It has become tradition in the Mediterranean to celebrate the Coast Day on September 25. This year the central regional celebration will be organised at the “Sheraton” hotel in Algiers, under the high patronage of H.E. Mr. Chérif Rahmani, the Algerian Minister of Land-use Planning and Environment, United Nations Ambassador for 2006 - International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Champion of the Earth for 2007 and President of the Foundation 'Deserts du Monde', as well as our "Ambassador for the Coast". Algeria kindly offered to host the central celebration wishing to keep the impetus provided by the MAP CAMP project concluded in 2006 and its follow-up activities, maintaining alive the interest in environmental issues among its population.
The theme of the celebration will be “The Protocol has Entered into Force”. Namely, after its signing in Madrid in January 2008, six countries have ratified the Protocol: France, Slovenia, Albania, Spain, the EU and Syria. Syria will enter history for being the sixth, and "enter-into-force", country for the ICZM Protocol.
Since a wide participation of Mediterranean experts involved in environmental issues is expected, this occasion will be used to organise the Workshop on ICZM Indicators in the North African Countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia). It has been envisaged by the programme of the PEGASO project, an ICZM project for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (2010-13). It is the FP7 project, supported by the EU. The main objectives of the project are: identifying and assessing the main threats in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea; looking at existing scientific data that can give more insight on what is happening; and bridging science with decision making. The workshop will be organised on September 26 at the “El Marsa” hotel, Sidi Fredj, Algiers with the principal objective of identifying the most appropriate ICZM indicators and how to put them to best use.
Celebrations will also be organised in several countries of the Mediterranean. We would like to take this opportunity to invite all institutions and organisations working for the sustainability of our coasts to join this initiative. Together, we can make the difference.
NEWS
2012-01-10Spain celebrates Coast Day 2011
In Spain, the Coast Day celebration was closely linked with the CAMP Levante de Almería Project, and the main activities were implemented in the CAMP area. The celebration did not take place only on September 25 but throughout the months of September and October 2011. There were a series of parallel activities to raise awareness and encourage environmental participation, with thematic meetings and encounters to bring Integrated Coastal Zone Management closer to the municipalities which form part of the CAMP Levante de Almería Project.
Some activities were implemented with environmental volunteers. On September 16 a panel was organised on the “Trash Free Seas: 2011 International Coastal Cleanup” Project, involving volunteers from all over the world to raise awareness about the global problem of marine debris. Three days later, cleaning of beaches and sea beds was organised at various locations in the Cabo de Gata –Níjar Biosphere Reserve, as well as an awareness-raising campaign, environmental education and open-air theatre in San Miguel de Cabo de Gata, as part of the campaign to disseminate good practices for sea and beach users.
A series of discussions and lectures were organised between September 22 and October 15 at various locations on relevant topics: Socio-economic evolution and its impact on coastal ecosystems in the Levante de Almería area. Future challenges; New challenges for public participation. The specific case of Water Management; The challenges of global change for the conservation of biodiversity in the Mediterranean; Coastal dynamics, human intervention and the land-sea public domain; The coastal economy: sustainable or sustained?
On September 23-24, a meeting was organised on the diffusion of best practices in the fishing sector.
An activity that attracted considerable attention was photography contest. The topic was “The Coast of Levante de Almería: a Coast which is Healthy, Productive, Unique and Sustainable”. Entries could be submitted between August 26 and October 14. Four prizes were envisaged: 1st prize; best landscape photograph; best photograph representing ethnographic or cultural heritage, or a form of life; best photograph showing best practices in the Levante de Almería area.
A number of activities in the nature were organised, such as introduction to diving for persons with physical disabilities or learning difficulties, night-time walks at Cabo de Gata, and environmental education for secondary school students.
If you wish to watch a movie on CD celebration in Spain click here
2011-10-25Mediterranean Coast Day celebration 2011
Following the proposal of the Algerian Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment (MATE), the 2011 regional Coast Day celebration was organised in Algiers, under the high patronage of H.E. Mr. Chérif Rahmani, the Minister of MATE. More than 500 participants, including a number of high-ranking guests, namely, representatives of other relevant ministries, ambassadors of Mediterranean countries and representatives of international institutions operating in Algeria, as well as representatives of local authorities and institutions, NGOs and the civil society attended the seminar which was held at the Palace of Nations, and personally chaired by the Minister.
On the occasion of the seminar, the MAP Co-ordinator and PAP/RAC Director presented the activities carried out by their respective organisations with special reference to the ICZM Protocol for the Mediterranean and the Action Plan for its implementation. Like in previous joint actions, this issue did not fail to get the Minister’s support.
After the seminar, a visit was organised to the Province of Tipasa where the participants took part in the rich promotional programme with children, divers, sailors and other sea and coast lovers. The Coast Day celebration enjoyed great media coverage.
