Mediterranean Marine Green List expert group officially launched in Málaga

The kick off meeting of the Mediterranean Marine Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) took place on 12–13 May 2025 at La Noria in Málaga, Spain. This landmark gathering brought together all 11 appointed members of the newly formed EAGL, along with representatives from the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), IUCN global programme, and the Green List reviewer for the Mediterranean jurisdiction. The event marked a key milestone under the framework of the GreenList4MMPAs project, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme.

The workshop served as both a training and coordination platform, offering members a comprehensive introduction to the IUCN Green List Standard and tools such as the COMPASS platform and the self-assessment methodology. Discussions highlighted the shared challenges facing Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and emphasized the group’s role in strengthening the effectiveness of MPA management through regional collaboration and technical guidance.

IUCN

Mediterranean Marine Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL)

During the meeting, the group agreed on its internal structure and elected Cristian Ruiz Altaba as Chair and Leonardo Tunesi as Co-chair of the Mediterranean Marine EAGL. Cristian Ruiz Altaba has over 35 years of experience in marine protected area (MPA) management and marine biodiversity research. He holds a biology degree from the University of Barcelona and a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology from the University of Pennsylvania. Leonardo Tunesi brings over 40 years of experience at the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), in marine science and conservation, with a strong focus on MPA management and marine biodiversity. He has coordinated numerous national and international projects focused on MPAs design and implementation, and on the conservation of marine habitats and species.

“First of all, my motivation is a passion for conserving the incredible Mediterranean Sea, which faces many problems, through a very useful tool such as the Green List,” said Cristian Ruiz Altaba. He emphasized the value of bringing together diverse experts to “build common ground” and strengthen MPA management. Leonardo Tunesi highlighted this vision, noting that “the Green List, applied to the Mediterranean region, can be a powerful tool to improve MPA management and strengthen their capacity to conserve biodiversity.”

The Med Marine EAGL will now contribute to key technical developments under the GreenList4MMPAs project, including developing guidelines to better interpret the global Green List Standard in the Mediterranean marine context and supporting the evaluation of candidate sites. As more Mediterranean marine sites apply to the Green List, the group will collaborate with existing national and regional EAGLs to assess these applications, ensuring consistent, expert-led evaluations.

With the support of IUCN Med, the group will help promote wider uptake of the Green List approach in the Mediterranean, contributing to better management practices and stronger outcomes for marine biodiversity conservation.

For further information:

IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas

Mediterranean Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas