Interreg Euro-MED project MPA4Change

Project partners:

• CSIC - Institute of Marine Sciences
• Consortium of management of Portofino Marine Protected Area
• University of Vigo
• DAN Europe Foundation
• Public institution Brijuni National Park
• National Research Council (UfM)
• EUROPARC Federation
• University of Algarve
• Marine Protected Area of Montenegro
• AP Marine Environmental Consultancy Ltd

Project description:

The Mediterranean Sea is considered a hot spot for climate change. The impacts of climate change are interacting with other environmental changes caused by human activities (e.g. overfishing, habitat loss and pollution). As a result, Mediterranean marine ecosystems and human livelihoods that rely on them are being affected. To contribute to reverse this severe degradation trend, MPA4Change will look to enhance the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and restoration as key Nature Based Solution for climate change adaptation by deploying a multi-level approach, from local MPA actions to Mediterranean strategies, in view to ensure its long-term sustainability and capacity.

To do so MPA4Change will work on 3 main axis:

1) promote and fine-tune consolidated tools for risk assessment, monitoring, data sharing, restoration, citizen science, participatory approaches and defining adaptation action plans, communication, 2) support the Policy dialogue and coordinate with EU, Mediterranean and Global ICZM/MSP Strategies (e.g., FAO/GFCM, UNEP/MPA, RAC/SPA, UfM)

3) develop a Roster of experts to fully operationalize the implementation of policies and tools ensuring the long-term sustainability and capacity for adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

The final expected main outcome of MPA4Change is to enhance the resilience of Mediterranean coastal areas in view to support the good environmental status and sustainable use of marine ecosystems. Fully aligned with Interreg Euro-MED specific objective 2.4’s challenges, MPA4Change will increase the capacity to adapt to climate change by i) enhancing the effectiveness of MPAs and restoration, ii) improving the coordination and cooperation of stakeholders across borders to tackle them and iii) reinforcing raise awareness and environmental culture to climate change.

Overall objectives:

The overall objective of MPA-CHANGE is to reinforce the role of MPAs as nature-based solutions for the implementation of EcAp to Climate Change adaptation:

Specific objectives:

1. Fine-tune and transfer the toolkit of MPA Governance plan including monitoring and adaption solution to the Climate change. At least 2 new takers MPA (from the eastern Mediterranean area: Bulgaria and Cyprus) will implement such solutions under the mentoring of experienced MPAs (Portofino and Brijuni);

2. Promote the role of MPAs as central tools for the adaptation to and mitigation of CC impacts in the Mediterranean, through Capitalization and mainstreaming with recommendations to promote the role of MPAs as nature-based solutions for the implementation of EcAp to CC adaptation;

3. Mediterranean region Ensure the long-term sustainability of the adaptation of MPA to face the Climate Change. Even if MPA managers and regional institutions are increasingly required to tackle the effects of CC in their vulnerable territories, few actors have the skills, capacities, or information needed to ensure monitoring and adaptation to related impacts. The partnership will address these problems by setting and structuring a Mediterranean pool of experts that will be available to act as advisors with those MPAs that aim at adapting their governance plans and implementing the MPA-change tool kit.

Activities and work packages:

WP1 – TRANSFERRING

1. Fine-tuning of solutions for Climate Change and Restoration
2. Training and knowledge-transfer programme
3. Transferring and Mentoring
4. Data sharing via global platforms

WP2 - LIAISING AND MAINSTREAMING

2.1 Synergies and capitalization

2.2. Policy advocacy

2.3 Mediterranean North-South and South liaising and cooperation

2.4 Communication and outreach

WP3 - LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND CAPACITY

3.1 MP4Change Roster: selection of members

3.2 MP4Change Roster: governance and financial model

3.3 Euro-Med Academy and Community activities

3.4 Carbon Footprint Assessment and Offsetting

Strengthening Mediterranean MPAs Through Collaboration and Training

MPA4Change Brijuni training builds skills and networks for climate-resilient Marine Protected Areas

The Mediterranean Sea is warming nearly three times faster than the global average, threatening marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. In response, the MPA4Change project is empowering Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to act as Nature-Based Solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation. A key milestone in this effort was the MPA4Change Training on Climate Change Adaptation in Marine Protected Areas, held from 22 to 26 September at Brijuni National Park, Croatia.

