How the Mediterranean is leading the way in protected area management

The Mediterranean is fast becoming a testing ground for new conservation standards. Through the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, a global initiative designed to recognise and promote the world’s best-managed protected and conserved areas, the region is showing how collaboration, training, and science-based tools can transform environmental protection.

From Cyprus to Tunisia, the past 18 months have seen an extraordinary push to strengthen protected areas. Since January 2024, the IUCN Mediterranean team has spearheaded a wave of activities:  Four major international meetings, including at the UN Ocean Conference and delivered nine in-person training sessions across countries such as Albania, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia.

At the heart of the process are the Expert Assessment Groups for the Green List (EAGLs), independent panels of specialists who evaluate sites. Over the past year, four EAGLs have been renewed and retrained in France, Italy, Spain, and the Maghreb, while a new group has been created to focus on Mediterranean marine sites, in coordination with existing EAGLs. In total, 42 EAGL members have received training, equipping them to assess protected areas and indirectly support managers in improving their performance.

IUCN

Mediterranean Marine Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL)

27 protected areas engaging in self-assessments

One of the most important achievements has been the use of Green List tools for self-evaluation. In total, 27 protected areas across Europe and North Africa have undertaken self-evaluations and in-depth trainings, identifying management gaps and opportunities for improvement. This process is helping sites chart a clear path towards higher effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

“The commitment of 27 protected areas to voluntarily assess and improve their management is a milestone for the Mediterranean and Europe. The Green List is more than a standard, it is a movement to inspire excellence in conservation. At IUCN Med, we are proud to support this journey, working hand in hand with protected areas, governments, and communities. Our goal is clear: to expand the Green List across the region and ensure that more sites can demonstrate not only their value for biodiversity but also their effectiveness in delivering long-term ecosystem services for local populations", commented Maher Mahjoub, director of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

In Spain, Sierra Nevada renewed its Green List certification in 2024, confirming its status as one of the world’s best-managed protected areas. Meanwhile, countries such as Libya, which officially joined the Green List initiative last year, are receiving targeted support to prepare their first protected areas for evaluation.

Building regional momentum

The Green List is not only about individual sites; it is about building a movement. Projects like Green List for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas  are developing tailored guidelines for the region’s unique ecosystems. Others, such as Tech4Nature, Ferma, the Gordon & Betty Moore-IUCN agreement, and Blue4All, are applying the Green List framework at different levels, from local pilot sites to international collaborations.

This regional momentum is also influencing Europe more broadly. Northern countries including Denmark, Iceland, and the UK are now exploring adoption of the Green List, signalling a growing appetite for shared standards in conservation.

Mediterranean shared path

As biodiversity faces unprecedented threats, the Mediterranean’s Green List experience shows what is possible when ambition meets cooperation. IUCN Med focused on building capacity and strengthening collaboration at all levels with protected areas managers and agencies, governments, EAGLs experts, Members from the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), and IUCN offices. By combining rigorous standards, peer-to-peer support, and a culture of learning, the region is helping protected areas not just survive but thrive and bring value to communities everywhere.

IUCN Med invites more protected areas across the Mediterranean and beyond to join the Green List process. Our team stands ready to provide guidance, training, and support to any site committed to improving management and achieving lasting conservation results.

Further information:

IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas

* This article has been prepared to showcase the actions led by IUCN Med and its partners in the Mediterranean, in the context of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, highlighting how the region’s experience can contribute to global conservation debates and solutions.