The project "Enhancement of biodiversity key areas in North Africa, through the involvement of civil society's organizations for their management and protection" was recently presented in Morocco and Algeria by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation team. It is a subregional project aimed at improving the management and governance of protected areas and key biodiversity areas in the hotspot of the Mediterranean region. The project is funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) in the framework of its strategic direction "Improving the conservation and the protection status of 44 Key Biodiversity Areas". This project involves four countries, namely: Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

The launching workshops have allowed IUCN to move forward the project and identify the next steps in these two countries in collaboration with the governmental institutions and NGOs linked to biodiversity conservation. In both countries more than 40 participants attended the meeting. These workshops had several goals: presenting the content of the project, identifying key players in the implementation process, and defining their contribution to make the project succeed.

In the first workshop that took place in Algeria on 21- 22 January 2014, participants agreed on four major lines as a guide for the actions that the project calls. The Djurdjura National Park was chosen as key area for biodiversity where to develop the project activities. A similar workshop was organized on 19 March in Marrakech (Morocco) and the Toubkal National Parks and Ifrane National Park were identified by the Moroccan participants who highlighted as well the importance to set up scientific committees to foster the monitoring of the conservation programmes.

By bringing its experience about biodiversity key areas enhancement and protection, IUCN-Med makes its contribution to the investment strategy of the CEPF in North Africa countries. In addition, it is lighting up the importance of civil society's role into the management of biodiversity key areas.

To know more about the Algerian working group:
http://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/iucnmed/communication/news/?14353/Lancement-du-projet--sur-la-valorisation-des-zones-cles-pour-la-biodiversite-en-Afrique-du-Nord

To know more about the Moroccan working group:
http://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/iucnmed/communication/news/?14618/Lancement-du-Projet-CEPF-sur-la-valorisation-des-zones-cles-pour-la-biodiversite-au-Maroc

For more informations: Maher Mahjoub

Photo: UICN-Med. National Park of Djurdjura (Algeria)