25 September 2022
The Mediterranean needs you. If you put a seashell to your ear you will hear it calling
#MedCoastDay #Act4Med #BarcelonaConvention
Andrej A. Gajić, Ambassador for the Coast 2022
Scientist, biology professor, underwater researcher, but also author, photographer, entrepreneur, traveler, and skydiver: he is Andrej A. Gajić the new Coast Day 2022 Ambassador.
An eclectic researcher, he has conducted original studies on the zoology, ecology and pathology of sharks, rays and skates in order to develop long-term conservation strategies throughout the Mediterranean.
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Born in 1991, he is co-founder and CEO of the Sharklab ADRIA Center for Marine and Freshwater Biology (Malta, EU) and Head scientist of Shark Tales at National Geographic in Washington, DC.
Andrej has published over 60 articles and three widely recognized books and has shared his expertise at over 35 conferences.
He loves spending time with animals, helping them and trying to understand them. He has worked closely with over 30 species of sharks, rays and sharks.
Andrej is one of the selected participants of the “30 under 30” project, organized by the Represent Communications BiH agency and its partners, which aims to highlight hard-working young people who are the backbone of their companies in various business sectors.
He also received 10 awards and honors, including the National Geographic EC Leadership, which ranked him among the world’s 15 most influential scientists under 30
Coastal integrated coastal zone management Plan in Morocco
Schéma Régional du Littoral de la région Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma (SRL TTA)
Morocco is partly geographically and entirely culturally immersed in the Mediterranean. It is a country that seems to be a perfect example of the Mediterranean essence. The country is praised since medieval times, with Ibn Battūtah describing it as “the best of countries, for in it fruits are plentiful, and running water and nourishing food are never exhausted”[1].
Its northern part, the region Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, faces the Strait of Gibraltar and Europe, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean basin, a region prone to many natural hazards, is one of the cradles of civilisation that has always been an attractive migration hub.
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Since the projections for the Mediterranean region are to experience the highest raise in the frequency of occurrence of extreme events due to climate change, the concern raises with the regional increase of population and the use of space, the coastal zone in particular.[2]
The TTA’s coasts are experiencing heavy urbanization of the coastline, leaving no space for the beaches and wetlands to adapt to a present and future environmental change. Also, the TTA is one of the most populated regions of Morocco, with a relatively high density, which is more than four times the national average.
Even though it has experienced natural hazards and various challenges for centuries, its inhabitants have still managed to successfully inhabit the area. Morocco maintains, in its modernity, very strong traditional components, with the traditional forms of appropriation of space and the forms of its usage. People live and survive thanks to this territory and they are attached economically to it.
In order to continue living their lives in a changed future, the development needs to be sustainable, paying attention to equitable society, balanced economic development and nature protection. The Kingdom of Morocco is aware of the need for sustainability, giving particular attention to its coasts. In 2015 the Kingdom adopted Law 81-12 on the coastline. This new text is in line with the main guidelines and basic rules of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), as stipulated in the ICZM Protocol of the Barcelona Convention. The law requires the elaboration of a National Coastal Plan (PNL) and Regional Coastal Schemes (SRL), taking into account the limitations of the non-constructible zone and the zones in which certain activities are prohibited or subject to certain restrictions, and “adopting an integrated management approach that takes into account the coastal ecosystem and climate change”. This political will is the ground for this project of the preparation of the coastal plan – SRL TTA.
MedProgramme, the UNEP/GEF “Mediterranean Sea Programme” is the GEF initiative in the Mediterranean Sea aimed at operationalizing priority actions to reduce key transboundary environmental stresses in its coastal zones, while enhancing climate resilience and water security and improving the health and livelihoods of coastal populations. The SRL TTA aims at establishing the basis for sustainable development of the coastal zone in the context of the ongoing climate change, where ICZM can be considered, together with land-use planning, as the most important instrument. Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC), specialized in coastal management, is in charge of the preparation of the SRL TTA with help of national and regional Moroccan partners from the Ministry of energy transition and sustainable development and international partners Plan Bleu/RAC, GWP-Med and UNESCO.
[1] Encyclopaedia Britannica
[2] Ivčević, A., Bertoldo, R., Mazurek, H., Siame, L., Guignard, S., Moussa, A. B., & Bellier, O. (2020). Local risk awareness and precautionary behaviour in a multi-hazard region of North Morocco. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 50, 101724.
Resilience of the Mediterranean coasts
The Mediterranean, one of the most fascinating regions in the world. . .
The cradle of civilisations, destination for one-third of the world tourists, home to the ever-growing coastal population.
This enclosed sea with almost tideless sea level variations and its mild, favourable climate, attracted the settlers for centuries, even when the port conditions weren’t perfect. With the rise of Mediterranean tourism intensive urbanisation happened on the Mediterranean coasts.
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A place to stay in summer is requested by huge share of world tourists, all wishing to enjoy unique Mediterranean beaches and transparent, fascinating sea.
How can we enhance the resilience of the Mediterranean coasts, one of the most densely urbanised coast of a closed sea? While the sea-level rise is accelerating, CO2 emissions keep growing and the real estate market is still considered a safe haven for the investors. Clearly, not an easy task. Therefore, this year, 2022 coastal resilience has been chosen as a central topic for our Coast Day campaign. We invite all those that have a stake in the future of the Mediterranean coast to join our efforts in sending the message – Coastal population should become the key ambassadors for climate action! Without mitigation and meeting the Paris agreement goals, it will be very hard to adapt. Maybe a retreat will be the only option for many of our coasts. Therefore, resilience is possible only if we get serious in our actions towards the climate, towards the nature.
