SPAMI Twinning Programme

A List of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI List) was established in 2001 by the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention through the SPA/BD Protocol to promote cooperation in the management and conservation of natural areas, as well as in the protection of threatened species and their habitats. This List may include sites that are of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the Mediterranean; contain ecosystems specific to the Mediterranean area or the habitats of endangered species; and are of special interest at the scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational levels.

However, the protection of marine habitats and biodiversity in the Mediterranean requires efforts not only to increase the area under protection, but also to enhance the effectiveness of protected areas management.

Aim of the tool

The SPAMI Twinning Programme aims to develop and strengthen the effective management of SPAMIs, contributing to the implementation of the SPA/BD Protocol of the Barcelona Convention. It also aims at contributing to the achievement of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3, and SDG 14.5 in the Mediterranean.

Main objectives

The specific objective of the Twinning Programme is to promote networking, standardise management and support capacity building, best practices and experience sharing among the SPAMIs and MPAs.

Technological infrastructure

No particular technical requirements are in place for the implementation of the Twinning Programme.

Training

On-the-job training is organised for SPAMI managers during exchange visits.

In-person training on ISEA (Interventi Standardizzati di gestione Efficace in Aree protette) to improve management plan elaboration and implementation has been organised and is available on the SPAMI Collaborative Platform.

Investment

The Twinning programme is financed by the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MiTE) in the framework of the cooperation agreement between MiTE and the UN Environment/MAP. After 2020, SPA/RAC capitalised on the twinnings implemented in 2018 and 2019, with the support of MiTE by planning more twinning under the MAVA NoTakeZone and ENSERES Projects.

Concept

Coordinated by UNEP/MAP SPA RAC, the SPAMI Twinning Programme revolves around the following activities:

• Setting up monitoring programmes to contribute to the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) of the Barcelona Convention.
• Sharing of best practices, management strategies and exchange visits of SPAMI/MPA managers to support the implementation of effective models and strategies.
• Carrying out participatory processes aiming at involving stakeholders in the identified management strategies and organising on-the-job training sessions for better operational management.
• Implementing concrete management actions in the field.
• Involving NGOs in SPAMI/MPA activities through calls for projects and the implementation of small projects’ activities in the field.
• Creating communication and capitalisation material about lessons learnt and innovative approaches of the small projects implemented by civil society organizations.
• Establishing a collaborative platform for SPAMIs/MPAs based on experience gained during the twinning activities.

Pilot areas

The beneficiary countries of this programme are Albania, Algeria, Italy, Slovenia and Tunisia.

The following Twinning Programmes have been implemented in 2018-2019:

• Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo MPA (Italy) / Habibas islands marine reserve (Algeria)
• Islands Egadi MPA (Italy) / Kneiss islands natural reserve (Tunisia)
• Torre Guaceto MPA (Italy) / Karaburun-Sazan national marine park (Albania)
• Torre Del Cerrano MPA (Italy) / Strunjun landscape park (Slovenia)

Recommended timeline of implementation

The Twinning Programme, coordinated by SPA/RAC, was developed along the following phases:

1. Identification of the twinning partners.
2. Definition of specific contents of each twinning programme and the signature of twinning agreements between 4 Italian SPAMIs/MPAs and 4 other SPAMIs/MPAs.
3. Holding a kick-off meeting.
4. Implementation of the Twinning Programme activities.

A possible challenge is in-field implementation of the transferred best practices by the twinned SPAMI / MPA managers.

Quantitative results

With the Twinning Programme implementation, it is expected that the involved SPAMIs/MPAs will improve their management effectiveness by drawing on the experience and capacities of other protected areas.

Key deliverables

Improved management plans and their implementation.

Transfer potential

The SPAMI Twinning Programme is a successful initiative that concretely addressed the needs and challenges in marine habitats, as well as biodiversity conservation and management in selected SPAMIs/MPAs in the Mediterranean. As such, it stands as a positive example upon which further twinning programmes may be launched involving other protected areas in the Mediterranean.

• A total of 39 SPAMIs, among the 1,233 MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures, are located in the Mediterranean. To be included in the SPAMIs List, candidate marine and coastal protected areas must demonstrate a set of ecological, scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational features of interest as part of formal submissions made by the concerned Contracting Parties. Once they make it to the list, SPAMIs are monitored as part of rigorous periodic reviews that take place every six years.

• SPAMIs offer a multitude of benefits. They serve as frameworks for regional, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, for sharing and exchanging good practices and transferring sustainable solutions between the different sub-regional contexts of the Mediterranean. Moreover, they generate “spillover benefits”, such as healthier and bigger catches for fishers operating in surrounding zones.