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Action Plans for managing species

Introduction to Action Plans

The Action Plan is the most complete approach to conserving a species or group of species. It involves programmes for the sustainable management of their stocks and of activities that harm these, working toward short-, medium- and long-term objectives:

  • Data collection on their conservation status, to facilitate decision-making;
  • Encouraging programmes for research and inventory about theese species;
  • Helping, for example by preparing studies, setting up and managing Marine Protected Areas that include critical habitats and sites for which these species have affinities;
  • Reducing mortality and harm caused by human action by suggesting and implementing management and legal protection measures ;
  • Elaborating and setting up monitoring programmes and networks ;
  • Backing and/or organizing meetings of experts on these species in the Mediterranean;
  • Improving inter-Party collaboration and coordination with the main bodies that are active in the conservation of these species;
  • Capacity building, public awareness, circulating and exchanging information and sharing knowledge and skills between Mediterranean countries;
  • Enhancing the Mediterranean countries’ skills and their institutional and legislative frameworks.

Seven regional Action Plans have been adopted within the MAP context. Six of these directly concern species conservation for the most threatened and most emblematic species in the Mediterranean.

The monk seal – marine turtles, especially the green turtle – cetaceans, especially the bottlenose dolphin – waterfowl species like the Audouin’s gull – cartilaginous fishes like the great white shark and the saw-shark – marine plants i.e. macrophytes and plant assemblages seen as natural monuments, like Posidonia barrier reefs.

The seventh, concerning introductions of species and invasive species, aims at developing coordinated measures to prevent, check and monitor the effects of such introductions.

RAC/SPA calls on international expertise for elaborating these specific regional strategies, and defining priorities and activities to be undertaken, in order to provide species with sustainable conservation. After they have been adopted, it takes responsibility for helping the national and regional agents to implement them, thanks to the support of its partners.

Action Plans