Cooperating for sustainable development

AIM

Continuing the successful initiative of the Marinescape Forum last May (16‐18.05.2014) in Bremen, Germany, this year’s Forum in Piraeus intends to focus on Mediterranean coastal landscapes and marinescapes.

The aim is to bring together a number of regional and national, civil and institutional stake‐ holders from Europe and the Mediterranean in order to open a dialogue towards solutions that could mitigate the current threats and highlight challenges to coastal landscapes and marinescapes of the Basin.

The discussions will be held through the prism of landscape governance as a means of incor‐ porating civil society in a meaningful and productive way in all decision making processes. This will lead to the development of a Blue Growth Strategy with a sustainable footing, tak‐ ing into account issues of cultural heritage and natural resources management and local so‐ cieties’ needs and aspirations. For these reasons the presentations and discussions will high‐ light the importance of public participation and explore ways for the development of strong community building across the Mediterranean Basin. In order to ensure a sustainable man‐ agement and planning for Mediterranean Marinescapes, there is an urgent need for under‐ standing of the character of coastal landscapes and marinescapes as well as for a common agreement on marinescape quality objectives.

The Forum is expected to conclude with the Piraeus Statement on Mediterranean Marinescapes which will set out the needs and the principles for sustainable management and planning of Mediterranean Marinescapes, coastal landscapes and islandscapes, and will consider the establishment of a Mediterranean Marinescapes Observatory.