st May 2009, disposal into the
by GEF for the Strategic Partnership that consists of a
COMPONENTS
(UM).
Mediterranean Sea of the following is prohibited: all
Regional Component that will be executed by UNEP/
and BARCELONA Over the last 30 years MAP, through its MEDPOL
plastics, including but not limited to synthetic ropes,
MAP and an Investment Fund led by the World Bank.
CONVENTION
de-pollution Programme, has contributed a great deal
synthetic fi shing nets and plastic garbage bags; and all

The countries eligible for funding under the
towards pollution reduction in the Mediterranean.
other garbage, including paper products, rags, glass
Partnership include Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and
Disposal of
MEDPOL has reviewed and analysed data and
metal, bottles, crockery, dunnage, lining and packing
Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya,
garbage into the
information describing the sources and quantities
materials.
Montenegro, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, all
Mediterranean from
of pollutants discharged into the Mediterranean Sea

The adoption of the resolution follows the
Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention. The
ships is prohibited
and the actions needed to reduce and eliminate this
notifi cation at the same MEPC session by Albania,
Palestinian Authority also participates.
from 1st May 2009
pollution.
Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel,

The main objective is to assist these countries in

Currently, France is working to identify projects to
Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco,
implementing reforms, agreed interventions and
Strategic Partnership
give substance to President Nicolas Sarkozy's initiative.
Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey, representing
investments for pollution reduction, the safeguarding
UNEP/MAP ­ World

The EIB and the Commission are now seizing the
States bordering the Mediterranean Sea special area,
of biodiversity and to stop habitat degradation as
Bank
political opportunity of the UM initiative that was
that adequate reception facilities for garbage are
outlined in the two Strategic Action Plans (SAPs), one
$250 MILLION TO
endorsed by the spring European Council to raise funds
provided in all the relevant ports within the region.
for pollution reduction (SAP/MED) and the other for
DEPOLLUTE THE
and turn the plans into reality.

In the run-up to the 8th Meeting of REMPEC Focal
biodiversity conservation (SAP/BIO) prepared by UNEP/
MEDITERRANEAN

While Paris is keen on stressing the novelty of the UM,
agreed that the Mediterranean coastal States Parties to
MAP.
it is actually looking to revive some projects that were
the MARPOL Annex V present a joint submission to the

The Strategic Partnership will be implemented
launched previously within the framework of the Euro-
IMO's MEPC, notifying that adequate reception facilities
in synergy with the European Investment Bank's
Med partnership.
for garbage were provided in their respective ports.
Mediterranean Hot Spot Investment Programme
The implementation cost of the 44 projects is

The Meeting also accepted the proposal of Cyprus
(MeHSIP) and Horizon 2020 initiative which are part of
estimated at 2.1 billion by the EIB, which stresses that
to present the relative joint submission to MEPC, and
the European Union's cooperation with the southern
fi nancing them only through loans would prove very
agreed to entrust REMPEC to co-ordinate this initiative
and eastern Mediterranean countries. All these
costly for southern governments.
at regional level. Subsequently, the Centre prepared
initiatives are intended to tackle the major sources of
and co-ordinated the co-sponsorship of the relative
pollution identifi ed in the National Action Plans (NAPs)
DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE INTO THE
document which was submitted to the last session of
prepared by UNEP/MAP with the participating countries.
MEDITERRANEAN FROM SHIPS IS
MEPC by Cyprus on behalf of Albania, Algeria, Croatia,

After adopting a long-term Strategic Action
Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta,
Programme (SAP) with precise pollution reduction
PROHIBITED FROM 1ST MAY 2009
Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria
targets, countries have identifi ed pollution hot spots
and Tunisia.
and have formally adopted National Action Plans
The Marine Environment Protection
(NAPs) that describe in detail what pollution reduction
(MEPC) of the International Maritime
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
interventions/projects they intend to implement to fulfi l
Organization (IMO) at its 57th
the reduction targets of the SAP.
Session (31st March ­ 4th April 2008),
UNEP/MAP ­ WORLD BANK
has adopted an MEPC resolution
$250 MILLION TO DEPOLLUTE THE MEDITERRANEAN
establishing the date on which the
MARPOL Annex V (Regulations for the
A Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Large
Prevention of Pollution by Garbage
Marine Ecosystem between the Mediterranean Action
from Ships) special area regulations
Plan of UNEP (UNEP/MAP) and the World Bank for
shall take eff ect in the Mediterranean Sea.
the de-pollution of the Mediterranean Sea, has been

