Webinar: From local monitoring to regional impact, engaging MPA and NGO in implementing EcAp & IMAP

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 shows how the UNEP/MAP Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) and its Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and Related Assessment Criteria (IMAP) can help structure monitoring activities, improve data quality and comparability, and support both site-level management and wider Mediterranean conservation objectives. 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 (GES) in the Mediterranean. The webinar provides a practical introduction to EcAp and IMAP, with a focus on how these frameworks can support conservation action. Participants learn how to select relevant habitats, species, indicators and monitoring periods, while ensuring consistency with IMAP Common Indicators and regional priorities. The event also presents concrete experiences from Mediterranean MPAs, including biodiversity monitoring, data management, reporting tools and lessons learned from the field.