Towards the ICZM network in the Maghreb

On 28 February and 1 March 2017, PAP/RAC, in collaboration with the WWF North Africa - Living Planet Tunisia, organised an exchange visit in Croatia for high level partners coming from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. This event fits in the context of the implementation of the activities of the project "Effective Integration of an ICZM approach in the countries of North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia)" funded by CEPF Med.

Nine participants from the Maghreb took part in this two-day exchange visit that took place in the County of Šibenik-Knin and Split. The participants were Tunisian parliamentarians and representatives of the civil society from Tunisia, the Ministry of the environment of Morocco, and the national Commissariat of the coasts in Algeria.

The first day consisted of a field visit in the County of Šibenik-Knin, with the visit of the National Park of Krka, and a meeting with local institutional actors, first and foremost representatives of environmental and spatial planning Departments of the County. The focus of the day was on the Coastal Plan of the Šibenik-Knin County, which has been co-constructed by local authorities and PAP/RAC. This innovative document which unifies initiatives for the protection and development of coastal areas in the context of climate change, was adopted by the County Council in 2016. A strong political support enabled the preparation of this document, and this support was expressed on this day with a welcome speech of the County Prefect, who came to welcome the delegation.

The second day of the visit, organised in the PAP/RAC premises, was rich in exchanges. The actors discussed the ICZM policies, programmes and plans developed and implemented in all the three countries. These experiences were put in perspective with the "Mediterranean" expertise of PAP/RAC. A network of ICZM actors and initiatives is being built thanks to the commitment of WWF NA, and exchanges will continue in this context with PAP/RAC support to the continuation of the implementation of the ICZM Protocol principles in the Maghreb.

The visit was concluded by the PAP/RAC Director who detailed possible tracks of collaboration and called for the launch of new initiatives to enhance cooperation among and with the three countries.