Co-evolution of coastal human activities & Med natural systems for sustainable tourism & Blue Growth in the Mediterranean.

The growth of tourism in the Mediterranean, especially in coastal areas, and the effects of climate change will continue to affect landscapes, soil and coasts stability/erosion, put pressure on species and water resources, and increase waste and pollution discharges into the sea. In this context, the Co-Evolve4BG project aims at analyzing and promoting the co-evolution of human activities and natural eco-systems in touristic coastal areas, towards sustainable development of tourist activities based on the principles of Integrated Coast Zone Management (ICZM) and Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), promoting at the same time Blue Growth in the Mediterranean.

The analysis and the demonstration actions foreseen by the project will enhance sustainable coastal and maritime tourism development fully exploiting the Blue Economy potential, promoting the creation of business and job opportunities in the field of ecosystem-oriented services, coastal and maritime tourism, coastal management and adaptation to climate change.

Co-Evolve4BG is a three-year project funded by ENI CBC MED programme´s priority on environment Integrated Coastal Zone Management and constitutes a part of a wider project namely “Med Coast for Blue Growth” labelled by 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). It is also in connection of CO-EVOLVE project funded by the InterregMed Programme in line with the strategic line 2 of the Joint Action Plan of Bologna Charter Initiative. CO-EVOLVE Project has produced the analysis and the demonstration actions with a wide and long-lasting influence, fully exploiting the Blue Economy potential. The results will be extended to South & East Mediterranean coastal areas in Co-Evolve4BG completing the framework of the MedCoast4BG UfM labelled Project.

The project involves nine Mediterranean partners:

  • National Institute of Marine Sciences and technologies, Tunisia
  • Region of Lazio, Italy
  • Region of East Macedonia & Thrac, Greece
  • University of Murcia, Spain
  • Fundación Valenciaport, Spain
  • National Agency for Environment Protection, Tunisia
  • Ministry of Public Works and Public Transport, Lebanon
  • Al Midan NGO, Lebanon
  • AMWAJ of the Environment, Lebanon

Expected achievements:

  • 1 integrated analysis of threats and enabling factors for sustainable tourism at Mediterranean level
  • 1 toolkit containing indicators to analyse the level of sustainability of tourism
  • 2 rounds of training addressed to partners and local actors involved in pilot actions
  • 7 pilot actions in for developing sustainable tourism in the pilot areas:
  1. Italy: Actions will be carried out in the Circeo National Park and Biosphere Reserve.
  2. Greece: The actions will take place in the coastal and marine area of Alexandroupoli and Samothraki.
  3. Spain: The pilot area is located in the north of the Region of Murcia.
  4. Tunisia: The actions will take place in the Gulf of Gabes, on the Island of Djerba.
  5. Lebanon: The actions will take place in Batroun’s Port.
  6. Lebanon: The actions will take place in Tyre.

Project duration:
Start date: 01 September 2019
End date: 31 August 2022

Financial data:
Total budget: 2.9 million €
EU contribution: 2.6 million€
Project co-financing: 10%

Projects’ web: http://www.enicbcmed.eu/projects/co-evolve4bg