During their last meeting in Almeria, Spain (15-18 Jan. 2008), the Parties to the Barcelona Convention adopted the inclusion of four marine protected areas (MPAs) from Italy in the List of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI): Miramare, Plemmirio, Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo, and Torre Guaceto. These four now join the Pelagos Sanctuary and 16 coastal MPAs from France, Italy, Spain and Tunisia, bringing to a total of 21 the SPAMI List, and significantly contributing to a greater geographical balance for the protected area system within the Barcelona network. Hopefully this development will provide a further stimulus to eastern and southern Mediterranean nations to establish MPAs in their waters to be proposed as further SPAMIs in the near future, thus completing the geographical balancing process.
(photograph: Tavolara, from www.parks.it)
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For more information: www.rac-spa.org
