Michael O. Angelidis (UNEP/MAP) Regular Process Workshop, Brussels, Belgium, 27-29 June 2012

1. Michael O. Angelidis (UNEP/MAP)Regular Process Workshop, Brussels, Belgium, 27-29 June 2012 Assessments of the marine and coastal environment in the Mediterranean – UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention

2. Assessment component of UNEP/MAP The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) was adopted on 4 Feb. 1975 based on 4 main aspects: • Integrated planning of the development and management of the resources of the Mediterranean Basin; • Co-ordinated programme for research, monitoring and exchange of information and assessment of the state of pollution and of protection measures; • Framework convention and related protocols with their technical annexes for the protection of the Mediterranean environment; • Institutional and financial implications of the Action Plan.

3. Barcelona Convention and Protocols

4. Monitoring and data availability – LBS ProtocolMED POL Monitoring programme (Phase III since 1996) a) State and Trend monitoring Data to prepare periodical assessments of the state and trends in pollution hot spots and coastal areas • Nutrients/eutrophication in seawater • Hazardous substances in sediment and biota b) Monitoring of inputs Quantification of inputs expressed as pollutants loads form point sources based on the National Baseline Budgets of Pollutant Emissions and Releases c) Compliance monitoring Microbiological parameters in bathing waters and shellfish growing waters. d) Biological effects monitoring (pilot) Biomarkers to assess exposure to, and impacts of, chemical contaminants at organism level e) Monitoring of eutrophication (pilot) Integrated pilot studies in specific eutrophication-threatened marine coastal areas. Periodic thematic assessment on pollution issues

5. Studies and assessments • Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas • Maritime traffic and accidents • Sustainable Development • Integrated Coastal Zone management • Cleaner Production and Consumption

6. Ecosystem Approach - ECAP • Decision IG 17/6 of the15th Meeting of the COP to the Barcelona Convention, (Almeria, Spain,2008) “to progressively apply the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities that may affect the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment” • Decision IG 19/17 of the 16th Meeting of the COP to the Barcelona Convention (Marrakesh, Morocco, 2009) • “the Ecosystem Approach is the overarching principle of MAP’s 5 years Programme of Work (2010-2014)

7. Road map - steps • Definition of an ecological Vision for the Mediterranean. • Setting of common Mediterranean strategic goals • Identification of important ecosystem properties and assessment of ecological status and pressures • Development of a set of ecological objectives corresponding to the Vision and strategic goals • Derivation of operational objectives with indicators and target levels • Revision of existing monitoring programmes for on-going assessment and regular updating of targets • Developmentand review of relevant action plans and programmes

8. Initial Assessment ECAP (2012) Initial Assessment structured to present the state of the marine environment, and how it is impacted by pressures. For every one of the 4 sub-regions of the Mediterranean, the chapters include: • Physical and chemical characteristics • Biological characteristics • Habitat classification and known distribution of habitats • Pressures and impacts (meaning contamination by hazardous substances, dumping activities, nutrient and organic matter enrichment, biological and physical disturbances, effect of underwater noise and marine litter) • Conclusions and gap analysis

9. Initial Assessment ECAP Goals • Define the major basin-wide priority issues to be addressed by the ECAP • Determine available information to elucidate management priorities • Determine existing gaps, in order to improve scientific research and monitoring in the region Commonalities • Common issues with First Integrated Assessment of the UN Regular Process

10. Initial assessment geographical division in 4 sub-regions Adriatic Sea Western Mediterranean Central Mediterranean Eastern Mediterranean

11. Initial Assessment preparation process A participatory approach Continuous consultation with Mediterranean countries (2010-2011): • Decision on the table of contents of the Initial Assessment • Provision of data and information • Revision of the Documents • Follow-up of the process through meetings with the participation of government designated experts Peer review of the final Assessment by GESAMP (2011) Presentation of the Initial Assessment in the 17th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Paris, 8-10 February 2012): Document UNEP(DEPI)/MED IG.20/Inf.8

12. Initial Assessment conclusions Mediterranean scale Pressures • Coastal development and sprawl, driven by urbanization and tourism development • Overfishing, and incidental or by-catch • Destructive fishing, including bottom trawling and fishing methods • Pollution (hazardous compounds) from urbanization, industry, etc. • Nutrient over-enrichment • Maritime industries, including shipping, energy, aquaculture, and desalination (operational as well as disaster-related) • Invasive species spread, in many cases mediated by climate changes Impacts • Habitat loss and degradation, and erosion/ shoreline destabilization • Community structure, ecological processes, and delivery of ecosystem services, are affected • Benthic disturbance • Contamination of sediments and biota • Eutrophication and hypoxia leading to ecological imbalances • Disturbance and pollution • Disturbance of ecosystem • Degradation of transitional or estuarine areas, which serve as critical nursery areas for commercial fisheries and also support unique assemblages of species

13. Economic value of sustainable benefits Exploratory Work • Part of the Initial Integrated Assessment • Inspired by: • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA,2000-2005); • System of Environmental and Economic Accounting (UN, 2003); • The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (EC, UNEP, 2007-2010) … Economic valuation • improve knowledge of the services and assess the sustainable benefits provided by ecosystems with a view to taking them into account more effectively at the regional and national levels; • provide public decision-makers with a common quantitative measurement to improve the management of environmental issues; • contribute at the level of the Mediterranean to international initiatives for the economic analysis of ecosystems

