Training on climate change adaptation in Marine Protected Areas
Through this training programme, MPA managers and support experts (consultancies, academic & research institutions and other experts in marine conservation supporting MPA management bodies) will get the necessary guidance and tools to implement climate change adaptation plans in MPAs.
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Vulnerability Assessment & Adaptation
In this training course, participants will be able to learn how to implement three different toolkits to develop climate change adaptation plans in Marine Protected Areas. Specifically, the toolkits focus on:
- Vulnerability Assessment Toolkit: A validated methodology on how to implement a climate vulnerability assessment in MPAs by integrating ecological and social factors. The methodology relies on an indicator-based approach, which combines exposure and sensitivity to climate change, with the adaptive capacity.
- Participatory Approaches Toolkit: A toolkit dedicated to the application of practical tools for carrying out stakeholder engagement and public participation processes, both essential elements for success.
- Adaptation Plans Toolkit: a step-by-step process on how to design climate change adaptation plans through participatory decision-making process. Building on the previous knowledge acquired, this toolkit serves as a wrap up of the training.
For who is this course: MPA managers and conservation experts supporting them.
Language: English
Opening date: 6 June 2025
Online training: The three toolkits will be progressively available at the MPA4Change e-learning platform for self-study
Practical training (face-to-face): 22 to 26 of September, Brijuni National Park, Croatia.
Practical training application deadline: 30 June – selected candidates will be notified by 22 July 2025.
Selection process for practical training: Participants willing to join the Hybrid training must:
- Meet the selection criteria (*) and practical training requirements (**).
- Register their interest in the practical training through this registration form (also available in the button below).
- Complete the online training – the three toolkits will be open for participants progresively MPA4change e-learning platform.
- Within the online training of the Vulnerabilty Assessment Toolkit, they must collect and submit basic information on species of a chosen MPA.
* Selection criteria for practical training:
- Work in an MPA (either as part of the MPA staff or an external expert involved in its management) – this MPA will be used as reference for the training exercises.
- Basic IT knowledge – database management with MS Excel or similar.
- English – conversation level.
** Practical training requirements – please read before applying:
In order to be able to participate in the practical training, selected participants must:
- From 22 July to 30 August – Additionally to the basic information submitted during the online training, participants must be able to collect comprehensive information on habitats and user groups that they want to assess in the MPA – this information will be needed to carry out the practical training in Brijuni.
- On 1 September – participate in the Q&A session and provide an update on their data collection.
- From 22 to 26 September – Participate face-to-face in the practical training in Brijuni National Park during its whole extension (training in three toolkits). Participation to only part of the practical training will not be considered.
Citizen Science - Online & Hybrid Training
This hybrid training is designed to empower individuals and organizations to engage in Citizen Science initiatives focused on assessing the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. The training integrates theoretical sessions with practical fieldwork through recreational diving activities, enhancing participants’ understanding of marine ecosystems and promoting participatory research.
For who is this course:
- Recreational and technical divers interested in marine conservation.
- University students (marine biology, environmental science, archaeology).
- NGO representatives and environmental educators.
- Local community stakeholders and eco-tourism operators.
- Marine Protected Area staff and environmental authorities.
Language: English.
Opening date: 28 March 2025.
Online training: The Citizen Science Toolkit (Basic Research Diver (BRD) manual) is available on the dedicated e-learning platform for self-study.
Practical training (face-to-face): 9-11 July 2025, Ustica Island, Italy. The practical training focuses on four Citizen Science protocols: Fish Visual Census, Mass Mortality, Pinna nobilis and Posidonia oceanica.
Minimum skills and selection process for practical training: Participants applying to the hybrid training should have:
- Valid recreational diving certification (minimum Advanced Open Water Diver).
- Relevant experience and interest in environmental issues and citizen engagement.
- Completed the self-study of the BRD manual and download the certificate of completion which – it will be requested in order to attend the training.
- Commitment to attending the full programme (online on the e-learning and in-person).
- Basic knowledge of marine biology and ecology (recommended but not mandatory).
Practical training application deadline: At the moment we are no longer accepting registrations to the Hybrid training on Citizen Science – all spaces are fully booked. However, you can access the Citizen Science Toolkit online through the Online Learning Platform – button below.
Monitoring Protocols - Online Training
A specialised Toolkit tailored made for the Mediterranean basin that will provide participants with validated protocols to assess climate change impacts in marine ecosystems.
For who is this course: MPA managers and conservation experts supporting them.
Opening date: 24 March 2025.
Face-to-face practical workshop: 12 to 15 May 2025, Portofino MPA, Italy.
Language: English.
