The task force for building MPAs resilient to the climate emergency has been launched in Portonovo, Ancona, Italy!
Working Session, photo by Sara Bonanomi, CNR-IRBIM.
The Interreg Euro-MED project MPA4Change reached a strategic milestone with the workshop held in Portonovo (Ancona) on October 9, 2025.
The event marked the official launch of the Roster of Experts, a network of researchers and technicians committed to strengthening support for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in developing and implementing climate change adaptation strategies.
The workshop was organized by CNR-IRBIM Ancona in collaboration with ICM-CSIC of Barcelona, and gathered participants from Portofino MPA, Brijuni MPA, UVIGO, ISPRA, SZN and UNIVPM.
The Roster: from strategy to operationalization in 100 MPAs
The Roster of Experts is a strategic component of the 100MPAMedAlliance, an ambitious initiative supporting climate adaptation strategies of at least 100 MPAs by 2030.
Its main function is to bridge scientific expertise with operational field needs, facilitating the development and the practical implementation of climate adaptation strategies through the validated MPA4Change toolkits. These toolkits provide MPAs with practical instruments to respond to the climate crisis, enabling both the implementation of adaptive measures and the monitoring of their effectiveness over time.
The experts in the Roster will offer advice, specialized training, and technical assistance, scaling up support for Mediterranean MPAs.
Establishing the Core Group and Pilot Phase
Workshop participants in Portonovo, Italy. Photo by Sara Bonanomi, CNR-IRBIM.
During the working session, participants defined the operational framework for the Roster’s initial phase (2025–2026). It will function as a collaborative Community of Practice.
An initial Core Group, composed of experts already involved in developing the MPA4Change toolkits, was established to ensure coordination, oversight, and transparency.
The agreed-upon next steps include: creating a dedicated webpage, launching a targeted communication campaign and expanding the Core Group with qualified experts from Mediterranean countries.
New experts will be formally invited to join the Community of Practice, thereby broadening the support available to MPAs across the entire Mediterranean basin.