REMPEC's initiative on garbage discharge
endorsed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
requirements brings into eff ect MARPOL Annex V
Over $250 million will be leveraged under the Strategic
special area status for the Mediterranean
Partnership, over a fi ve-year period, for reforms and

MEPC decided that the discharge requirements for
investments for reducing pollution and reversing the
special areas of MARPOL Annex V shall take eff ect, for
degradation of the Mediterranean.

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENT
ENVIRONMENT
S and BARCEL
AL NEWS
ONA CONVENTION
ENVIRONMENTAL BIODIVERSITY: HUMAN ACTIVITY SERIOUS
believe European experts, the spread of the threat
EU INITIATIVES ON TOURISM IN THE
NEWS
THREAT TO MEDITERRANEAN REGION
weighing on the Mediterranean region.
MEDITERRANEAN REGION

The protection of biodiversity therefore comes
Biodiversity: Human
Out of the 25,000 known Mediterranean plant species
fully into play in this region and in order to do so, the
Dr. Joe Borg, Member of the European Commission
activity serious threat
(9.2% of the world's identifi ed species on a territory
creation of protected zones constitutes one of the main
responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Aff airs,
to Mediterranean
representing just 1.5% of the planet's surface), half are
conservation measures. Some 4,400 protected zones
tackled the issue of EU initiatives on tourism in the
region
particularly well adapted notably to dry periods and are
were designated in the whole Mediterranean basin,
Mediterranean region at the Euro-Med Ministerial
not found anywhere else in the world (endemic species).
covering 96 million hectares (7% of the global total). The
Conference on Tourism (Fez, Morocco, 3 April)
Scheme to save water
However, the European statistical offi
ce, Eurostat,
development of the surfaces accumulated in the nine
In many Southern Partner Economies, tourism
is unveiled
reveals that the biodiversity of the Mediterranean ­ one
countries reveals a positive trend, the fi gure of 2.52%
represents quite a signifi cant share of GDP (9.5% in
of "Earth's 25 hotspots" ­ is particularly threatened by
which was recorded there remains low in comparison to
Morocco, 8.8% in Turkey, 8.5% in Egypt, 6.3% in Jordan,
EU initiatives on
human activity.
the 10% target announced by the World Park Congress
5% in Tunisia).
tourism in the
(1992) and in comparison with the 12% protected

Mediterranean region
surface area in the European part of the Mediterranean
(IUCN, 2007).
SCHEME TO SAVE WATER IS UNVEILED
Greek Minister of the Environment,
Planning, and Public Works Giorgos
Soufl ias presented a national plan to
manage Greece's water resources so
that no island or area of the mainland
will be left without access to water in
the future.
Among the reasons for the Mediterranean being a

The plan contains several controversial elements,
successful destination, there are the proactive policies

The functioning of a once intact natural system has
including the completion of a water diversion from the
towards the promotion of tourism launched by the
been disrupted, reducing, for example, water and air
Akheloos River to the Thessaly Plains that has already
governments in the region. Tourism is today critical
quality and increasing the incidence of forest fi res.
been blocked fi ve times by the Council of State, Greece's
for employment and for economic activity in many
Urban development, industrialisation and tourism
top legal body. It also proposes the construction of at
countries in the region.
increase fragmentation of natural zones and put
least 20 hydroelectric dams.

Although large diff erences exist between countries
intolerable pressure on biodiversity.
Soufl ias said that Greece must learn to live with these
and in spite of some setbacks in the aftermath of

Furthermore, the introduction of invasive species and
types of projects because of dwindling supplies of
September 11 the average growth rate of tourism in the
the overexploitation of natural resources are among the
water and large demands in some regions versus large
region has been 12.2% between 2001 and 2006, with
most serious problems. Moreover, the overexploitation
supplies and lower demands in others.
tourist expenditure increasing even faster.
as observed, for example, in certain types of aquaculture

In the meanwhile, ongoing drought with cuts and

These growth rates are more than double the world
adds to factors aff ecting the environment.
rationing of the water supply have been affl
icting
average and the growth potential is still large and

