October 2007
A monthly e-newsletter by UNEP/MAP
IN THIS ISSUE:
UNEP NEWS
MAP COMPONENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
and BARCELONA CONVENTION
GEO 4 Launched
The fourth Global Environment Outlook report was launched in
MAP Focal Points Tackled Future Work in the
Nobel Prize for IPCC and Al GORE
The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarded the Nobel
October in New York.
Mediterranean
Prize jointly to former US Vice President Al Gore and the Inter-
The meeting of the MAP Focal Points took place in Madrid
governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
between 15-18 October 2007, with the support of the Spanish
Ministry of Environment.
Regional Seas Directors Approve Strategic
Directions for 2008 ­ 2012
and Sign Jeddah Declaration
2nd November 2007 --- Participants to the 9th Meeting of
Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans approved the
Regional Seas Strategic Directions for 2008 ­ 2012 and signed
the Jeddah Declaration
CAMP Levante De Almeria, Spain,
to Raise Awareness on Coast Management
A new CAMP project will be launched in the coming weeks,
following the signing of the project agreement on October 8,
2007, between the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and
UNEP/MAP.
First Mediterranean Coast Day Celebrated
on 24 October
Countries around the Mediterranean have organised a series
of events to celebrate the fi rst-ever Coast Day on 24th October,
which was also the internationally-celebrated UN Day.

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INDEX
UNEP NEWS
GEO 4 LAUNCHED
support of the Spanish Ministry of Environment.
UNEP NEWS
The fourth Global
Other participants included representatives from
Environment Outlook
the World Health Organization (WHO), International
GEO 4 Launched
report was launched
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Intergovernmental
in October in New
Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the United
MAP
York. The report, the
Nations Environment Programme for West Africa
culmination of a four
(UNEP/ROWA), World Bank/METAP, the World
COMPONENTS
year information
Tourism Organization (WTO) and NGOs active in the
and
gathering, validating
Mediterranean environmental network.
BARCELONA
and review process involving UNEP and a community
In addition to reviewing the progress report of the
CONVENTION
of scientists from around the world, is an important
current biennium, MAP Focal Points discussed the
part of UNEP contribution to keeping the global
programme of work and budget for 2008-2009, the
MAP Focal Points
environment under review.
Strategy Declaration and the Governance Paper which
Tackled Future
This year edition indicates that the world is still
will now go to the 15th Meeting of the Contracting
Work in the
under-going unprecedented environmental change
Parties in January 2008 for approval.
Place of Refuge for Ships in need of Assistance were
Mediterranean
­ from climate change, air pollution, the growing
The meeting of the Contracting Parties is also
prepared and will be submitted for adoption by the
ozone hole through to unsustainable land practices,
expected to adopt the Almeria Declaration.
Contracting Parties.
Regional Seas
declining freshwater systems and forests.
Participants to the meeting were informed about
Procedures for the revision of areas included in
Directors Approve
Consistent with the fi ndings of the IPCC earlier
the progress made with respect to the ratifi cation and
the list of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean
Strategic
this year, the report also states that environmental
acceptances of MAP legal instruments. In this regard,
Importance (SPAMI) have also been developed
Directions for
deterioration is linked to human activities and calls for
a major development was registered with respect to
following an assessment of the evaluation process.
2008 ­ 2012
urgent transition to more sustainable development.
the Hazardous Wastes Protocol, which would enter
Common criteria to be applied in evaluating proposals
and Sign Jeddah
into force following its ratifi cation by Montenegro and for amending Annexes II and III of the Specially
Declaration
once the instruments of ratifi cation are deposited with Protected Areas Protocol have also been prepared.
MAP COMPONENTS and
the Depository country. Montenegro also told the
These will also be submitted to the meeting of the
CAMP Levante De
meeting that it had also ratifi ed three other Protocols.
Contracting Parties next January.
BARCELONA CONVENTION
Almeria, Spain,
Spain, Greece and Syria updated the meeting about
At the end of the meeting, the Focal Points
to Raise Awareness
the progress made with respect to the ratifi cation and
approved the draft provisional agenda for the 15th
on Coast
MAP FOCAL POINTS TACKLED FUTURE
acceptances of other Protocols.
Meeting of the Contracting Parties. The topic chosen
for the Ministerial segment of COP15 is " the challenge
Management
WORK IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
The Secretariat has been entrusted by the MAP
Focal Points to carry out further consultations with
of climate change in the Mediterranean".
First Mediterranean
those countries that have registered a reservation
Coast Day
with respect to some of the articles of the new draft
REGIONAL SEAS DIRECTORS APPROVE
Celebrated
ICZM Protocol with a view to have the draft protocol
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR 2008 ­ 2012
on 24 October
approved by the meeting of the Contracting Parties
AND SIGN JEDDAH DECLARATION
next January before it is submitted to the Conference
2nd November 2007 --- Participants to the 9th
of Plenipotentiaries.
Meeting of Regional Seas Conventions and Action
A number of decisions were reviewed dealing with
Plans approved the Regional Seas Strategic Directions
the ecosystem approach, the compliance mechanism,
for 2008 ­ 2012 and signed the Jeddah Declaration,
a new reporting format, and MEDPOL Phase IV.
confi rming their resolution to implement programmes
In the framework of the Prevention and Emergency
and initiatives to protect and conserve the global
Protocol, guidelines concerning Liability and
coastal and marine environment.
Compensation for Damage resulting from Pollution
"With the adoption of the Regional Seas Strategic
Concerning Pleasure Craft Activities and on the
The meeting of the MAP Focal Points took place
Directions for 2008-2012 as well as the Jeddah
Decision Making Process for Granting Access to a
in Madrid between 15-18 October 2007, with the
Declaration we, Directors and Coordinators of

