During the World Environment Day (WED) Federparchi has organized a crosspoint with with MASE and the European Commission on the project for the marine sites of the NATURA2000 Network

Knowing and loving Natura2000 marine sites in order to protect them, this is the slogan of the LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project under which, on the occasion of Environment Day on the 5^th of June, an online meeting promoted by Federparchi was held entitled ‘Natura2000 network at sea: indicators, challenges and prospects’. The meeting took place within the framework of action B.3: Training and capacity building for N2000 marine site management bodies and stakeholders, for training activities for the staff of marine site management bodies aimed at increasing the individual capacity of local managers or operators and, collectively, of the managing body. The training activities concern both technical staff of N2000 site managers and local operators (educators, environmental guides, escorts).

The webinar was coordinated by Rocky Malatesta, vice-president of Federparchi and coordinator of MPA Consulta  as well as president of the Torre Guaceto MPA, who illustrated the general lines of the LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project, which involves Italian and Spanish marine sites. Malatesta emphasised the need for specific indicators to develop targeted protection actions for NATURA2000 marine sites. ‘The Life A-MAR project,’ he said, ‘contributes to this activity through the involvement of stakeholders, favouring sharing with all the stakeholders that interact with marine sites’. The Federparchi vice-president then illustrated the key elements of the project  started in 2021 and focused on the importance of the active participation of the population: ‘we cannot have Marine Protected Areas that also manage effective RN2000 sites without the support and participation of the citizens who enjoy our beauty’.

The introductory speech was delivered by Francesco Tomas, Director General of the Directorate General for the Protection of Biodiversity and the Sea (TBM) – Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security (MASE). ‘We are called upon as Directorate General MASE,’ he said, “to systemize all available tools, both national and international, to give concrete form to conservation interventions both in marine-coastal sites and in international waters. Today,’ Tomas continued, ‘we are also urged by the Nature Restoration Regulations to draft and implement the relevant Plan. That will be the opportunity to identify and implement natural restoration measures that are the logical consequence of careful monitoring of the stretches of sea concerned. We need, however,’ the Director General continued, ‘coordinated initiatives, otherwise we run the undesirable risk of having inadequately harmonized interventions. In order to know exactly what to do,’ he added, ‘we need to know what we have, and this is also where the project led by Federparchi comes in. The chances of reaching the European objectives of 30% protection at sea and on land are there, but it is good to remember that we need resources, both human and instrumental, to make the extension paths effective”.

Maddalena Visser, for the European Commission DG Environment, Directorate D – Biodiversity, Unit D.3 – Nature Conservation, accurately outlined the regulatory reference framework, starting from the fundamental Directives, Habitats and Birds, to the coordination action carried out by the Common Fisheries Policy. Visser then focused on the European Biodiversity Strategy 2030, which sees the Sea Action Plans and the Nature Restoration Regulation as effective operational tools. Visser also recalled the goal of restoring natural habitats set at 30 per cent by 2030 and 60 per cent by 2050. Outlining the situation of marine areas in Europe, the EU Commission executive pointed out that only 12.5% of the EU’s marine area is protected, while in Italy RN2000 marine sites alone cover 6.48% of the surface.

Elga Martines, Sogesid’s technical assistance area for MASE, took up the theme of the European Biodiversity Strategy implemented in Italy by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security with the equivalent National Strategy that envisages, by 2030, the creation of new Marine Protected Areas and the expansion of the perimeter of many existing ones, recalling that the marine sites of the NATURA2000 Network in Italy cover 6.48% of the sea surface. Martines also dwelt on the need to respond to the European Union’s requests to complete the definition of the lists of CIS and SPZ. ISPRA, on the other hand, is already identifying possible new sites for MPAs and NATURA2000.

In his conclusions, Federparchi president Luca Santini emphasised that he is more concerned about the target of 10% strict protection by 2030 instead of the 30% target of protected areas on land and sea. “The problem is that we do not have a precise definition of what is meant by Strict Protection. This risks creating quite a bit of confusion in the operational phase, so clarity is needed. I agree with and thank Director General Tomas, who reiterated the Ministry’s determination to move towards 30 per cent, but the full involvement of the populations living inside the parks is necessary.”

Santini went on to emphasise that in the last twenty years in Italy there has been 21% of the area protected on land and 16% at sea, between MPAs and NATURA2000 marine sites, thanks to Law 394, “a clear regulatory framework but one that requires revision 30 years later, as sensitivities and society have changed. – said Santini – Now we need to continue on a cultural path that will help us expand protected areas at sea and on land. A path that is based on scientific data and puts aside the various supporters who, when it comes to environmental protection, are guided only by emotionalism,’ he said.

Santini went on to point out how the LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project, of which Federparchi is the lead partner, has carried out intense communication activities not only externally but also internally, addressing and involving all the people interested in various ways in the 288 Italian marine sites and the 272 Spanish ones in the European network. ‘The project,’ Federparchi’s president concluded, “gave an important contribution by demonstrating the value of participation and sharing with the population. Marine protected areas, and RN2000 marine sites, are a strategic and delicate area for conservation and sustainability and need special attention, and we have all the skills to do so.”

Federparchi is the lead partner in the LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project, whose partners are Triton Research, LIPU and Fundación Biodiversidad, a public foundation of the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. The Cinque Terre, Arcipelago Toscano and Asinara National Parks are participating as project co-funders.