August 12, 2025 – Beirut — Experts, policymakers, and conservation organizations from across the Mediterranean gathered online to tackle one of the decade’s most pressing environmental goals: protecting 30% of marine and coastal areas by 2030.
Organized by the Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment – Lebanon, IUCN, MedPAN, and SPA/RAC, the webinar focused on scaling up Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), implementing Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and strengthening national strategies.
The event also highlighted the Marine Protected Areas Network (MPAs) project, funded by the European Union in Lebanon and implemented jointly by LEF and the University of Balamand, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Environment, showcasing Lebanon’s efforts to expand and connect its marine protected areas.
Speakers included Yaprak Arda (IUCN), Renaud Dupuy de la GrandRive (MedPAN), Milad Fakhri (National Centre for Marine Sciences – Lebanon), Asma Kheriji (SPA/RAC), and Lara Samaha (Ministry of Environment – Lebanon). They shared practical insights on how regional conservation frameworks can be turned into concrete local actions.
The discussion emphasized that achieving the “30×30” target requires regional cooperation, science-driven policies, and active community participation to safeguard the Mediterranean’s marine biodiversity and secure its resources for future generations.
