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SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF MPAs IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

2.3 Approach to the study

2.3.1 General approach

In order to estimate MPA financing gaps for the The BASIC SCENARIO is defined as the
whole Mediterranean basin, a budget analysis minimum level of funding required to
was conducted at two levels (Figure 3): operate key conservation programs while
At the local level, the cost structure was meeting basic program requirements to
sustain ecosystem functions in each MPA
assessed for a sample of 20 Mediterranean (Flores et al., 2008). The current financial
MPAs. Based on these results, a standard cost situation of MPAs in the sample is a good
structure enabled extrapolations for the approximation of the basic scenario.
average situations in MPAs in the region. The The OPTIMAL SCENARIO is defined as
local budget analysis provides an estimate of the level of funding required for operating
individual MPA financial needs for both Basic all programs to reach and sustain optimal
and Optimal management scenarios (see Box ecosystem functioning in MPAs. This
opposite). ensures achievement of short-, medium-,
and long-term goals for Marine Protected
At the national level, 17 national MPA systems Areas, in accordance with the highest
were scrutinised. The national budget analysis environmental, social, and economic
provides an estimate of current resources standards (Flores et al., 2008). The
mobilisation, including financial resources from Optimal scenario is a representation of
international cooperation devoted specifically to effectiveness within MPAs. Effectiveness
shows how far activities implemented
MPAs. Comparison of the available financial during MPA development allow for
resources at the national level with the financial achieving MPA preservation goals
needs constitutes the financing gap observed (Hockings et al., 2000).
for the Optimal and Ideal scenarios (see Box
below).

The IDEAL MANAGEMENT SCENARIO is defined as the level of funding required to achieve
Aichi Target 11, i.e. “at least […] 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas […]conserved through
effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of
protected areas”. The Ideal management is thus the sum of costs for the effective management of
existing national MPA systems (optimal scenario) and the costs for the creation and the effective
management of additional MPAs, making the system reach the 10% Aichi target.

May 2015 – Vertigo Lab, for MedPAN, RAC/SPA and WWF Med. Page 23