The project “Tunisia Towards 30×30” was officially launched in Tunis on February 13. Its objective is to strengthen and expand Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs) and improve their effective management.
Tunisia is a country that hosts rich marine and coastal biodiversity. With protected areas currently covering less than 3% of its marine territory, the country has considerable potential to strengthen its protection network and contribute to the 30×30 target of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Protected areas constitute a key pillar of biodiversity conservation strategies, particularly within the framework of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2018–2030, aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The national target defined by the strategy aims to strengthen the network of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas by increasing their territorial coverage through the creation of new areas of ecological importance and high biological diversity.
Tunisia has a significant number of marine protected areas or sites managed with a marine component (18 sites). The majority are classified as Ramsar sites (15 sites), while three are designated as Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI).
In addition, six sites are currently in the process of being established as MCPAs: the Kneiss Islands, the La Galite Archipelago, the Kuriat Islands, Zembra and Zembretta, the northern islets of the Kerkennah Archipelago, and Ras R’mel in Djerba.
The “Tunisia 30×30” project, which will run for three and a half years, aims to accelerate Tunisia’s contribution to the global goal of protecting 30% of land and 30% of marine areas by 2030. This will be achieved through the expansion, strengthening, and effective and equitable management of a coherent network of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas.
The targeted MCPA network extends along the Tunisian coastline, covering areas of major ecological importance. From north to south, the La Galite Archipelago, the Zembra Archipelago and Jbel Haouaria, as well as the Kuriat Islands, represent true sanctuaries for numerous marine species. Further south, the northern islets of the Kerkennah Archipelago, the Kneiss Islands, Ras R’Mal, and the Boughrara Lagoon complete this strategic network, reflecting the remarkable diversity of Tunisia’s coastal ecosystems.
The objective is also to ensure that these areas are legally recognized, properly managed, and fully integrated into their socio-economic context. The project therefore represents an effective instrument to protect the coastline, ensure its sustainable management, and strengthen its resilience.
According to Atef Limam, Marine Protected Areas Project Manager at SPA/RAC, “The initiative is fully in line with Tunisia’s commitments under the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean, in particular the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD Protocol). At SPA/RAC, we firmly believe that effective conservation is based on rigorous planning, inclusive governance, and strong territorial anchoring. Protecting Tunisia’s biological wealth also means strengthening livelihoods and the resilience of coastal communities.”
The project also aims to promote the autonomy of local communities and ensure the contribution of civil society to conservation objectives.
Led by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), the project is made possible thanks to funding from Oceans 5, a project sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
Technical expertise will be provided by a coalition of leading organizations: the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC), operating under the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, and WWF North Africa will contribute their expertise to this national ambition. At the national level, the Tunisian Ministry of the Environment, a governmental member of IUCN, and the Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL) will coordinate the implementation of the project.