MEDITERRANEAN AND WESCANA LINK-UP IN EGYPT
April 2005, Egypt.

In late January a joint planning meeting was held between WESCANA Regional Office and Mediterranean programmes to define future scenarios for cooperation and coordination. During this very constructive process it was agreed that WESCANA would (within the Mediterranean zone) take the project and programme lead for Syria, Palestine and Lebanon while the Mediterranean office would have responsibility for project implementation in N Africa. As the visits to the different countries can also serve to promote membership interactions it was felt that it would also be helpful to link the membership and programme functions, rather than leaving them separate as had been the case in the past. It was also agreed that the search for synergies should include reinforcing technical competence in Amman and Malaga that can serve the whole region, sharing of communication and web-site resources and sharing funding for project development. The first step in this constructive, and innovatory process, has been the Protected Areas project in Egypt : negotiated by WESCANA and signed by the Regional Director, Odeh Al Jayyousi in March 2004. The project is implemented on a day to day basis by the Mediterranean programme, with technical inputs from the Amman office. The 3 year project, funded by Italian Cooperation, aims to provide IUCN technical support to three Egyptian protected areas, Wadi El Rayan, Siwa Oasis and Gebal Alba as well as to provide capacity building and institutional support to the Nature Conservation Sector of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency.

MEDITERRANEAN CONSERVATIONISTS AND FISHERMEN WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT DEEP SEAS
2 March 2005, Malaga.

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) - the main inter-governmental decision-making body on fishery management in the Mediterranean decided to refrain from expanding deep water fishing operations beyond the limit of 1000 metres based on scientific considerations. This important measure was based on a comprehensive study on the status of deep sea fishing in the Mediterranean developed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and WWF. The measure has also been debated in a wide-reaching consultation process with relevant regional specialists, including the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Sea (CIESM), through several workshops held over the last 18 months. "This is an important measure, the first of its kind in the world. It is a significant step towards a more sustainable fishery in the Mediterranean. Both communities, conservationists and the fishery industry, will benefit from this measure", said François Simard, IUCN Global Marine Coordinator.

NEW PORTAL ON MEDITERRANEAN PROTECTED AREAS
14 March 2005, Malaga.

During the 2005 Mediterranean Parks Fair - Mediterre- held in Brindisi (Italy) and jointly organized by Federparchi, the region of Puglia and the Italian Ministerio dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio, a Yearbook of 2005 the Italian Parks - which contains addresses and contacts, events and initiatives in Italian parks - was launched as an important instrument to promote the value of protected areas for people. Federparchi together with other partners have also developed a web portal in three languages with updated information on protected areas in Mediterranean countries. The Mediterre's aim is to promote the exchange of ideas and common projects amongst organisations involved in protected areas management across the Mediterranean region.

MEMBER NEWS from Croatian Biological Society - Croatia

SCHOOL OF CONSERVATION BIOLOGY IN CROATIA
March 2005, Rovinj, Croatia

Conservation biology as a science is a prerequisite for effective biodiversity conservation and effective sustainable development as well as conservation planning and environmental management. In order to enhance education and capacity building in the field of scientifically sound biodiversity conservation, the Croatian Biological Society is organizing a School of Conservation Biology (SCB). The School will take place in the historic city of Rovinj, Croatia, on the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea, from 29 May to 5 June 2005, and will be hosted by the Centre for Marine Research, Institute "Rudjer Boskovic". It will introduce graduate students to the scientific discipline of conservation biology, through an intensive, practical 8-day course. The course will be taught in English by a team of international lecturers and guest speakers, lead by Asst. Prof. Selina Heppell (Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, and adjunct faculty at Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, USA). It will include lectures, discussion groups, computer practice, group projects and a two-day field course. The two best applicants will receive a tuition grant from the Croatian Biological Society.

MEMBER NEWS from Junta de Andalucia- Spain

HOPE FOR THE IBERIAN LYNX: BIRTH OF THREE CUBS IN A CAPTIVITY CENTRE
21 April 2005, Sevilla, Spain

Three new cubs of Iberian lynx- the most endangered big cat species in the world - have been recently born in captivity in a breeding centre of Doñana National Park in Andalusia, Spain. It is the first time that a lynx is born in captivity. The captive breeding programme for the Iberian Lynx funded by the Spanish Ministry of Environment began in 1992 and in 2003 the Junta de Andalucia joined it in. The centre has housed only those lynxes which could not survive independently in the wild. There are currently 13 lynx (8 female and 5 male) in captivity distributed in two centres, El Acebuche in Doñana National Park and the Jerez Zoo. A new larger centre is being built in Jaen, also in Andalusia.The Junta de Andalucia has set forth a programme of reintroduction provided that in situ conservation and planning has notably progressed, by purchasing private land properties and improving habitats where the lynx might survive. Captive breeding is an important boost for the conservation of this rare feline, although there are still many threats to overcome such as road traffic and habitat destruction, to safeguard the future of this animal in the wild. The Iberian Lynx lives only in Spain and Portugal, where its population has sharply declined in numbers and range over the last 100 years. At present there are only two small and isolated populations, both in Andalusia in southern Spain.

MEMBER NEWS from Lliga per a la Defensa del Patrimoni Natural (DEPANA) - Spain

NETWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN CATALUNYA
March 2005, Tarragona, Spain

In 2001, a group of organisations interested in promoting and improving the network of volunteers in Catalunya began to work in order to unify criteria, share experiences and improve activities through a programme of environmental volunteers. Most of the forums or areas of work were focused on social matters and there were no a platform to meet the environmental volunteers needs. Therefore, a group of environmental volunteers has recently turned out to cover those needs and made up of major organizations with broad experience of environmental volunteering such as Asociación Hábitats - Proyecto Ríos, Cruz Roja en Cataluña, DEPANA, Fundación Catalana del Esplai, Fundación CRAM, Minyons Escoltes i Guies Sant Jordi de Catalunya, Oficina Verde de la Universidad de Gerona, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña y el Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Vivienda de la Generalitat de Cataluña.