PAP/RAC under microscope by its Focal Points

A Meeting of the National Focal Points of PAP/RAC will be held in Palermo, 5-7 June 2007. This is going to be an opportunity to put PAP/RAC activities in the 2006-2007 biennium under a detailed review and discussion, as well as to comment on the proposed activities for the biennium to come, and to suggest additions and/or amandements to the proposed work programme.

On the Agenda there will also be some strategic issues that will definitely mark the future Centre's endavours in dealing with coastal zone management. These include the constantly rising pressures towards the coastal areas (tourism, urbanisation) on the one, and the global changes, such as the climate change and increasing environmental risks, on the other hand. How shall PAP/RAC together with the Mediterranean countries respond to these challenges in a long run? How to define and prioritise the activities oriented at better management of coastal areas? Do the MSSD, the new ICZM Protocol and the Operational Strategic Action Plan for ICZM provide sufficient guidance? Specific importance in responding to global changes is linked to the role of the local actors where the proactive initiatives are mostly needed. The question is how we should tailor those projects in order to best respond to the country needs, how we should improve their effectiveness and value added, as well as make the follow-up. What could be the new generation of CAMP projects and how to take into account the common issues of transboundary or sub-regional nature? How to implement new approaches, such as the ecosystem approach?

All these questions will be on the table, and PAP/RAC hopes that the participants will contribute with their visionary eyes with suggestions on how to better cope with these challenges. The final Work Programme and Recommendations for the biennium 2008-2009 will be prepared after the meeting and will be proposed to MAP Focal Points at their Meeting in Spain, in October 2007. Annotated Agenda + Progress Report 2006-2007