Webinar: From Local Monitoring to Regional Impact: Engaging MPAs and Local NGOs in the Implementation of EcAp and IMAP

Together for the Med is organising a webinar on the implementation of EcAp and IMAP that will take place on July 20, 2026.

Important information

Date: 20 July, 2026
Time: 10:00-12:00 Tunis time
Languages: English, Arabic and French

About the webinar

BlueSeeds and SPA/RAC, under the umbrella of Together for the Med, are jointly organising a webinar on 20 July at 10:00 Tunis time to explore how Marine Protected Areas, NGOs and conservation practitioners can better connect local ecological monitoring with regional environmental assessment processes in the Mediterranean.

Across the region, MPAs and conservation organisations collect valuable data on marine biodiversity, habitats, species and ecological pressures. Yet these local monitoring efforts are not always connected to broader regional frameworks. This webinar will show how the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) and the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) can help structure monitoring activities, improve data quality and comparability, and support both site-level management and wider Mediterranean conservation objectives.

Speaking at the webinar

How IMAP supports monitoring for MPAs and NGOs?

IMAP provides a common framework for monitoring and assessing the state of the marine and coastal environment in the Mediterranean. While it is mainly implemented through national monitoring programmes, MPAs, research institutions and local conservation initiatives can play an important role in generating long-term ecological data. Better alignment between local monitoring and IMAP can help ensure that information collected in the field contributes to national implementation, regional assessments and science-policy processes supporting the achievement of Good Environmental Status.

The webinar will provide a practical introduction to EcAp and IMAP, with a focus on how these frameworks can support conservation action. Participants will learn how to select relevant habitats, species, indicators and monitoring periods, while ensuring consistency with IMAP Common Indicators and regional priorities. The event will also present concrete experiences from Mediterranean MPAs, including biodiversity monitoring, data management, reporting tools and lessons learned from the field.

The webinar structure

The programme will include three main sections.

The first part, led by Christos Ioakeimidis and Samar Kilani from the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit, will introduce EcAp, IMAP and the EcAp MED PLUS project, explaining how these frameworks support integrated monitoring and regional cooperation. The second part, delivered by Yassine Ramzi Sghaier, Ecosystem Approach Project Officer at SPA/RAC, will focus on biodiversity monitoring under IMAP, including Common Indicators, methodologies and opportunities for MPAs and NGOs. The third section, presented by Lobna Ben Nakhla, Species Conservation Programme Officer at SPA/RAC, will share practical experiences from Marine Protected Areas, with examples related to marine turtles, marine mammals, seabirds and the use of IMAP guidance in the field.

An open discussion will allow participants to share their needs and challenges when setting up or improving ecological monitoring programmes. Feedback collected during the exchange will help inform future guidance materials and capacity-building activities.

The webinar will be held with simultaneous interpretation in English, Arabic and French. Supporting materials, including presentations and IMAP resources, will be shared with participants after the event.