The Mediterranean Sea is considered a hot spot for climate change. The impacts of climate change are interacting with other environmental changes caused by human activities (e.g. overfishing, habitat loss and pollution). As a result, Mediterranean marine ecosystems and human livelihoods that rely on them are being affected. To contribute to reverse this severe degradation trend, MPA4Change will look to enhance the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and restoration as key Nature Based Solution for climate change adaptation by deploying a multi-level approach, from local MPA actions to Mediterranean strategies, in view to ensure its long-term sustainability and capacity. To do so MPA4Change will work on 3 main axis: 1) promote and fine-tune consolidated tools for risk assessment, monitoring, data sharing, restoration, citizen science, participatory approaches and defining adaptation action plans, communication, 2) support the Policy dialogue and coordinate with EU, Mediterranean and Global ICZM/MSP Strategies (e.g., FAO/GFCM, UNEP/MPA, RAC/SPA, UfM) and 3) develop a Roster of experts to fully operationalise the implementation of policies and tools ensuring the long-term sustainability and capacity for adaptation and mitigation to climate change. The final expected main outcome of MPA4Change is to enhance the resilience of Mediterranean coastal areas in view to support the good environmental status and sustainable use of marine ecosystems. Fully aligned with Interreg Euro-MED specific objective 2.4’s challenges, MPA4Change will increase the capacity to adapt to climate change by i) enhancing the effectiveness of MPAs and restoration, ii) improving the coordination and cooperation of stakeholders across borders to tackle them and iii) reinforcing raise awareness and environmental culture to climate change.

Palavras chave:

Áreas Marinhas Protegidas

Ciência Cidadã

Conservação dos Oceanos,

Adaptação Alterações Climáticas