Trieste, Italy – 30 June 2026 – Representatives of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMIs), national authorities, regional organizations, scientists and conservation practitioners from across the Mediterranean gathered in Trieste for the fifth edition of SPAMI Day, organized by the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) of UNEP/MAP, in collaboration with the Miramare Marine Protected Area.
Hosted by the Miramare Marine Protected Area, which is managed by WWF Italy, the event provided a unique platform to exchange experiences, showcase practical solutions and strengthen cooperation across the SPAMI network, which brings together Mediterranean flagship marine and coastal protected areas under the Barcelona Convention.
The first day addressed one of the most critical challenges in marine conservation: ecosystem restoration. Through expert presentations and panel discussions, participants highlighted that effective restoration starts with reducing pressures on marine environments and must be grounded in robust science, long-term monitoring, and adaptive management. Discussions also stressed the need to integrate climate change considerations into restoration strategies, while underlining that restoration should complement, rather than replace, effective conservation measures. Sustained investment and regional collaboration were also identified as key conditions for long-term restoration success.
“Successful restoration is not only about restoring species or habitats. It is about restoring the ecological functions and ecosystem services that healthy marine ecosystems provide to nature and to people,” said Saul Ciriaco, Scientific Manager of the Miramare Marine Protected Area.
The afternoon sessions illustrated the added value of the SPAMI List through practical experiences in sustainable financing, governance, species conservation and transboundary cooperation. Speakers emphasized how the SPAMI network enables marine protected areas to learn from one another, strengthen their capacities and develop coordinated responses to shared conservation challenges.
Participants also highlighted the Pelagos Sanctuary as a leading example of transboundary cooperation under the Barcelona Convention. In the Mediterranean context, and in line with the provisions of the SPA/BD Protocol, marine protected areas and SPAMIs can extend beyond national jurisdictions. The Pelagos Sanctuary demonstrates how countries can collaborate effectively to implement conservation measures for highly mobile species and shared marine ecosystems. Speakers stressed that marine ecosystems do not follow political borders, making regional cooperation essential to achieving lasting conservation results across the Mediterranean.
“A strong and effective SPAMI Network means stronger protection for the Mediterranean. Cooperation at all levels is what transforms individual protected areas into a regional force for conservation,” said Asma Kheriji, Programme Officer at SPA/RAC.
The discussions were complemented on the second day by a field visit to the Miramare Marine Protected Area (designated as a SPAMI in 2008), offering participants first-hand insight into four decades of marine conservation, scientific monitoring, environmental education and restoration initiatives. The visit illustrated how long-term management, research and stakeholder engagement can translate regional commitments into concrete conservation action.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from SPAMI managers and partners to strengthen cooperation across the Mediterranean and continue promoting effective management, ecosystem restoration and knowledge exchange through the SPAMI network.
Today, the SPAMI List brings together 39 of the Mediterranean’s most remarkable marine and coastal protected areas. Recognized under the Barcelona Convention for both their exceptional natural value and the quality of their management, these sites form a unique regional community of practice dedicated to advancing marine conservation.
Photos: SPA/RAC, Giovanni Aiello