Experts gather in Málaga to advance in coastal and marine restoration in the Mediterranean
A key outcome of the meeting will be practical recommendations for implementing the EU Nature Restoration Law at national, subnational, and local levels.
Over 150 representatives from scientific institutions, national, subnational, and local governments, and civil society organizations from 17 Mediterranean countries will convene in Málaga on 28-29 November. This meeting, part of the annual Institutional Dialogue series under the Interreg Euro-MED Mission for Natural Heritage, is coordinated by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. The encounter aims to promote collaboration among scientists, governments, and civil society, focusing on implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) in the Mediterranean region.
The meeting will produce a set of practical recommendations for implementing the NRL at all levels, towards complying with Target 2 of the Global Biodiversity Framework. This document will serve as a guide for aligning restoration efforts and driving impactful actions toward the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution in the Mediterranean.
Vedran Nikolić from the EU DG Environment will deliver the keynote address, setting the stage for productive discussions. The event, hosted at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography’s Málaga Centre, is organised back-to-back with the 6th International Marine Science Communication Conference (CommOcean), fostering synergies between restoration science and effective communication.
"We must strengthen collaboration across sectors to advance the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the European Nature Restoration Law in the Mediterranean context. The Natural Heritage Mission is an important initiative on how dialogue, leveraging networks, and fostering innovative governance can drive ecosystems restoration, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for both nature and people,” said Maher Mahjoub, Director of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.
National Restoration Plan for Spain
The first day of the event will focus on marine and coastal restoration, emphasising the importance of restoring at least 20% of EU land and sea areas by 2030, as outlined in the NRL. The day will also spotlight Spain’s marine restoration actions with the participation of the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and other relevant organisations, providing the current context and bearing in mind the preparation of the future National Restoration Plan for Spain, with its first draft expected by September 2026.
On the second day, participants will engage in a capacity-building session designed to improve the quality of science for governance. This session will provide insights to help projects and organisations in the complexities of decision-making in nature conservation.
The organisers have prioritised the inclusion of institutions from Southern Mediterranean countries, emphasising their essential role in addressing shared biodiversity challenges and promoting a more inclusive restoration approach.
This institutional dialogue event is organised under the Natural Heritage Mission which is funded by the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, with the participation of 16 partner institutions. It is part of a broader series of Institutional Dialogues to enhance collaboration for policy harmonisation and innovative governance practices. The Mission aims to create a Natural Heritage Community of Practice, providing a platform for sharing knowledge and exploring new collaboration opportunities in the field of nature conservation and towards meeting the global biodiversity targets in the Mediterranean region.
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