ENSERES is a project seeking transformative changes with an integrated solution approach at transboundary level, both in and outside areas under legal protection, and involving public authorities, socio-economic actors and civil society organisations engaged in natural and urban areas. Specifically, it focuses on transferring and mainstreaming ecosystem-based management tools to implement integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) processes in multi-level conservation and territorial practices.

Description

The overall objective of ENSERES project in to mainstream available EBM tools in ICZM processes for preserving coastal and marine ecosystems as sustainable livelihoods for coastal urban communities through integrated management of human activities.

Human activities in Mediterranean coastal and marine areas are intensifying and pressures coming from blue economy plans are requiring new areas to develop. The environmental degradation and cumulative impacts on ecosystems and the services they provide, especially in and around critical areas for biodiversity and regions depending on their natural capital, are threatening the Mediterranean way of living.

Improving the socio-ecological resilience of vulnerable areas and local economies is a solution critically needed for long-term sustainability. Thus, ENSERES builds capacities to set common goals for public authorities and natural resource users, boosts sustainable financing mechanisms for co-management, and acts for the operative territorialisation of actions at various scales:

• Applying integrated management approaches to planning
• Spreading sustainable income-generation models for local communities

MedCities leads WP3 on Transfer, replication and upscaling. These activities focus on increasing the capacity of local and regional stakeholder, and support intervention models in pilot sites as examples of transformative actions. They are delivered through transfer and re-use of robust ICZM and ecosystem-based management tools and best practices in the project territories, capitalising on well-developed results of past and ongoing ENI’s and Interreg Med initiatives.

The transfer activities are implemented in the coastal territories of Sfax (Tunisia) and Tyre (Lebanon) through trainings, peer-to-peer exchange visits and technical assistance that support the re-use of the ENSERES toolkit. The transfer will receive financial support for demonstration actions that engage Civil Society Organisations and businesses to showcase the relevance of income-generating actions in the territories and to raise the awareness of all stakeholder linked to ICZM. The activities have a high rate of transferability potential, enabling the development of local and regional ecosystem-based management strategies, adapted to local/regional characteristics and constraints.

General objective  

Mainstream available EBM tools in ICZM processes for preserving coastal and marine ecosystems as sustainable livelihoods for coastal urban communities through integrated management of human activities

Specific objectives

Enhance the capacity of public authorities, private sector, and communities at local level to apply ecosystem-based management approaches for ICZM, pollution mitigation and restoration planning in coastal cities areas, based on co-management and participatory governance and implementation models.

Empower practitioners and local communities in Mediterranean Protected Areas to benefit from sustainable financing schemes and tools for effective management and protection of biodiversity, and strengthen the resilience of both these communities and ecosystems to global changes.

Mainstream priority actions to decision makers to implement the EcAp roadmap, ICZM Protocol, Post-2020 SAP BIO, Regional Strategy on MPAs & OECMs and Roadmap for Mediterranean MPAs building on lessons learnt and stronger and integrated networks of stakeholders in coastal and marine areas.

Beneficiary

Main beneficiaries  are the municipality of Sfax as well as other territories within the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) and Tyre Marine Reserve and surrounding areas, including the city of Tyre (Lebanon). Upscaling activities will benefit a wider array of municipla and marine protected area stakeholders.

Main SDGs addressed

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

GOAL 13: Climate Action

GOAL 14: Life Below Water

GOAL 15: Life on Land

GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal