CEPF mid-term assessment of the Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot has been initiated since January 2015. This involved National Assessments with 186 participants from all 11 eligible countries of the hotspot; a Stakeholder Survey in 4 languages for all stakeholders in the Med programme, receiving 116 responses.
From 25- 27 May 2015 CEPF organized a Regional Meeting to verify these findings in Ulcinj- Montenegro to share lessons learned and discuss common themes which were highlighted. These assessments will feed into the mid-term report – which will help CEPF to evaluate the investment to-date and plan for the future.
CEPF has invited the beneficiaries of the Mediterranean Basin – from the Balkans to the Middle East, via North Africa and Cape Verde to meet to share successes and best practices, in Ulcinj in Montenegro. This meeting was also an opportunity to reflect on future strategic directions for CEPF and projects to be implemented to protect the biodiversity of the region. Assad Serhal, General Director of SPNL represented the organization in the meeting.
The organization of this meeting were made jointly by the Association of Friends of Birds, BirdLife Tunisia, and Center for the Protection and Research of Birds, BirdLife Montenegro.
The list of speakers in the opening ceremony included ambassadors of France and Germany along with the Mayor of Ulcinj.
Created in 2000, the CEPF (Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund) offers a new approach to the protection of nature based on a regional strategy for civil society to influence and participate in the conservation of critical ecosystems. This strategy is focused for 10 years on priority biological areas, the hotspots of biodiversity.
Since 2012 CEPF has invested more than US $ 7 million for the conservation of nature and capacity building of local civil society as advocates of this heritage in the Mediterranean basin.
