Page 88 - Binet_et_al2015

SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF MPAs IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

▪ Financing activities aiming to reduce or avoid pollution as a consequence of
polluted emissions in river basins;
▪ Implementing participative management plans and conservation agreements at
the local level.

The findings show high dependency on grants from international cooperation. There is a risk
of financial uncertainties for some countries if they do not pursue their efforts in securing
national public funding for MPAs.
Along with public funding, countries have to engage in financial strategies to attract the
private sector. This could be done through donations, payments for environmental services,
or compensation schemes, among others. National efforts can be directed to setting a
coherent “polluter pays principle” system to gather essential resources for MPAs.

Regarding the funding gap for an optimal management scenario
The funding gap for the 14 countries assessed under the optimal management scenario is
estimated to be €475M if annual average investment costs are not taken into consideration.
This gap amounts almost €700M if these investment costs are included. Current revenues
only cover 12% of financial needs for Mediterranean MPAs as a whole (9% if investment
costs are included).
The funding gap for the EU countries assessed under the optimal management scenario is
estimated to be €458M in 2014 (covered at 11% by current revenues in the same countries).
The funding gap for the non-EU countries assessed under the optimal management scenario
is estimated to be €17M in 2014 (covered at 8% by current revenues in the same countries).

Projections on resource mobilisation over 2014-2020
Three main assumptions underlined the projections up to 2020: firstly, the constant trend for
national expenditures on Marine Protected Areas; secondly, estimation of the remaining
financial resources from international cooperation; and finally, assessment of potential
financial resources as a result of country negotiations for new funding from the GEF-6 and
LIFE programs.
These assumptions may be considered as a minimum level of resource mobilisation at the
national level. On the one hand, it is reasonable to expect an increased financial
commitment from national governments that could devote more resources to Marine
Protected Areas. Moreover, progress in strengthening national institutional capabilities to
attract the private sector in the development of multiples financial strategies for MPAs could
also broaden the impetus of financial resources at the local and national level. On the other
hand, it is reasonable to expect stronger national capacity that allows for cooperation
between public entities and stakeholders in the negotiation process for requesting
supplementary funding from international cooperation.

Regarding funding gaps for the ideal management scenario

The total funding gap for the ideal management scenario for the region amounts to
€7.002bn. The funding gap for this scenario is estimated to €1.162bn for non-EU countries.
The financing gap is estimated to about €5.839bn for EU countries. This estimate is mainly
for the creation and effective management of 39,879 km² of MPAs in Croatia, Cyprus,
France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain in the EU, and Albania, Egypt, Monaco, Israel,
Tunisia outside the EU.

May 2015 – Vertigo Lab, for MedPAN, RAC/SPA and WWF Med. Page 88