M2PA, the Association for the Sustainable Financing of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas, has granted its first funding to protected areas in the Maghreb.
At the second Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Forum in the Mediterranean, held in Tangier from November 28 until December 1, its president, Xavier Sticker, has announced the granting of its first funding in favour of marine protected areas in Morocco and Tunisia. This funding, amounting to €60,000, will help to cover priority needs for day-to-day management.
In Morocco the Al Hoceima National Park, and in Tunisia the Kuriat Islands will benefit from the funding.
Initiated by France, Monaco, Tunisia and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and joined by Morocco, Albania and four regional organisations, M2PA has been developing a trust fund that has already secured financial contributions from the Government of the Principality of Monaco and, more recently, new donors such as the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, the Basel Zoo and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
During the Tangier Forum, M2PA will hold its third General Assembly. In particular, it will adopt a programme of action for 2017, which will intensify support to Mediterranean marine areas by developing a compendium of contributions from public, private and multilateral donors.
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