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:

  1. Area-Based Conservation (Protected Areas – Planning and Management)
  2. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
  3. Climate Change Adaptation
  4. 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.

"*" indicates required fields

General 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
Name*
Please, specify your specific department, e.g. Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Environmental department, Climate change Adaptation Sector
i) Your main expertise*
k) Your activities are within*
Even if your expertise is wide-ranging, please reply by referring to one single specific country, region or local area. Specify which one (ex.: Italy, Sardinia or Cagliari).

A. AREA - BASED CONSERVATION (Protected areas - planning and management)

1. The G20 Leaders' Declaration in Rio de Janeiro of November 18-19, 2024 clearly states that oceans and seas are of critical importance for sustainable development. Does your country fully recognize adequate funding, efforts, planning and management to support this vital goal?**

1.1 To what extent has your country, through legal instruments, recognized and implemented measures to protect the marine environment and to conserve and sustainably use marine resources and biodiversity?*
Please, indicate the degree of the recognition and implementation on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is the minimum and 5 the maximum
3.What percentage of the marine and coastal protected areas are fully or partially included in the Natura 2000 network?*
For EU member states only. Non EU-member states, please tick N/A

4. What types of legal instruments are employed in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures?*
Please indicate how frequently legal instruments are used in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures? On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates rarely and 5 indicates frequently. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates rarely and 5 indicates frequently.
4 What legal instruments are employed to implement and manage area-based conservation measures? 4.a Internationally derived legal instruments, such as Ramsar sites*
Please indicate how frequently Internationally legal instruments are used in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures? On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates rarely and 5 indicates frequently.
4.b EU-derived legal instruments such as Natura 2000 network (for EU Member States only)
Please indicate how frequently EU-derived legal instruments are used in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures?
4.c National law of establishment and management*
Please indicate how frequently national law legal instruments are used in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures? On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates rarely and 5 indicates frequently.
4.d Regional/local law of establishment and management of protected natural areas*
Please indicate how frequently regional/local legal instruments are used in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures? On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates rarely and 5 indicates frequently.
4.f Other effective area-based conservation measures*
Please indicate how frequently other effective area-based conservation measures are used in your country to design, implement and manage area-based conservation measures. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 indicates rarely and 5 indicates frequently.
6. Does your administration have tools to assess the management effectiveness of Protected Areas (PAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)?*

7. Which authorities or levels of government are responsible for implementing these conservation and planning measures?*

7.1 Are there coordination mechanisms between different levels/sectors?*

7.2 Has the competent authority formally recognized or started identifying Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)?*

8. What percentage of the total number of marine and coastal protected areas have adopted and implemented management plans in your country?*

10. Are there specific financial instruments in relation to marine and coastal areas’ nature and biodiversity conservation?*
11. Which institutions are the main providers of the financial instruments adopted in your country in relation to nature and biodiversity conservation in marine and coastal areas?*

11.1 What are the main sources of the financial instruments adopted in your country in relation to nature and biodiversity conservation in marine and coastal areas?*

11.2 Are financial instruments adequate?*
Please, define the degree on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is the minimum and 5 the maximum

B. INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT - ICZM

12 Are there specific examples of the principles and objectives of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) being taken into account in your regional and national strategies and plans?*

Please provide examples
13. Are there specific examples of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) adoption and implementation in the management policies of marine and coastal protected areas in your country?*

Please provide examples

C. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

14. What is the degree of implementation of climate change adaptation policies in your country?*
Please indicate the degree of implementation in your country on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is the minimum and 5 the maximum.
15. Has your country adopted a climate change adaptation strategy or plan?*

15.1 If yes, at what level?

16. Has your country adopted other specific policies and hence regulations in relation to climate change adaptation?*

Based on INTERNATIONAL sources. Please put "N/A" if not applicable.
Based on NATIONAL sources. Please put "N/A" if not applicable.
Based on REGIONAL sources. Please put "N/A" if not applicable.
Based on LOCAL sources. Please put "N/A" if not applicable.
18. Are these financial instruments adequate for their objectives?*

19. In synergy with the above-mentioned climate change adaptation policies and legislation, has your country adopted specific energy policies and regulations at national and local/regional level to mitigate climate change (win-win measure)?*

19.1 If yes, at what level?

20. Does your country have specific climate change adaptation regulations in place at national and local/regional levels with a focus on marine and coastal areas?*

20.1 If yes, at what level?

21. Has your country adopted specific nature and biodiversity protection policies and regulations at national and local/regional level to reduce climate change impacts, particularly for marine and coastal areas?*

21.1 If yes, at what level?

22. Has your country adopted specific energy policies and regulations at national and local/regional level to reduce climate change impacts, particularly for marine and coastal areas?*

22.1 If yes, at what level?

D. GOVERNANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION

If not applicable, please mark "N/A" so you can continue.
24. Are ecosystem restoration and Nature-based Solutions, linked to sustainable economic opportunities, promoted in your country?*

25. Nature restoration represents an important opportunity to support nature conservation and restore the already degraded ecosystems. Do you see any risk of misuse of the ecosystem restoration?*

26.a Environmental protection legislation has not led to the recovery of important ecosystems and habitats.*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.b The establishment of marine and coastal protected areas currently provides adequate protection*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.c There is effective cooperation among competent bodies responsible for the same protected natural area*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.d Coordination between climate change policy and marine protection policy is successfully practiced*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.e Renewable energy development ensures both environmental and social sustainability*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.f Budgetary resources for nature conservation measures meet the needs*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.g Responsible officials and experts possess the necessary expertise to carry out conservation tasks effectively*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.h An emergency-based approach is commonly used in the day-to-day management of activities*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.i There is a direct connection between the management of marine-coastal protected areas and the principles, objectives, measures, and processes of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.j The climate change strategy and ecological protection network are fully implemented, supported by a coherent and coordinated set of measures.*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
26.k Research is planned to support broad-based knowledge. It is not sectoral, dependent on limited funding or tied to individual projects*
Please, indicate the degree of implementation on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 represents "Not implemented" and 5 represents "Fully implemented"
27. Has your area adopted a Sustainable Development Strategy - localising the 2030 Agenda?*

27.1 If yes, at what level?

27.3 Which of the following areas in the Sustainable Development Strategy have you implemented?*
28. Have participatory processes been used in the design, drafting or implementation of the above legal or policy instruments?*

Please describe or write "N/A" so you could continue.
Please describe or write "N/A" so you could continue.
29. What form of participation was used?*

Consent privacy notice*