Survey on legal instruments and policies for conservation in the Mediterranean
Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire! This survey aims to explore the relationship between legal instruments and spatial governance processes at different levels that influence the implementation of policies for nature and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean region.
It is part of Dialogue4Nature, a governance project co-funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, under the broader Mission4Nature initiative, which also includes the Community4Nature project. Your input is highly valuable and will contribute to building knowledge that supports nature conservation efforts across the Mediterranean community.
About the Questionnaire
The questionnaire is divided into four sections:
- Area-Based Conservation (Protected Areas – Planning and Management)
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Governance and Implementation
This survey is intended for a wide range of experts from the Mediterranean region.
We kindly ask you to answer the questions that are relevant to your area of expertise – in all the closed answers you’ll find the option “Not Applicable (N/A)” so that it’s easy to skip. We also ask you to focus on one specific country, region, or local area, even if your experience is broader.
Important Information
- The data will be used exclusively for research purposes and published only in an aggregated and anonymous form.
- For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at: emamanca@regione.sardegna.it
Let’s get started!
GLOSSARY
“Legal instruments”: A legal instrument is a written legal document that records the formal execution of legally enforceable acts or agreements, and secures their associated legal rights, obligations, and duties. EU Directives and Regulations and Decisions, Laws, contracts, deeds, and statutes passed by competent legislatures are examples of legal instruments, as are, at the international level, treaties (such as the EU treaties) and conventions (such as the Barcelona Convention) ratified by States.
The main characteristics:
– generality: addressed to the generality of citizens, not to individuals;
– abstractness: provides for an abstract hypothesis (called a case), applicable to an indeterminate series of situations (concrete case);
– positivity: the rule is laid down by an authority empowered to do so;
– coercivity/coercibility: in the event of non-compliance, a penalty/sanction is envisaged.
Examples: Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration; Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora; the Constitution of Greece, Art. 24, stating that “the protection of the natural and cultural environment constitutes a duty of the State and a right of every person”; the Italian framework law on protected areas of 6 December 1991, No 394.
“Policy instruments”: Policy instrument refers to a governing tool or linkage between policy formulation and implementation that is used to achieve policy targets in resource management while considering social, political, economic, and administrative concerns.
Examples: EU White Papers, the documents containing proposals for European Union action in a specific area, such as the ‘White Paper on the future of Europe reflections and scenarios for the EU27 by 2025’; EU Green Papers, published to launch a consultation process at EU level; the ‘EU Green Deal’, approved in 2020, which envisages a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making the EU climate neutral in 2050.
“Climate change mitigation”: means reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This involves cutting greenhouse gases from main sources such as power plants, factories, cars, and farms. Forests, oceans, and soil also absorb and store these gases, and are an important part of the solution. (European Environment Agency).
“Climate change adaptation”: means adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects. It refers to changes in processes, practices and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change. In simple terms, countries and communities need to develop adaptation solutions and implement actions to respond to current and future climate change impacts. (United Nations Climate Change Convention – UNFCCC).
“Protected areas”: means a geographically defined area, which is designated or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives”. (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity- CBD, Article 2).
It may include areas protected under international, national or local legislation. For EU countries, it includes the Natura 2000 network of protected areas.
“Marine protected areas MCPAs)”: means defined area within or adjacent to the marine environment, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by legislation or other effective means, including custom, with the effect that its marine and/or coastal biodiversity enjoys a higher level of protection than its surroundings. (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity – CBD)
Marine and coastal protected areas (MCPAs) are universally recognized as key tools for the conservation and management of marine species, habitats and ecosystems.
“Other effective area-based conservation measure”: a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio–economic, and other locally relevant values. (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity – CBD).
“Mediterranean level”: refers to the scale of analysis that focuses on the characteristics, trends, and issues affecting the Mediterranean region.
“National level”: refers to the scale of analysis that focuses on the characteristics, trends, and issues affecting an entire nation.
“Regional level”: refers to an intermediary level of political authority between the state and local governments, characterized by specific political representation and public policies tailored to regional issues.
“Local level”: refers to the scale of analysis that focuses on the characteristics, trends, and issues affecting the local government units, which consist of local government institutional units such as municipalities.
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