MED4EBM Project has participated in the Forum of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean which took place in Monaco from the 27^th November to 1^st December 2021.  Three partners of the project presented and disseminated their contribution in terms of methods and tools for effectively incorporating Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) into Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

MED4EBM experience in establishing participative and evidence-based planning of local development has been presented on 29^th November 2021 in the session of the Forum about: “Ensuring successful integration of MPAs in coastal and marine spatial planning to reduce conservation and development conflicts and increase the social acceptance of MPAs”.

The participation to this event has been included in the MED4EBM Synergy and Networking Strategy and Workplan as the initial component of its regional networking initiative. Objective of the participation is to actively involve relevant institutions and MPAs operating in the Mediterranean basin in a joint effort to develop, apply and spread innovative methods and tools for the effective incorporation of EBM into ICZM for the participatory and evidence-based planning of sustainable development in coastal and marine areas.

The networking demonstrated internal work of the project, both on important organizational and managerial aspects and on the planning of future activities especially foreseeing the launch of the forum. It focused on informing regional marine and coastal management players on the launching of the permanent Mediterranean Forum for Applied Ecosystem-Based Management by Amici della Terra Onlus in the year of 2022 as part of MED4EBM activitis. Through MED4EBM targeted the following objectives: [TA1] 

• Showcase experiences from MED4EBM target areas, as well as provide technical illustrations/insights and deliver trainings to regional actors on how to apply innovative methods and tools for the effective incorporation of EBM into ICZM for the participatory and evidence-based planning of Sustainable Development;
• Promote technical/scientific exchange and research to further develop the said methods and tools;
• Promote partnership and cooperation with institutions and organizations involved in EBM, ICZM and Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean Sea at national and regional level 

MED4EBM participation to the Forum has allowed MED4EBM to start establishing contacts and links at regional level towards sharing of experiences and spreading MED4EBM innovative methods and tools for effectively incorporating Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) into Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), with particular reference to identification and screening of potential player to be involved in the first activities/events of the Mediterranean Forum for Applied Ecosystem-Based Management.

About one hundred press kit on the MED4EBM project including the Project poster in Italian, English, French and Arabic, the visual reports on the four Project areas and the abstract of MED4EBM presentation at the Forum were distributed to the participants