AMP and parks togheter to meet European goals and strengthen the Italian network of protected natural areas, enhance and optimize ReteNATURA2000 marine sites

Identifying paths and solutions to make the protection of marine biodiversity more effective and efficient, strengthening staff levels, ensuring financial resources and good governance for Marine Protected Areas. This was the focus of the first National Assembly of MPAs promoted by Federparchi and held in Rome on November the 25th. The meeting was constructive and attended by most of Italy’s MPAs; there were also two national parks that have Marine Areas within them: Cinque Terre and Arcipelago Toscano, both partner (co-funders) of the Life A-MAR NATURA2000 project.

The meeting was opened by Rocky Malatesta, vice president of Federparchi and coordinator of the Council of MPAs, who stressed the importance of the event in the perspective of a reform of the law establishing protected areas which is going to be discussed in the Italian Parliament.

The debate featured both directors and presidents of MPAs. Among the many issues put on the table, the most important one, underlined in all speeches, was the need – for MPAs – to get more funds and more staff in order to be able to carry out the institutional tasks to protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems. Life A-MAR NATURA2000 pproject was illustrated to all partecipants. Issues regarding the simplification of regulations and procedures, including those for PNRR-related projects, as well as those on the legal status and governance of MPAs, were debated during the meeting. In particular, there was also a focus on the need to make homogeneous the management of “small” protected marine sites that fall within the perimeters of MPAs, and to make these sites, particularly those of the NATURA2000 Network, the focus of new MPAs in order to reach the European targets of 30 percent of protected area at sea.

For Federparchi President Luca Santini, the goals of the european 30×30 agenda can be concretely achieved, as can those related to the PNRR. “We are carrying on a discussion that is not only technical,” Santini stressed,” but also political, aimed at outlining a perspective for the future of Marine Areas as an integral part of the Italian system of protected natural areas.  And since I see that there is a willingness to listen by Italian institutions, I believe that many of the issues discussed by the assembly can be addressed and resolved. The important thing is to march together.”