SPA/RAC is organizing the 9th Meeting of SAPBIO National Correspondents in Barcelona, on 24 February 2023, to discuss future opportunities to implement the priority actions identified in the Post-2020 SAPBIO.

While there have been efforts and commitments made to appropriately manage natural resources, current and predicted threats call for urgent action to ensure a sustainable Mediterranean, with increased and improved protection of marine and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity, transitioning to a sustainable blue economy.

The Post-2020 SAPBIO, adopted in December 2021, was elaborated by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC in close consultation with the Mediterranean countries and regional partners and is the Mediterranean’s strategic blueprint to tackle biodiversity loss in the region and to halt “business as usual” among concerned actors.

The Post-2020 SAPBIO has been developed within the framework of the Barcelona Convention to serve as a common framework facilitating regional cooperation and collaboration for the protection of marine and coastal biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural resources.

To drive the implementation of the « very high priority actions » identified in the Post-2020 SAPBIO, SPA/RAC elaborated a resource mobilization strategy and project proposals, which were first presented and discussed at the SAPBIO Advisory Committee meeting on 30 January 2023, and will be finalized after the 9th SAPBIO National Correspondents meeting.

These documents will then be presented at a Donor Conference, to be organized on 16 March 2023 in Paris, France, with the purpose of welcoming potential donors and establishing a common platform to support Mediterranean countries in the implementation of the Post-2020 SAPBIO.