At the moment we are no longer accepting registrations to the Hybrid training on Monitoring protocols, but you can access the online training through the Online Learning Platform: Monitoring Protocols Toolkit – button below.
Registrations to Hybrid Training on Vulnerabiliy Assessment & Adaption are now open!
By clicking this button, you will be re-direceted to an external Google Form
For more information please see below the section “How the training will operate”
After clicking in this button, you will be re-directed and prompted to register to DAN Europe online learning platform.
Access to the learning platform is now open!
For more information please see below the section “How the training will operate”
Do you want to know more?
This presentation will guide you through the key aspects of the training programme.
For extended information, please scroll down.
WHAT IS OFFERED IN THE TRAINING
The MPA4Change training programme on climate change adaptation in Marine Protected Areas offers resources and practical training to learn how to us different tools and protocols for:
- Assessing climate change effects in the marine environment through direct measuring and through the collection of local knowledge;
- Deploy citizen science initiatives in order to engage divers in the collection of data on climate change impacts;
- Assess the vulnerability of an MPA through different dimensions (ecological, economic, social,…) in order to quantify climate change effects and forecast potential scenarios of change;
- Develop action plans including specific actions to respond to the environmental changes to come;
- Carry out participatory approaches to engage stakeholders in the decision making process and implementation of the action plan
- Learn specific tools to communicate about climate change;
- Get guidance on how restoration can support the consecution of the MPA objectives to tackle the change.
The training offers online toolkits available on the MPA4Change e-learning platform, hosted by DAN Europe, but also face-to-face workshops involving validation and fieldwork with experts and researchers.
HOW THE TRAINING WILL OPERATE
The training is structured in different courses, each composed by one or more toolkits, containing different protocols and methodologies for climate change adaptation in MPAs. Each course will be released at different times of the year 2025 both online and in hybrid format – see preliminary schedule below:
Online training: As soon as a Toolkit is released, the different materials (composed by guidance documents, webinars, videos and quizes) will be available at dedicated learning platforms for its review (specify later DAN Europe and ENA). This training is:
- open to all participants, without selection process – registration to the training and respective online platforms is needed.
- free of charge.
- open at all times, from the release of each Toolkit.
Hybrid training: The hybrid training will comprise both the aforementioned online training and face to face workshops organised on specific dates. In Addition to the acquisition of knowledge through the revision of online resources, this training will allow participants to consolidate the knowledge acquired through practical training. This training is:
- intended for those participants that, after taking the online training, meet the required skills and experience and are able and willing to implement the toolkits for climate change adaptation in an MPA and in the short term;
- the participation to the face to face training will be subject to a selection process;
- both the online training and the face to face training will be available in specific dates;
- the face to face workshops are not free, but the majority of the expenses will be covered by the programme.
DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
After completing each online Toolkit, participants will receive a certificate of attendance highlighting the knowledge and the skills gathered during the online training. A proper diploma will be assigned to the participants attending the face-to-face training. The diplomas will ensure the knowledge and the skills gathered during the field training but also will ensure the participants can train other users (train the trainer).
SELECTION CRITERIA
Online training: For the online training the only selection criteria will be:
- a good knowledge of English language, since all the materials will be in English.
- basic knowledge on how to operate online platforms.
Face-to-face training: Additional selection criteria will be used to select the participants of the face to face training:
- Relevance of participants job position, having preference those participants that are in a position to apply the training knwoledge
- Experience and skills – in exmaple, for the training on monitoring protocols, previous experience in carrying out fieldwork and/or monitoring programmes and diving experience will be taken into account.
- Geographical representativeness – aiming to prioritise participants to cover a wide geographical area.
- Gender representation – the participants selection will aim to balance gender representation.
- Commitment to implement the toolkits – participants will need to prove that they are willing to implement the tools and skills learned in a reasonable timeframe and, in some ocassions, provide a plan for its assessment.
INFORMATION ON TRAINING DATA PROCESSING
Your personal data is safe with us! All information provided for registering to MPA4Change training will be treated according to GDPR regulation and will be used solely for the purposes of managing your enrollment and participation in the training, providing you with project updates relevant to the training and improving our services. Your personal data will be also shared with the online learning platform providers (DAN Europe and EUROPARC Federation) and WWF as collaborators of some training Toolkits. Your personal data will not be shared with other third parties without your explicit consent, except as required by law.
Additionally, you can register to receive news and updates concerning MPA4Change project and the 100MPA MedAlliance initiative to build a more resilient Mediterranean against climate change by signing up to MPA4Change´s mailing list.
You have the right to access, modify, and delete your personal data at any time. For further details, please refer to MPA4Change Privacy Policy or contact us.
