Supporting the implementation of RESCOM at the pilot site of Patara (Turkey)

On 5 November 2024, representatives from the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, General Directorate for Protection of Natural Assets (GDPNA), visited the IUCN Med office in Malaga, Spain. This visit marks a significant step in strengthening cooperation between Eastern and Western Mediterranean regions.

As part of the RESCOM project, coordinated by the Mediterranean Biodiversity Consortium (MBC), IUCN Med and GDPNA signed a cooperation agreement to support the effective implementation of RESCOM at the pilot site of Patara, a Special Environmental Protected Area (SEPA) in Antalya, Türkiye. This partnership will focus on developing a management and action plan for Patara SEPA, identifying priority Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to enhance the site’s conservation efforts.

In addition to RESCOM, discussions were held on future collaboration opportunities, particularly regarding Protected Areas and global conservation goals, including the 30×30 initiative.

The visit included an informative meeting on Andalusian protected areas and their legislative frameworks, followed by a technical tour of the Maro-Cerro Gordo Natural Park. Representatives from GDPNA joined with colleagues from Protected Natural Areas (Espacios Naturales Protegidos) of Andalusia’s regional government in Malaga and a technical expert from the state-owned company TRAGSA.

This visit marks a promising step toward fostering regional cooperation and advancing conservation efforts in the Mediterranean.