Join our efforts and become the Ambassador for the resilience of the Mediterranean coasts. Act for climate, act for nature!
BRAINSTORMING FOR IMPROVING THE RESILIENCE OF COASTAL ZONES TO CLIMATE CHANGE COAST DAY 2022 EDITION
On September 28, the magnificent city of Tangier will host the central event of the 2022 edition of the Mediterranean Coastal Day.
So that the morning begins under the best auspices, the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco will open the session herself
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The morning session will be marked by two discussion panels on the issues, challenges and solutions in terms of climate change, one at the Mediterranean level and the other at the level of the Tangier – Tetouan – Al Hoceima region. Panel participants will include local decision-makers and actors, teacher-researchers, representatives of civil society and other representatives of international organizations.
In the afternoon, awareness-raising activities will be organized on Malabata beach in Tangier by the Moroccan Association for a Sustainable Environment. Children and young people from local schools will be able to participate in fun activities to raise awareness and educate about eco-citizenship for the preservation of the coast, with an emphasis on preventing plastic pollution. Not to forget the main theme of the day, one of the main objectives of the day will be to understand the direct link between plastic pollution and its impact on climate change.
Coast Day celebrated in Split and its region
The first event of this year’s Mediterranean Coast Day in Croatia was held on the 22 September at the PAP/RAC premises. High school students from “Vladimir Nazor“ came to hear about coastal challenges, planning and management in the Mediterranean. It was the 10th consecutive year that students from this school have joined the Coast Day campaign in the framework of their geography classes.
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The presentation was given in the light of student’s future orientation. Being in their final year, an important decision awaits them – what to study? We hope that whatever they do, they will contribute to the systemic transition of our society towards sustainability!
The next day, on the 23 September, Split Dalmatia County joined the celebration with an action called “Sea Patrol” in Kaštel Gomilica. The celebration included a workshop on ecology and environmental protection for students from Elementary School “Knez Trpimir”. The children were introduced to the scientific issues related to the protection of the sea, marine environment and the underwater world. Firefighters presented their operations related to the sea protection. Little environmental scientists had the opportunity to try experiments appropriate to their age. In addition, they learned about the rescue activities of firefighters at sea and at the same time participated in a mini firefighting competition.
More about this may be found at https://www.dalmacijadanas.hr/medunarodni-dan-obale-u-kastelima-odrzana-morska-patrola-mali-ekoloski-znanstvenici-okusali-su-se-u-pokusima/
COAST DAY 2022 EVENTS
Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week 2022
The seventh edition of Mediterranean Coast and Macro-regional Strategies Week will after two years finally take place on site in Izola, Slovenia from 19 to 23 September 2022. It will be traditionally held in the week leading to the Mediterranean Coast Day, September 25th that is widely celebrated in the countries of the region. September 25th was chosen as the Mediterranean Coast Day to honor Slovenia as the first country in the Mediterranean region which ratified the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in 2009.
Traditionally, the event aims to raise awareness of the sea and coast and their natural resources and economic potential, as well as to introduce the risks to which they are exposed to due to the natural phenomena and human actions. Organizers are promising numerous interesting activities. The event brings together politicians, decision-makers, experts, civil society and interested public from all levels – local, regional, national and international.
This year’s event under the slogan “Healthy sea for safer future” will strengthen the macro-regional cooperation in the region, to underline that only with cooperation can there be common solutions and common future
Anatomy of island for the Mediterranean Coast Day
This year’s 10th anniversary of the Anatomy of Islands symposium is joining the celebration of the Mediterranean Coast Day. On the marvellous Croatian island of Lastovo, participants will discuss for a full 3 days (26-28 September) what coastal resilience means for the islands. This year’s theme of environmental futures and perspectives of islands in view of climate change will be discussed by more than 40 interdisciplinary researchers, most of them regular participants of the symposium and people deeply fascinated by islands.
Throughout history, islands have often been labelled as “places of resilience”, while island communities and societies, living in isolated and resource-constrained environments, have resisted challenges by finding their own solutions. For centuries, islanders have been building their own local knowledge and island communities have developed specific forms of sociability and solidarity. However, the environment change, so do island societies. Modern litoralization, deagrarization, touristification and depopulation affect island strategies and practices. Today, islands are at the forefront of facing the challenges of adapting to climate change. Island communities are pioneers in finding and implementing sustainable climate solutions and developing their own climate resilience strategies. Dedicated participants at the symposium Anatomy of island, with the local population, will try to identify solutions and ideas for better future of the islands.
For more info about the Symposium click here
Final conference of CAMP B&H and the Coast Day 2022
The coastal town of Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted the Final conference of the CAMP project and the celebration of the Coast Day on 13th September 2022.
These events come as the crown of the two-year activities on the implementation of this project important not only for the Municipality of Neum, being the only coastal region in B&H but for the whole country. Although the project themes were dedicated to solving concrete issues related to sustainable development of tourism, adaptation to climate change, monitoring of marine and coastal environment important for the local level, there were a number of activities relevant for other levels of authorities, such as the legal analysis with a view to support ratification of the ICZM Protocol, proposing the coordination mechanism for ICZM as well as the preparation of the Contingency plan. Participants representing all B&H levels of authorities, as well as the UNEP/MAP Coordinator, Ms. T. Hema, representatives of RACs involved, members of the project Steering Committee and public in general attended the conference.
The afternoon was reserved for the celebration of the Coast Day with the participation of schools from Neum, folk dancers, majorettes… Mr. Andrej A. Gajić was nominated Ambassador of the Mediterranean coast for 2022
MAP OF COAST DAY 2022 EVENTS