The Ministry for the Ecological Transition, together with the coastal autonomous communities and cities, have strengthened the coordination mechanisms for the joint and effective management of the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition, together with the coastal autonomous communities and cities, have strengthened the coordination mechanisms for the joint and effective management of the marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network, the largest ecological network in the world for the conservation of biodiversity.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, chaired, at the headquarters of the Ministry, a meeting that was attended by seven coastal autonomous communities with competences in the management of the marine Natura 2000 Network.
Specifically, representatives from Catalonia, Andalusia, the Principality of Asturias, the Region of Murcia, the Valencian Community, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands have participated in this second political meeting held within the framework of the LIFE IP INTEMARES project, coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition. Morán was also accompanied by the general director of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea, Ana Mª Oñoro, as well as the director of the Biodiversity Foundation, Sonia Castañeda.
The Secretary of State for the Environment thanked the autonomous communities for their work and involvement and highlighted the government’s strategic interest in ocean conservation: “If we are able to give a good run to the INTEMARES project, we will add to the good practice of the administrations in marine policies and we will achieve enormous benefits for society”.
In the same sense, the general director of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea has remarked that “it is vital to work in coordination with the autonomous communities to improve the management of the marine Natura 2000 Network”.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Through the LIFE IP INTEMARES project, the main challenges, opportunities and threats faced by the Spanish State to guarantee the conservation of the coastline and the oceans are being addressed.
Spain has almost 13% of its waters protected, already exceeding the international commitment to reach at least 10% by 2020. The protection of these marine spaces and the preservation of sustainable coastal activities are priority lines of action for the Ministry to be addressed jointly by all the actors involved.
In addition to continuing to increase the protected area, the Ministry is working to strengthen actions aimed at knowing and protecting our seabed, ordering the possible uses of marine space compatible with the preservation of biodiversity and providing adequate means for the tasks of surveillance and monitoring of species and habitats.
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES
During the meeting, the joint actions were also taken stock, including the participatory processes for the preparation of the management plans for the marine Natura 2000 Network and the future master plan of the Network of Marine Protected Areas of Spain (RAMPE), as well as the strategies and conservation plans for various marine species of birds. turtles and mammals.
Likewise, the roadmap to be followed in the coming years has been established. Among the planned actions is the implementation of pilot projects with an innovative approach in various areas of the management of the marine Natura 2000 Network, which will be developed jointly with the autonomous communities.
LIFE IP INTERNARES
The largest marine conservation project in Europe aims to achieve a network of marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network, managed effectively, with the active participation of the sectors involved and research as basic tools for decision-making.
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition coordinates this initiative in which the General Directorate of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea of the same Ministry, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, the Spanish Fisheries Confederation, SEO/BirdLife and WWF-Spain participate as partners. It also has the financial contribution of the European Union’s LIFE programme, among other sources of funding.
Until 2024, an extensive programme of actions linked to research, monitoring and surveillance, conservation, governance and training, as well as communication, awareness and environmental education will be carried out.
