The ENSERES project would not have the same capacity in the dissemination and implementation of management tools for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), if MedPAN were not in the partnership. For more than 10 years MedPAN has been the network that brings together Mediterranean MPAs, a place where the experiences of the members, the knowledge and innovations developed in the field are shared and improved.

“Within ENSERES project, MedPAN will join forces with other project partners to ensure large communication on EbM tools and in particular MPAs, to guarantee the networking and capacity-building of MPAs and other related marine stakeholders in the Mediterranean, and to support the implementation of European, Mediterranean and international policies, especially through the dynamic of the Post 2020 Mediterranean MPA Roadmap, underlines Marie Romani, MedPAN  Executive Secretary. The MedPAN organization gathers 78 members and 49 partners from 21 countries. Members and partners are strongly involved in training programs, projects, workshops, visits and exchange of knowledge and practices.

“The mission of MedPAN is to actively contribute to the achievement of a representative, connected, integrated and effectively managed system of Mediterranean MPAs. Throughout the years, we have always worked to support  MPA managers, MPA management effectiveness and at the same time to improve awareness, MPA policies and funding”, says Marie Romani.

MedPAN’s activities have been fundamental in supporting MPAs as tools that concretely implement the Ecosystem-based management (EbM), founded on a holistic approach that embraces all possible elements and interactions between not only single species, or the ecosystem services, but the full complexities of the area, including the human activities.

ENSERES (ENhancing Socio-Ecological RESilience in Mediterranean coastal areas) is funded by the European Union under the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation program ENI CBC Med.