Photo: Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend
Sustainable development of transboundary areas belonging to Natura2000 and Habitats of Common Interest between Andalucia and Morocco
Background
By their close geographical location, Spain and Morocco share natural resources of high value. Environmental connectivity is a real need in nature conservation, though often different tools are used by each country for biodiversity protection. In the framework of the Spain-External Borders Programme for Cooperation Across borders (Poctefex), the TransHabitat project aims at highlighting common habitats of high interest on the two shores and unifying criteria for a joint environmental management. The project will also be an excellent opportunity for a social, economical, agropecuarial development across countries that is sustainable and gives value to common natural heritage of high interest within the TransHabitat project area.
This project will be complemented by another Poctefex initiative dealing with the area of the Alboran Sea for shared nature management, in which IUCN-Med is also a partner.
IUCN Med’s role
IUCN-Med will be an active partner in the project in collaboration with different departments of Andalucia’s regional ministry (Junta de Andalucía), the Almería University and the Pablo de Olavide University in Spain, and the Haut Commissariat des Eaux et Foret et à la Lutte contre la Désertification, the Association Heritage, Development and Citizenzhip and the Association for the Environment and Development in Talassentane in Morocco. IUCN-Med will bring its science and expertise to carry out the economic, technical and temporal establishment of the project actions and will have a key role in the transfer of information and competences between the members contributing to the success of the project.
Main objectives
The main objective of the Transhabitat project is to promote the socioeconomic development and improve the territorial connectivity between Spain and Morocco, to foster environmental sustainability and risk prevention; highlight the values of common natural heritage and encourage the cultural dialogue and cooperation in youth education and the integration of immigrants.
Specific objectives
- Foster transnational relations between Andalucía and Morocco
- Unify management/conservation/environmental restoration measures in transboundary hatitats
- Involve the citizen in the management/conservation of environment in Transhabitat
- Improve the ecological balance in the project areas
- Enhance the professional capacity building strategies on both shores
- Foster the creation and maintenance of employment
- Promote emerging working sectors
- Encourage a sustainable tourism and the connectivity between Andalucia and Morocco
- Improve commercialization channels in Transhabitat
- Enhance the management of livestock, agricultural and fisheries exploitation
- Put into value the immaterial heritage of Transhabitat
Action areas
Priority areas under this project include Andalusian sites in the Natura2000 network and Moroccan Areas of Biological and Ecological Interest within the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve, namely Cádiz, Málaga and the Tanger-Tetouan region (Chefchaouen, Larache, Tetouan and Tanger – Assilah).
Area of influence: Andalusia areas in the Natura2000 network and Moroccan Areas of Biological and Ecological Interest whose environmental, socioeconomic, agricultural and livestock management influences directly or indirectly in the priority areas. These include the eligible programme areas of Almeria, Granada, Huelva, Cordoba, Jaen, Seville, Tanger-Tetouan area (Fahs Bni Makada), Outjada-Angad Oriental Region (Jerada, Figuig Taourit, Berkane, Nador) and Taza-Alheceima-Taounate region.
Partners
Spain: Consejerías de Medio Ambiente, de Agricultura y Pesca, de Cultura y de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa de la Junta de Andalucía; IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation; Universidad de Almería; Universidad Pablo de Olavide.
Morocco: Haut Commissariat eaux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte contre la Désertification; Association Talassentane Environnement et Développement (ATED), Asociación Patrimonio, Desarrollo y Ciudadanía.
Duration
From 01/01/2012 until the 31/12/2013 - 24 months.
Donors
The main donor for this project is the European Union through the European Fund for Regional Development.
Budget
5.605.842 €
For more details, please contact Marcos Valderrabano
IUCN-Med receives core support from the Ministry of Environment of the Junta de Andalucia, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
