On 12 June 2018, PAP/RAC and the NGO CPIE Côte-Provençal organised, with support of the French Coastal Agency (Conservatoire du littoral) a Land-Sea Forum of the NGOs of the Var County in la Seine-sur-Mer. The forum, which was welcomed by the Municipality of la Seyne-sur-mer, was attended by 30-odd participants including Ms. Ricard, president of the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute, in her capacity as a “key witness”. This approach is a follow-up of the efforts made in the framework of the CAMP France (Var) project, aiming at a more effective implementation of the ICZM Protocol in the Mediterranean, as well as at the integration of local stakeholders and the civil society of the coastal areas in the ICZM process.
The forum also enabled institutional and economic actors and coastal users to share their perceptions of the various issues related to the coastal area they occupy and the associated coastal management measures. Managers and planners addressed the frameworks and land-sea planning and management processes in the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on Var. Experiences from other areas were presented as well in order to contribute to the debates.
In the afternoon, in a relaxed atmosphere, the participants shared their expectations, ideas and concrete actions and initiatives, in order to address the major issues identified in the morning debates. Discussions and exchanges, which took place in the presence of the local elected representatives and international experts, help harmonise knowledge and reinforce the dialogue between actors (associations/managers, and between associations).
