MedCities guided the discussions around the transfer and replicating activities’ work plan. The city of Sfax and surrounding areas of ecological importance will be one of the partner territories fully engaged in these activities.

The project ENSERES (ENhancing Socio-Ecological RESilience in Mediterranean coastal areas) funded by the European Union under the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation program ENI CBC Med, has kicked off in Malaga bringing together international organizations engaged in research, environmental protection, and public authorities from five countries to start the work plan for the next 24 months, until September 2023.

The project launches a new partnership among Mediterranean cities and marine protected area networks. The objective of this new collaboration is to transfer of monitoring and management knowledge and techniques and digital tools across the Mediterranean shores. The knowledge about ecosystems and biodiversity and the environmental threats and pressures they face will provide the basis for the adoption of protection and management measures with an integrated approach, in particular in Sfax (Tunisia) and in Tyre (Lebanon).

The ENSERES project for improving the ecological and social resilience of coastal communities in the Mediterranean area is led by ETC-UMA and brings together partners as MedCities. MedPAN, the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas in the  Mediterranean (UNEP MAP SPA-RAC), MedSea Foundation, the Natural Reserve of Tyre in Lebanon and the Sfax Municipal authority in Tunisia together with a wide array of key associated partners.

The project, with a total budget of 1.1 M €, is funded by the European Union under the ENI CBC Med program and will run for two years.