MedPartnership for the National ICZM Strategies

On 27-28 June, PAP/RAC, in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry, organised in the framework of the MedPartnership project a Regional Workshop on National ICZM Strategies. The workshop was attended by 33 participants out of which 24 from the GEF eligible countries. The participants discussed different experiences with National Strategies, ICZM Strategies, but also the Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Strategies. The guidelines for the preparation of the National ICZM Strategies (NICZMS) based on the above experiences and drafted by PAP/RAC and its consultants, were presented to the participants. In addition, the process of preparation of the NICZMS has been proposed. It may be said that a general consensus on the type, contents, process and factors for success has been reached. Several countries expressed their willingness to start the preparation of the NICZMS under different options proposed. Some countries have already started preparations for the development of the National ICZM Strategies and presented their view on it. All the participants agreed on the high potential of the NICZMS for the implementation of the ICZM Protocol at the national level, and in particular for the sustainable management of their coasts.