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Libyan Marine Protected Areas

Contribution to MPA conservation and management

By IW:LEARN

August 22^nd, 2023

The Libyan coast represents the majority of the Southern Central Mediterranean coastal area in North Africa. It was identified as one of the several hotspots of marine and coastal biodiversity in the region. The country’s coastline is composed of pristine sandy beaches and sandstone cliffs.

The diversity in coastline geomorphology made Libya one of the important locations for nesting sea turtles, seabirds, and seagrass beds, with all associated sub-habitats, fauna, and flora, that have already deteriorated in other Mediterranean countries, due to pollution, tourism impacts, and overfishing practices.

Libya, like other countries in the region, is bearing the brunt of coastal and marine habitat loss, and its associated impacts in terms of environmental and socio-economic consequences.

The situation is exacerbated by the lack of a proper management structure for Libyan Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and the immediate threats that hinder the future of marine and coastal biodiversity in the country. This is due to a rapid recent change in using illegal fishing methods, intrusion of foreign fishing fleets engaged in illegal fishing in Libyan waters, all due to lack of monitoring and implementation of national laws.

In addition, the recent increase of population movement to the coastal areas due to conflicts in the south is likely to cause increased pressure on coastal ecosystems such as an increase in illegal poaching of wildlife, and illegal fishing practices.

The existing Libyan protected areas such as Farwa Lagoon, Ain Al-Ghazala and its facing Elba Island, the Kouf National Park, Gulf of Bumbah and other small Islands suffer from increased illegal land claims by private owners, and most of them without any solid management structures or active financing mechanisms and management plans.

In response to the challenges and issues stated, MedProgramme is contributing through Child Project 3.1 “Protecting Marine Biodiversity” and working with the government of Libya to seek solutions to the issues.

Child Project 3.1 addresses the capacity barriers that hinder the sustainability and effectiveness of the MPA network in Libya, namely through the establishment of MPA management support mechanisms in priority MPAs.

Moreso, field survey has been conducted to identify sites of conservation interest along the Libyan coastline. Several consultations with stakeholders at local levels were also conducted to collect available information on previous inventories, especially in relation to the IUCN/SPARAC publication in 2011, "Towards a Representative Network of Marine Protected Areas in Libya".

Stakeholder Consultation. Photo: Mohammad Alrmeh

Moreover, a draft law on protected areas was jointly elaborated by the executing partners and relevant government ministries, which was further discussed and agreed with other relevant stakeholders at country-level including the representatives of Civil Society Organizations. The law has been adapted by the legislative department of the Ministry of Environment and submitted to parliament for adoption.

Once adopted, the law will pave the way for the creation of new protected areas through a proposal of establishment submitted by a governmental or non-governmental entity to the National Council for Protected Areas for assessment and approval. Once approved by the national Council of Protected Areas, the proposal is submitted to the Council of Ministers to issue a declaration Decree.

Therefore, MedProgramme aims to support Libya to reach a Good Environmental Status (GES) by introducing and establishing a governance framework, providing tools for identifying marine areas with high environmental value. This is coupled with setting up innovative management plans which bring together different stakeholders and actors to promote the value of conservation and protection of the environment.