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, have
Seas included representatives from the CBD, IUCN,
hectares correspond to the marine area, and 148,122
charted the way forward for the next fi ve years and
IOC of UNESCO, the UN Division for Ocean Affairs
hectares are land.
COMPONENTS
have set ourselves targets which we must strive to
and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and the Stockholm
The overall goal of the project is to enhance the
and
achieve", said MAP Coordinator Paul Mifsud. "With
Environment Institute.
co-ordination mechanisms between the different
BARCELONA
the adoption of the Jeddah Declaration we have
government bodies and the area's social and
CONVENTION
resolved to implement programmes and initiatives to
economic actors for the compatibility and integration
protect and conserve the global coastal and marine
of the policies implemented and the actions carried
Regional Seas
environment."
out.
Directors Approve
The meeting was organised in Jeddah from 29-31
The leading project activities are the establishment
Strategic
October, at the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi
of an institutional co-ordination and social
Directions for
Arabia.
participation framework; training and capacity
2008 ­ 2012
During the three-day event organized by UNEP
building; and environmental information and
and Sign Jeddah
Department of Environmental Policy Implementation
education - this is considered of high importance
Declaration
(DEPI), Regional Seas Directors and Coordinators
for the promotion of coastal environments and
engaged in discussions on environmental issues
sustainability social awareness.
CAMP Levante De
which are high on UNEP's agenda, including the
Additional environmental education activities
Almeria, Spain,
effects of climate change on the marine and coastal
will also be carried out (i.e. sustainable practices,
to Raise Awareness
environment, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
promotion of sustainability and active participation in
Centre row, HRH Prince of Saudi Arabia Turki bin Nasser bin Abdul
on Coast
ecosystem-based management strategies, and the
Azziz (4th from right), Mr. Shafqat Kakakhel, UN Assistant Secretary
urban planning, beach and sea users environmental
Management
mainstreaming of the environment into national
General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP (5th from right) and
awareness campaigns, dissemination of the cultural
development planning and budgeting.
UNEP/DEPI Director Ibrahim Thiaw (2nd from right).
and landscape heritage values).
First Mediterranean
HRH Prince of Saudi Arabia Turki bin Nasser bin
In addition to CAMP Levante de Almeria in Spain,
Coast Day
Abdul Azziz, President of the Meteorological and
CAMP LEVANTE DE ALMERIA, SPAIN, TO
the agreement for CAMP Morocco was also signed
Celebrated
Environmental Protection Administration of the
RAISE AWARENESS ON
on October 29, 2007 and preliminary discussions
on 24 October
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, delivered the opening
are under way for CAMP
remarks. Mr. Shafqat Kakakhel, UN Assistant Secretary
COAST MANAGEMENT
Montenegro and for
General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP
A new CAMP project will be launched in the coming
CAMP Italy.
addressed the opening session on behalf of the
weeks, following the signing of the project agreement

