Between the 18th and 19th of January 2016 a IPAMed project kick-off meeting took place in Bejaïa, Algeria. 25 participants (scientist, staff from Direction Generale des Forêts, managers of Wilayas, Directors of Protected Areas, local NGOs and staff from UICN-MED), have spent two days discussing and developing together a working programme for plant conservation in IPA Gouraya (National Park/Biosphere Reserve) and in IPA Aures Chelia.

During the first day there was a presentation of the 2015 plant field survey season in the pilot IPAs in Algeria. Botanists in charge of the field work, Dr. Khellaf Rebbas and Dr. Yassine Begami expose the first results and threats identified.

Also a summary of the Species field data collection workshop and of the Habitat mapping in IPA workshop was shared with all the participants presented by Dr. Salima Benhouhou and Mr. Halim Hafir.

Two working groups, one focus on IPA Gouraya National Park and the other focus IPA Aures Chelia, developed actions plans for plant conservation. These actions plans identify activities that would be developed during the project to ensure the conservation of the plant diversity of the selected IPAs as pilot cases in Algeria.

During the workshop if was highlighted the importance of involving local groups on the implementation of some of the activities as a way to raise awareness of the value of the vegetal diversity of the Mediterranean and to promote its conservation.

The second day we had the opportunity to visit the IPA Gouraya guided by the Director and staff of the park. Dr. Khellaf Rebbas who show us some of the endemic plant species populations he is monitoring and we could discuss in situ about the existing threats and suggest conservation actions.

One of the main out puts of this meeting has been the signature of a General Collaboration agreement and a Specific agreement, between the Direction Generale des Forêts and the UICN Med.

We would like to express our gratitude for organising this succesful workshop to the "Direction Generale du Forêt" du Ministère de l'Agriculture , du Développement Rural et de la Pêche and to the "Conservation des forêts" of the wilaya Béjaïa. Also we would like to thank the National Parc of Gouraya and Assirem for their support in the field visit.

A complete report produced by DGF, of the workshop is available in the UICN Med Documentation Platform.

For futher information: Teresa Gil

Photo: Aiguades Preseved site in the Gouraya National Park (Algeria). ©Khellaf Rebbas