Developing a proposal for the MPA designation
Based on a decade of ecological data collected since the early 1980s, emphasizing the ecological importance of the area for marine mammals, a proposal (“Project Pelagos”) prepared by Tethys in cooperation with Europe Conservation (an Italian NGO), envisaging the ecological, socio-economic and governance aspects of establishing an international MPA in the area. The proposal was presented on 2 March 1991 to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
Classifications
Category
Collection of baseline and monitoring data and knowledge
Communication, outreach and awareness building
Legal and policy frameworks, policy advocacy
Alliance and partnership development
Scale of implementation
Multi-national
Phase of solution
Implementation
Enabling factors
“Progetto Pelagos” was endorsed and strongly supported by the Rotary Club (Milano, Monaco, St. Tropez), which created a conduit with the Monaco Principality and organised the March 1991 meeting during which the proposal was presented to the Prince of Monaco.
Lessons learned
Involving many players from several countries was crucial to the success of achieving an MPA. In retrospect, getting formal agreement that a management body would be properly funded and put in place and that the area would focus fundamentally on conservation with specific directives is essential.
Part of the panorama blue solution
