A Workshop for the Biodiversity of North Africa

26 January 2014

On the 21st and 22nd of January, Algeria has welcomed a workshop for the launching of the project “Promoting the value of the key biodiversity area of the National Park of Djurdjura, through the involvement of civil society in their conservation and management”. This work shop was co-organized by the General Directorate of Forestry (DGF in French), the General Directorate of the Fauna and Flora (DGFF in French), and the National Park of Djurdjura. The workshop took place in Algeria, and gathered 46 representatives of public institutions, civil society’s organizations, as well as universities and research institutes.

The objective of the workshop was to present the project’s content, and to find a consensus between the main actors of this project on the implementation strategy and their respective contributions to complete it successfully. This project UICN-Med/CEPF is implemented in four North African countries (Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), and realized thanks to 390 000 US$ granted by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).

In Algeria, activities will be realized into the Djurdjura National Park, which is part of the “key zones for biodiversity”, conservation priority. These activities will be based on 4 lines: (i) Improvement of the knowledge about the ecosystem services values of the key zones for biodiversity; (ii) reinforcement of the conservation policies on these key zones, through a more efficient implication of civil society’s organizations I their conservation and management; (iii) Promotion of the socio-economical services from the key zones for biodiversity, to enhance the well-being of the local communities; and (iv) development and boosting of means of communication and awareness for the conservation of kez zones for biodiversity.

Collaboration Agreement signed

At the end of the workshop, a Collaboration Agreement has been signed between the representatives of the National Park of Djurdjura Directorate and UICN-Med’s. This Agreement built the framework for the interventions of the two organizations in his project, and will favor the exchange of information and experience, in preparation for reaching the objectives of this initiative. 
By bringing its experience in the conservation and the enhancement of the key zones for biodiversity, UICN-Med contributes to the application of the CEPF Investment Strategy for North African countries, while highlighting the importance of civil society’s implication in the management of these zones.

For more information: Maher Mahjoub

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