Collaboration at the heart of the training

The Brijuni training brought together 18 participants from Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Türkiye, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, and Morocco, representing a broad spectrum of expertise and institutions. Participants included MPA managers, marine scientists, conservation practitioners, policy advisors, and researchers from public institutions, universities, research centers, and NGOs.

This diversity created a rich network of knowledge and experience, allowing participants to exchange insights, discuss challenges, and share best practices across borders. The training emphasized collaboration not only among participants but also between institutions, fostering a Mediterranean-wide community capable of supporting each other in implementing effective, science-based MPA management.

Hands-on learning and field experience

Hands-on learning and field experience

Over five intensive days, participants applied three core MPA4Change toolkits through classroom sessions, group exercises, and a field trip in Brijuni National Park. The field trip highlighted the beauty of the park and an MPA that had implemented the MPA4Change tools, providing a tangible example of how these tools can enhance conservation, climate adaptation, and management effectiveness.

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) – 23–24 September 2025

This training provided participants with the knowledge and skills to apply the CVA Tool in MPAs. By the end, participants were able to:

• Assess the socio-ecological resilience of MPAs to climate change threats.
• Collect and organize socio-ecological data for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indicators.
• Use templates and the online CVA tool to calculate vulnerability scores and interpret results.
• Apply confidence levels and weighting to improve robustness.
• Interpret results to inform decision-making in developing a Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Participatory Approaches – 25 September 2025

This session focused on practical skills to engage stakeholders in MPA management and adaptation planning. Participants learned to:

• Identify key stakeholder groups and their roles.
• Build trust and foster dialogue among local users, fishers, divers, administrators, and policymakers.
• Design participatory processes such as citizen science, co-management initiatives, and capacity-building activities.
• Integrate stakeholder perspectives into adaptation plans and ecosystem-based management strategies.

Adaptation and Mitigation Plans – 25 September 2025

This training equipped participants with tools to design and implement Climate Change Adaptation Plans in MPAs while integrating mitigation measures. By the end, participants could:

• Understand the purpose and essential elements of an adaptation plan.
• Follow key steps: scoping, vulnerability assessment, identifying and prioritizing actions, implementation, and monitoring.
• Develop site-specific adaptation and mitigation measures suitable for local ecological and social contexts.
• Integrate adaptation actions into existing MPA management frameworks.
• Apply criteria to prioritize actions based on feasibility, impact, and urgency.
• Plan for implementation, identifying resources, timelines, and stakeholder roles.
• Set indicators to monitor progress and communicate results for continued co-management support.

Field exercises allowed participants to calculate a vulnerability assessment index for a Marine Protected Area, reinforcing the practical application of the toolkits and connecting classroom learning with real-world management.

Building a Mediterranean network of climate-resilient MPAs

The Brijuni training highlighted that effective MPA management depends not only on technical knowledge but also on strong networks of people and institutions. Participants left with enhanced skills, practical tools, and connections across the Mediterranean, creating a community of practice equipped to support each other in enhancing the climate resilience of MPAs.

The participants and trainers

About the Trainers:

Elena Ojea

Elena Ojea is a senior researcher at the University of Vigo, currently leading the CLOCK Project: Climate Adaptation to Shifting Stocks, funded by an ERC Starting Grant from the European Research Council. She holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Economics. Since 2018, she has also been supported by the Oportunius Program of the Galician government. Elena’s work focuses on climate change adaptation and the socio-ecological resilience of marine systems.

Silvia Rayo

Silvia Rayo holds a degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Barcelona, where she also completed an Erasmus+ stay at the University of the Azores, and a Master’s in Integrated Management of Coastal Areas from the University of Cádiz. Her work focuses on climate change adaptation in MPAs and stakeholder engagement in participatory processes.

Andrea Blaškovć

Andrea Blašković holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Zagreb. She has professional experience as a marine researcher in Croatia and Italy, and for the past eight years has been working as a senior expert adviser for nature protection at Brijuni National Park. Her work is focused on marine conservation, with emphasis on research, climate change adaptation, conservation management, and stakeholder engagement.

Lorenzo Merotto

Lorenzo Merotto holds a Master’s degree in Marine Science from University of Genoa. He has research experience at the CNR (National Research Council), has worked as an aquarist in Genoa and in environmental education associations. From 2017 is part of the staff of the Portofino Marine Protected Area, mainly dealing with the management of European projects, monitoring, climate change, and stakeholder involvement.

Andrea Blašković, mag. oecol.

Senior expert adviser for nature protection

[email protected]