The Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) is an environmental organization established in Tunis in 1985 following a decision of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention).
As one of the seven Components of the United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), its mission consists in supporting the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in the implementation of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD Protocol).
The Centre works in close collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations for the conservation and sustainable management of threatened species, ecosystems and areas of particular natural and cultural value in the Mediterranean Sea.
SPA/RAC works mainly in- supporting the Mediterranean countries to create and better manage marine protected areas and Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance in the Mediterranean (SPAMIs) including areas beyond national jurisdiction;
- inventorying, mapping and monitoring coastal and marine species and habitats to complete the knowledge base on biodiversity;
- facilitating and encouraging the exchange of scientific and technical information through the organization of symposiums, conferences, forums, and workshops; preparing and implementing action plans and strategies on biodiversity conservation; elaborating guidelines and other technical tools on the conservation and management of species, habitats and areas;
- creating and updating databases of specially protected areas and biodiversity providing capacity-building and technical support.
Funding
The principal recurrent funding of SPA/RAC activities and staffing is provided through the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF).
The Tunisian government contributes with the hosting of the Centre and the assumption of responsibility for part of the staff.
Additional funding is sought for actions that are clearly defined in space and time, either in response to international calls for proposals or through spontaneous proposals from sponsors, including voluntary contributions from countries, international institutions, donor agencies and the private sector.
Media
Key moments in the SPA/RAC history: a timeline
1972
World
1st Earth Summit (Stockholm)
Creation of UNEP
1974
world
Regional Seas Programme
1975
Mediterranean :
Creation of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP)
1976
Mediterranean :
Adoption of the Barcelona Convention
1982
Mediterranean :
Adoption of the Specially Protected Areas Protocol (Geneva Protocol)
1985
Mediterranean :
Creation SPA/RAC in Tunis
1987
Mediterranean :
Monk seal Action Plan
1988
Mediterranean :
1st Meeting of SPA/RAC focal points (Athens)
1989
Mediterranean :
Marine turtles Action Plan
1991
Mediterranean :
Cetaceans Action Plan
1992
Mediterranean :
Host country agreement for SPA/RAC
World
Rio summit – Adoption of the CBD and Agenda 21
1995
Mediterranean :
Amendment of the Barcelona Convention
MAP phase II
New SPA/BD Protocol
1996
Mediterranean :
Adoption of the 3 annexes of SPA/BD protocol
1999
Mediterranean :
Entry into force of the SPA/BD protocol
Marine vegetation Action Plan
2000
Mediterranean :
Adoption of the Principles of the Ecosystem approach (CBD COP5)
1st Mediterranean symposium on marine vegetation (Ajaccio)
2001
Mediterranean :
List of SPAMIs
1st Mediterranean conference on marine turtles (Rome)
2002
Mediterranean :
MedMPA project
2003
Mediterranean :
Marine birds Action Plan
Non-indigenous species Action Plan
Cartilaginous fishes Action Plan
Adoption of the Strategic action programme for the conservation of biological diversity in the Mediterranean region (SAPBIO)
2nd Mediterranean symposium on marine vegetation (Athens)
2004
Mediterranean :
SAPBIO launch
2005
Mediterranean :
1st Symposium on the conservation of marine and coastal birds (Vilanova i la Geltrú)
2nd Mediterranean conference on marine turtles (Kemer)
International workshop on Mediterranean cartilaginous fish (Ataköy)
2006
Mediterranean :
MedPosidonia project
Mediterranean workshop on red coral (Tabarka)
2007
Mediterranean :
3rd Mediterranean symposium on marine vegetation (Marseille)
2008
Mediterranean :
Coralligenous Action Plan
MedOpenSeas project
3rd Mediterranean conference on marine turtles (Yasmine Hammamet)
2009
Mediterranean :
1st Mediterranean symposium on the Conservation of the Coralligenous and other calcareous bio-concretions (Tabarka)
Adoption of the Regional working programme for the coastal and marine protected areas in the Mediterranean Sea including the high sea
2010
Mediterranean :
MedMPAnet project
4th Mediterranean symposium on marine vegetation (Yasmine Hammamet)
2011
Mediterranean :
4th Mediterranean conference on marine turtles (Naples)
World
Adoption of the Strategic plan for biodiversity & Aichi Targets (CBD COP10)
2013
Mediterranean :
MedKeyHabitats project
Dark habitats Action Plan
Monk seal strategy
2014
Mediterranean :
5th Mediterranean symposium on marine vegetation (Portorož)
2nd Mediterranean symposium on the conservation of the coralligenous and other calcareous bio-concretions (Portorož)
1st Mediterranean symposium on the dark habitats (Portorož)
2015
Mediterranean :
12TH meeting of SPA/RAC focal points (Athens) – 30th anniversary of SPA/RAC
2nd Symposium on the conservation of marine and coastal birds (Hammamet)
2016
Mediterranean :
Adoption of the Roadmap for a comprehensive coherent network of well- managed MPAs to achieve Aichi target 11 in the Mediterranean/p>
Adoption of IMAP and the MAP’s 2016-2021 Mid-Term Strategy
Adoption of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development
