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SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF MPAs IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

operating resources whose activities support MPA management programs, mainly
allocated for staff salaries. Another part of the central budget is devoted to key activities
such as inspections, monitoring, specific scientific studies, and zoning, among others.
There is no transfer of financial resources to the MPA structures, but these allocations are
meant to mitigate the financial burden on MPAs.
Institutional weaknesses and political instabilities, especially in the south of the
Mediterranean accentuate the financial vulnerability of Marine Protected Areas.
Despite comprehensive institutional organisation, some countries are confronted by a lack
of coordination between entities (central agencies responsible for MPAs), which in turn
affects the permanent and consistent flow of resources. For other countries, institutional
weaknesses complicate the implementation of strategic alliances with local authorities and
stakeholders, which are a necessary condition for effective use of available financial
resources. The absence of local key stakeholders for effective management of MPA
projects resulted in high dependency on external consultants and NGOs without
empowering local stakeholders in the sustainability of MPAs.
The global financial crisis and budget restrictions in donor countries affect the
availability of financial resources. This is mainly the case for bilateral ODA for Marine
Protected Areas which decreased by 9% in 2012, 13% in 2013 and 46% in 2014.

This chapter describes regional trends in both international financing and national
expenditures for Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean. Based on an
assessment of the international database and financial country profiles, this chapter
estimates the level and structure of resources mobilised at the national level along with the
projects involved.

4.1 Regional trends in international funding for Marine Protected
Areas over the period 2010-2014

The comparison between the three sources of international financing shows different trends
over the period 2010-2014. Details of the financial data are presented in Appendix 3. The
findings of the assessment of financial resources supporting Coastal and Marine Protected
Areas showed strong commitment from the international community to protect marine
ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. Over the period of 2010-2014, the region received
financial support amounting to €37,193,373, channeled through bilateral Official
Development Assistance (€7,496,524), the GEF (€5,746,120), the EU LIFE programs
(€23,950,729) and international NGO investments (€4,903,269). Financing from
international NGOs consists of investments for regional projects in the Mediterranean and
financed by national donors and private foundations (see Box below). For easier reading,
financing resources devoted to regional projects in ODA financial data have been included.

May 2015 – Vertigo Lab, for MedPAN, RAC/SPA and WWF Med. Page 56