Marinescape Forum in Piraeus : The Mediterranean Sea Landscape on focus

SPNL participated in the Marinescape Forum that was held in Piraeus – Greece on the 26^th and 27^th of May 2015. The forum was organized by Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (Med-INA) and CIVILSCAPE in Piraeus. Speakers from various countries in Europe and the Mediterranean of different backgrounds and professional disciplines related to the marine and coastal environment were present to discuss the different challenges of the marine in the Mediterranean. Shalimar Sinno, project coordinator at SPNL, coming from landscape background attended the forum to present the current status of the Lebanese coastal line, in addition to the gaps, challenges, threats, and needs that the coast is facing on social, economic, cultural, natural and political level. Hima Qoleileh/ Mansouri was given as a success story that SPNL is working with for the conservation of sea turtles, marine birds, and enhancing the livelihood of the community.
On the second day, the participants had round table discussions to finalize the Piraeus Statement and establish a Mediterranean Marinsecape Observatory by the participants present who are interested in this civil society and committed to come up with a strategic plan for the observatory in the next steps. May 28 2015 was the European Maritime Day where The consensus for the Mediterranean Marinescape Observatory as well as a description and other important conclusions of the Forum were presented.