The 2006 edition of the `Red list' compiled by the
Cyprus in these fi rst half of 2008.
promising.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Cyprus is urgently struggling to come up with an

Following a proposal from the Commission, the EU
totals 16,119 species threatened with extinction in the
urgent course of action to answer the desperate need
has launched an Integrated Maritime Policy aimed at
world, which is 1% of known species, including 12% of
for new water supplies.
developing all sea-related activities, including coastal
birds, 23% of mammals and 32% of amphibians. In the

For the moment, Cyprus is set to receive shipped
and maritime tourism, in a sustainable manner. Last
nine Mediterranean partner countries (2) , percentages
water from Greece, but alternatives are being explored
October, the Commission also approved an "Agenda
are higher still, with averages of 14% for birds, 39% for
to secure water reserves in the coming years.
for a sustainable and competitive European tourism",
mammals and 49% for amphibians, which illustrates,
setting out a medium to long term Agenda under which

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INDEX
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
UNEP/MAP Key 2008 Dates
ENVIRONMENTAL
SPAIN GETS NEW ENVIRONMENT
all tourism stakeholders should undertake the necessary
NEWS
MINISTER
steps to strengthen the contribution of sustainable
practices to facilitate competitiveness.
Spanish prime minister José Luis
SMAP III Regional Workshop
List of Natura 2000

On the basis of this policy framework the
Rodriguez Zapatero has replaced
19-21 May
on ICZM Policy
protected sites
Commission facilitates the exchange of best practice
Spanish environment minister Cristina
updated
Alghero, Italy
and stands ready to examine ways in which interested
Narbona as part of a reshuffl
e following
EUROMED partners could get involved into on-going or
confi rmation of his own re-election as
Spain gets new
future projects.
Spanish prime minister last Friday.
environment minister

Mrs Narbona has been replaced by
LIST OF NATURA 2000 PROTECTED SITES
agriculture minister Elena Espinosa, who heads a new
Second Executive
UPDATED
ministry combining environment and rural and marine
29-30 May
Coordination Panel meeting
resources.
Malta
With the adoption on 28 March

Over the last four years Narbona and Espinosa
of the updated list of Natura
have clashed repeatedly over whether farmers, which
2000 protected areas in the
consume up to four-fi fths of Spain's water, should
Mediterranean region, a total of
be required to pay higher water prices to refl ect
18,784 square kilometres (489
infrastructure costs.
MCSD Steering Committee
new sites) have been added

Narbona's public commitment to a "new water
19-20 June
Meeting
to the European network of
culture" favouring demand management and
Athens
protected sites since 1 January. Natura 2000 now covers
desalination over traditional supply-side solutions
nearly 20% of the continent's landmass and 100,000
attracted criticism from farmers and some regional
km2 of its seas.
governments.

Ten countries in all - Austria, Cyprus, Spain, Finland,

Meanwhile Mr Zapatero gave assurances that
France, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden -
Spain would continue its tough action on climate
First Meeting of Compliance
have added new sites since the start of this year to their
change. In a speech to the parliament he promised
3-4 July
Committee
lists of `Sites of Community Importance'.
incentives for emissions reduction in the private sector,
Athens

Among the Mediterranean countries, Cyprus has
increased investment in carbon capture technology
added 36 sites, including the Larnaka salt lakes, where
and new legislation to promote energy effi
ciency and
large numbers of fl amingos winter. The 32 new sites in
renewables.
France include the Grotte de la source du Jaur, a cave

Spain is one of UNEP/MAP Contracting Parties, and
Second Meeting of
system that is home to large numbers of Schreibers'
the depository of the Barcelona Convention.
Government designated
long-fi ngered bats (Miniopterus schreibersi). Malta has
added 27 sites to its list, which now includes Rdumijiet
9-10 July
experts on the ecosystem
ta Malta, the coastal cliff s home to seabirds such as the
approach
Yelkousan shearwater (Puffi
nus yelkouan). Slovenia
Athens
has added almost 750 km2 in the Julian Alps, home to
brown bears, the symbol
of European fauna.
Spain has added three
new sites in the Canary
Islands, including the
underwater seagrass
meadows of Sebadales
de Güigüí.

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