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SUSTAINABLE FINANCING OF MPAs IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: A FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

the adoption of new mechanisms or diversified sources of revenue. Leadership
barriers (staff skills, legislation, etc.) and knowledge and information gaps are
additional barriers to be taken into account in further analysis.

Regarding actions to be undertaken
▪ In view of the current situation, financial needs could be partly covered by local
mechanisms, including local public support. In addition, innovative financing
mechanisms should be developed: entrance and users fees, earmarking of charges
collectable under the occupation of public land, etc.
▪ Regional cooperation should be strengthened to achieve more complementary and
joint management, optimising the consumption of resources.
▪ The preference for project-based international funding may increase the vulnerability
of recipient countries in pursuing the recommendations derived from international
funding projects. In the absence of supplemental financing, national budgets have to
take over from international funding to maintain the progress achieved, in a context of
budget restrictions and the financial crisis.

▪ To mitigate this situation, recipient countries have to deploy a long-term national
commitment to ensuring constant (operating) external financing for Coastal and
Marine Protected Areas, in particular to upgrade them from the previous stage of
development. This implies strong internal cooperation and dialogue at the
governmental level to keep priorities for Marine Protected Areas in the political
agenda. This national coordination is necessary but difficult to achieve (requiring
personal communication) as some countries suffer from institutional weaknesses, a
lack of trained staff, and a lack of political awareness.

Further avenues for research
▪ National government budget decision-makers have no clear data on the needs,
benefits, and cost-effectiveness of increasing MPA system investment.
Mediterranean countries should undertake studies on needs for their MPA system
management. They should also precisely identify associated activities to ensure the
comparison of results across countries and the accuracy of assessment at the
Mediterranean level.
▪ Comparison between MPAs in different countries is difficult given the wide diversity
of MPAs models. However, analysis could be deepened at the European level.
▪ Assessment of Mediterranean MPA benefits should be pursued to justify
investments. The contribution of Marine Protected Areas to the economy is still both
poorly documented and poorly understood and, therefore, undervalued by decision
makers. MPA management is thus viewed as a cost, rather than an investment.
Financing issues also call for methodological developments to quantify services
provided by Marine Protected Areas, including the socio-economic dimension.

May 2015 – Vertigo Lab, for MedPAN, RAC/SPA and WWF Med. Page 90