To date, three cycles of
Executive Director, while Regional Seas Directors
on October 8, 2007, between the Spanish Ministry
CAMPS were developed
presented their progress in implementing the
of the Environment and UNEP/MAP. The partners
and implemented within
Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2004-2007.
for the CAMP Almeria are the Regional Ministry
the UNEP/MAP framework.
A number of world experts made presentations
of Environment (RMoE) of Andalusia, the Spanish

In the 1990-98 period,
on the emerging issues on the global environment
Ministry of Environment (MoE) and the MAP-PAP/RAC.
mainly individual projects ran in: Albania (The
agenda, including the sequestration of CO2 emissions
"The CAMP Levante de Almeria will reach a
Albanian coast), Croatia (The Kastela Bay), Greece (The
into geological formations, international governance
signifi cant part of the general population through
Island of Rhodes), Syria (The Syrian Coast), Tunisia
regarding the high seas and deep-water ecosystems
the participatory processes, the training and the
(The City of Sfax) and Turkey (The Izmir Bay). The
and biodiversity.
communication activities, including the project
project in Fuka, Egypt, has been completed in 1999,
At the end of the meeting and on behalf of all
webpage", said Ivica Trumbic, Director of PAP/RAC.
and the project in Israel in June 2000.
participants, the Director of DEPI Ibrahim Thiaw
"The results expected from the CAMP Levante de
The latest cycle of the Programme started in
expressed his thanks and appreciation to Veerle
Almeria will be a valuable experience for the creation
1997 with the preparation of projects in Algeria,
Vandeweerd, who was present at the meeting and
of similar organisational structures nation-wide,
Lebanon, Malta, Cyprus and Slovenia. CAMP Malta
who has now left UNEP to join UNDP, for the sterling
promoting in this way a true implementation of
was completed in November 2002, CAMP Lebanon in
work she did in her former role as Coordinator of
integrated coastal area management (ICAM)".
December 2004, in Algeria in January 2005 and CAMP
UNEP's Regional Seas Division.
The CAMP project area covers over 219,000
Slovenia in June 2007. Currently, CAMP Cyprus is in full
Attendees to this 9th meeting of UNEP's Regional
hectares of the South Eastern area of the Almeria
swing.
Province, in Southern Spain. Of that total, 71,000