14. Methodology

15. COP 17 Decision (2012) on socioeconomic analysis Mandate • Further develop a socio economic analysis of marine ecosystems uses, focusing on priority sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, recreational activities, oil industry and offshore • Evaluate costs of degradation for human wealth in the absence of the implementation of the relevant actions plans and programmes of measures aiming to achieve or maintain GES The overall objective : To elaborate a common understanding and to foster a broad appropriation by Mediterranean riparian countries of the social and economic dimensions involved in the ECAP implementation

16. More assessments in the Mediterranean region published recently • State of Environment and Development Report (http://www.planbleu.org/publications/SoED2009_EN.pdf) IA/RP: Part IV – Assessment of Cross-cutting issue: Food Security and Food safety • The economic value of sustainable benefits rendered by the Mediterranean Marine ecosystems (http://www.planbleu.org/publications/Cahier8_marin_EN.pdf) • Analysis of economic activities in the Mediterranean: fishery and aquaculture sectors (http://www.planbleu.org/publications/analyse_activites_econ_peche_EN.pdf) • Long-term trends in small pelagic and bottom fisheries in the Mediterranean: 1950-2008 (http://www.planbleu.org/publications/State_of_Mediterraean_Fisheries.pdf) IA/RP: Part V – Assessment of other human activities impacting on the marine Environment Chapter 16. Shipping, Chapter 17. Ports • Maritime transport of goods in the Mediterranean: Outlook 2025 (http://www.planbleu.org/publications/Cahier7_transport_EN.pdf Chapter 26. Tourism and recreation • Seaside tourism and urbanisation: environmental impact and land issues ((http://www.planbleu.org/publications/4p21_tourism_urbanisationEN.pdf)

17. Research Projects in the Mediterranean Region (indicative) To assess and predict changes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea ecosystems as well as changes in the ability of these ecosystems to provide goods and services. Duration 2006-2010. KnowSeas To provide a comprehensive scientific knowledge base and practical guidance for the application of the Ecosystem Approach to the sustainable development of Europe’s regional seas. Duration 2009 - 2013 To develop new tools to evaluate the current environmental status of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, through combined monitoring and modeling capabilities and by extending existing observation systems. Duration 2012 – 2016.

18. The future: UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring Programme in the framework of the ECAP • Establishment (2013) of a Regional Integrated Monitoring programme that takes into account the ecological objectives, including marine pollution and biodiversity, and focusing both on coastal and open sea waters • Take into consideration threats from land based sources as well as from other sources, and recognize the interaction among the threats • All monitoring activities will be integrated in a single, well-defined aim : that of achieving a particular level of environmental quality in a specified ecosystem • Common practices will be adopted across all types of monitoring activities and data management • Take into consideration cumulative and combined effects of pollution and other kind of pressures • Build synergies with EU MSFD and other monitoring programmes implemented in the region with a view to sharing data and enhancing the effectiveness of environmental monitoring in the Mediterranean on the regional and country levels • Build synergies with the UN Regular Process • National capacities (institutional, technical) for the implementation of the integrated MAP monitoring programme will be assessed and a capacity building programmewill be prepared

19. UNEP/MAP: a Mediterranean commitment • MAP Coordination Unit (Athens, Greece) • MED POL - Programme for the assessment and control of pollution in the Mediterranean Region (Athens, Greece) Regional Activity Centres (RACs) • REMPEC - Regional marine pollution emergency response Centre for the Mediterranean (Malta) • BP/RAC - Blue Plan Regional Activity Centre (Sophia Antipolis, France) • PAP/RAC – Priority actions programme Regional Activity Centre (Split, Croatia) • SPA/RAC – Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (Tunis, Tunisia) • INFO/RAC Information Regional Activity Centre (Rome, Italy) • CP/RAC – Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Production (Barcelona, Spain) • Long standing legal commitment by the Mediterranean Countries (Barcelona Convention, 6 Protocols, Regional Action Plans), including on the assessment • Solid regional governance including government authorities, scientific institutions, NGOs and experts on policy, governance and technical issues • Capacity building programmes on issues related to monitoring and assessmentof pressures, state and impact are being implemented • Further work to be build on existing governance structures and assessment outputs

20. UNEP/MAP contribution • UNEP/MAP has a mandate to undertake periodic assessment in the Mediterranean • UNEP/MAP in close cooperation with all Mediterranean countries, is collecting data and information on all aspects of the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment • UNEP/MAP is moving towards an integrated approach to assessment through a gradual application of an Ecosystem Approach to the management of human activities • UNEP/MAP is looking forward to collaborating in the preparation of the First Global Integrated Marine Assessment (GIMA) in the framework of the UN Regular Process, as requested by its Contracting Parties • UNEP/MAP will provide data and information and offers its network of experts, administrators and NGOs from all across the Mediterranean (Europe, North Africa and Middle East) for the preparation of the First GIMA • UNEP/MAP is ready to actively contributing to the capacity building on monitoring and assessment in the region

21. Thank you