The IUCN Programme in North Africa for the period 2013‐2016 was prepared by the IUCN Centre For Mediterranean Cooperation in Malaga (IUCN‐Med), based on the main orientations of the IUCN Global Programme 2013‐2016, the outcomes of the IUCN North Africa Members Forum held in Rabat, Morocco (October,2011),and the different consultation, with IUCN members and partners In the region. It involves five countries (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) and is intended to be implemented as part of the IUCN’s Mediterranean Programme by the IUCN‐Med Centre in close collaboration with IUCN Members and with the relevant national authorities and international partner organisations.
The North African territory contains great marine and terrestrial biological diversity linked to its great geomorphological variability and the diversity of its fauna and fauna species. The region’s Ecosystems and landscapes are, also very diverse. However, while providing services that greatly Contribute to the economic and social well‐being of the populations, ecosystems in North Africa were subject to overexploitation and to other forms of irrational uses and management of natural resources. As a result, the status of ecosystems in the region is often reported as critical putting more challenges regarding the use and conservation of natural resources for these countries, whose economy is greatly dependent on natural resources conservation.
The recent political developments in the area are expected to have an impact on the governance Systems in the region including on the national policies related to natural resources. In this context, IUCN has the potential to influence the expected policy changes with the view of encouraging Sustainable and equitable uses of natural resources in the region.
Based on these considerations the IUCN’s North Africa Programme 2013‐2016 has 3 Programme Areas that are in full harmony with the orientations of the Global IUCN Programme. It aims to achieve 7 main results with the view of adding value to the conservation of nature in North Africa and of strengthening the role of the IUCN Members at national and regional levels.
Programme Area 1: Valuing and conserving nature in North Africa
Result 1.1: Credible and trusted knowledge for valuing and conserving biodiversity leads to extended representativeness and improved management of protected areas in North Africa
Result 1.2: Credible and trusted knowledge for valuing and conserving biodiversity leads to a better conservation of species and ecosystems in North Africa
Result 1.3: The objectives and targets set by relevant international conventions achieved in North Africa. With specific attention to revitalize the implementation of UNESCO World Heritage Convention in North Africa trough:
(i) providing assistance to countries in elaborating nomination files for a selected set of sites with the view to initiate the process of proposing them as candidate sites for the WH List,
(ii) supporting and assisting the North African sites already registered on the WH List to ensure conservation of their outstanding universal values that justified their inscription, and
(iii) Exploring opportunities for twinning between World Heritage Sites in North Africa and the Mediterranean region.
In this context, IUCN‐Med will collaborate with the IUCN Global Protected Areas and World Heritage Programmes, the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and the IUCN Regional Office for West Asia.
Programme Area 2: Effective and equitable governance of nature’s use in North Africa
Result 2.1: Improved governance arrangements over natural resource management in North Africa deliver rights‐based and equitable conservation with tangible livelihoods benefits
Programme Area 3: Deploying nature‐based solutions to global challenges in climate, food, development
Result 3.1: Local Knowledge and traditional agriculture and livestock farming systems
valued and used in adaptation to global changes, food security and development
Result 3.2: The economic value of ecosystems and biodiversity services evaluated and contributing to provide alternatives to the practices that negatively impact natural systems and the livelihoods of people who depend on them.
Result 3.3: Green economy policies and actions are enhanced through stronger integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in risk management in North Africa.
