Meeting of Experts on the finalization of the Classification of benthic marine habitat types for the Mediterranean region and the Reference List of Marine and Coastal Habitat Types in the Mediterranean (Rome, Italy, 22-23 January 2019)

The meeting, organized by the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) of UN Environment/MAP, was attended by 18 Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols and two observer organizations. The meeting benefitted from a very active and substantive contribution of all participants representing the Contracting Parties and the partner organizations. The objectives of the meeting were to review and transmit to the SPA/BD Thematic Focal Points meeting: a) the Classification of benthic marine habitat types for the Mediterranean region, and, b) the Reference List of Marine and Coastal Habitat Types in the Mediterranean. Both lists were reviewed in depth and approved leading to an important achievement for marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean. Following its formal approval by the forthcoming SPA/BD Thematic Focal Points meeting, both lists will be submitted in a draft decision for review by COP 21 of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols (Naples Italy, 2-5 December 2019). It should be noted that the reference list of marine and coastal habitats in the Mediterranean is of major importance for the promotion of conservation actions and the establishment of MPAs and/or SPAMIs.