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
FIRST MEDITERRANEAN COAST DAY
coastal countries, and that it will live on in the years to
If the current trend of massive development in
COMPONENTS
CELEBRATED ON 24 OCTOBER
come."
the coastal areas continues, by 2025 50% of the
Countries around the
Activities were organized in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt,
Mediterranean coast could have disappeared and
and
Mediterranean have
Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian
turned into buildings. Linear development along
BARCELONA
organised a series of
Authority, Sardinia (Italy), Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. In
the coast is irreversibly destroying ecosystems and
CONVENTION
events to celebrate the
Athens, UNEP/MAP, MedWet and the French Institute
landscapes, in addition to coastal erosion, marine
fi rst-ever Coast Day on
co-hosted along with the cultural NGO Elliniki Etairia
pollution, climate change and overfi shing.
First Mediterranean
24th October, which was
a screening of documentaries dedicated to issues
"Regional and national coastal management
Coast Day Celebrated
also the internationally-
faced by the sensitive coastal ecosystems in the
achievements, like in Sardinia and Algeria, testify that
on 24 October
celebrated UN Day. Coast
Mediterranean.
policy-makers together with the local population
Day is an awareness raising campaign organised in
All
events
can fi nd the
cooperation with the EU, UNEP/MAP and the World
were designed
options to
Bank. "Coast Day" aims to highlight the value of the
to call for a more
reverse the
coast, as well as of the threats to it, and to call for
sustainable coastal
negative trends
a stronger and more effi cient commitment of the
development.
and to make
governments to coastal management.
They included
steps towards
The campaign was launched by the Priority Actions
conferences,
sustainable
Programme Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) of
workshops,
coastal
the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), part of the
meetings, panels,
development.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in
open doors in
Their leaders,
collaboration with an initial 20 partners from different
marine protected
together
Mediterranean countries. In the coming months up to
areas, clean-up
with other
50 partners will join the campaign.
events, sailing
distinguished
The activity focused on promoting a sustainable
regattas and
individuals
use of our coastal resources in the Mediterranean.
kayaking excursions,
advocating
The overall campaign also points out the necessity of
marathons,
sustainable
using an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) exhibitions,
development
as an approach in managing the coasts. This project
concerts,
of the
is implemented within the framework of the SMAP III
educational events
Mediterranean
MAP/METAP project, fi nanced by the European Union.
for children, TV transmissions and interviews, They
coasts, are today our Ambassadors for the Coast", said
"For the people living in the Mediterranean, coasts
have been organised through a wide partnership
Ivica Trumbic, Director of PAP/RAC
are the most valuable, but, at the same time, the most
of international organisations, governmental
The "Coast Day" campaign is designed to act on
vulnerable asset ", said UNEP/MAP Coordinator Paul
bodies, NGOs, Research Centres, Universities, Media
several levels; it calls for a political will for change
Mifsud. "UNEP/MAP, through its regional centre PAP/
companies and schools.
and reminds of the necessity to change behaviour
RAC is taking
Coastal areas are considered to be the most
of all the actors in the coastal areas. Political will
the lead in this
valuable part of national territories in most
for a stronger commitment to ICZM together with
campaign to
Mediterranean countries and worldwide. According
behavioural changes are the essential prerequisites
promote care
to the Blue Plan Report on Environment and
for sustainable coastal development. "Coast Day" is
for the coast
Development in the Mediterranean (RED, 2005),
promoting the coasts of tomorrow ­ coasts that are
in our region.
coastal regions, which occupy 12% of the national
resilient, productive, diverse, distinctive, attractive,
MAP hopes that
territory, are inhabited by 33% of their population.
and healthy.
"Coast Day" will
The total share of the Mediterranean population

then spread to
in the world population is around 7%, while the
other Regional
Mediterranean is a destination for about one third of
Seas and other
the world tourists.

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INDEX
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
UNEP/MAP
ENVIRONMENTAL NOBEL PRIZE FOR IPCC AND AL GORE
Key 2007and 2008 Dates
The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
NEWS
Committee awarded the Nobel Prize
jointly to former US Vice President
Nobel Prize for IPCC
18-20
"Protecting Africa and
Al Gore and the Intergovernmental
and Al Gore
November
the Mediterranean
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This
against climate change",
signifi cant recognition gives credit
International Conference,
for a 20 year process of sound scientifi c debate and
refl ection which has informed policy makers and
Tunis, Tunisia
governments to the point where there remains no
3-14
Meeting of the Parties to
doubt that climate change must be addressed on an
urgent basis.
December
the Convention on Climate
Change (COP13),
Bali, Indonesia
25-27
First International
October
Conference on Marine
Protected Area,
Hyeres, France
12-14
Review Meeting on MED
December
POL monitoring activities
and the role of indicators,
Athens, Greece
15-18
15th Meeting of the
January 2008 Contracting Parties to the
Barcelona Convention,
Almeria, Spain
19-21
Conference of the
January 2008 Plenipotentiaries for the
adoption of the ICZM
Protocol, Almeria, Spain

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