The Stakeholder Committee, a valuable tool for dialogue with the categories of “users of the sea” identified by the mapping made from 2023 and continuously updated.

The Life A-MAR NATURA2000 project is growing and it enriched itself with a new tool for participation and work sharing in conjunction with the launch of the actions in Spain. An encounter of stakeholders took place on 12th of March for the establishment of the “Stakeholders Committee”, composed by representatives of the main stakeholders of sea users who provided their patronage through letters of support and others who will be added during the course of the project.

The discussion was broad and participatory and showed enthusiasm for the project’s initiatives aimed to spread knowledg about protected marine sites of the NATURA2000 Network.

The objective of the Committee is to update and disseminate information on project’s actions and to show results achieved.

The Committee is also a participatory opportunity to collect suggestions and indications for an effective implementation of the actions and the best achievement of the set objectives. It will meet at least twice a year to provide updates and direct the activities according to what emerges from the discussion.

The meeting, promoted by Federparchi as part of the “E-1 management and coordination” action, saw the participation, in addition to the project partners, of the three Italian national parks co-financing Life A-MAR NATURA2000: Cinque Terre, Asinara and Tuscan archipelago. For Spain, there were representatives of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico (MITECO), the Balearic Islands, the Regions of Valencia, Cataluña, Murcia and Andalucía.

Representatives of the marine protected areas of Capo Testa-Punta Falcone, Capo Milazzo, Torre Guaceto, Secche Tor Paterno (Roma Natura), which were involved in the 2023 sailing campaign in Italy, attended.

All participants shared the idea of ​​the Committee as an open place and therefore they were well available to welcome other subjects interested in Life A-MAR initiatives. Next meeting on November 19th.