Welcome to the United Nations
For decades Monaco has been committed to protect marine ecosystems especially in the Mediterranean region. In 1976, on the initiative of the Prince of Monaco, the first marine reserve of the Principality was created in the Larvotto area (33 hectares) to protect its rich ecosystem, and namely its Posidonia beds, followed in 1986 by the second marine reserve established to preserve the corallogenic wall of the Spelugues. For more than 40 years, Monaco has been active in managing these two urban and small scale MPAs, in order to offer a natural laboratory to the academic structures. The Pe...[more]
Sweden and Monaco share a deep commitment to the preservation of our oceans a well as a clear intention to support the implementation of sustainable development goal number 14 of the Agenda 2030 - SDG14. The two countries also have a strong will to engage government agencies, academia, companies and civil societies in these efforts as a broad approach has proven to be key to success. By organizing a follow-up event to The Ocean Conference in New York in June 2017, Sweden and Monaco wish to join forces in moving from words to deeds in facilitating the exchange of experiences and know-how in d...[more]
The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]
The partnership between the Government of the Principality of Monaco and Ole Siosiomaga Society and the villages targeted has assisted in the cumulative efforts of OLSSI and other partners in further raising the understanding and awareness of the targeted coastal villages on the value of conservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and sustainable use of coastal mangrove areas and resources emanated from these key ecosystems. For a small island developing states such as Samoa, the mangrove wetlands only account for about 0.7% of the total land area and continue to decline despite the numerous be...[more]
Monaco is campaigning for the inclusion of the Angelshark, Squatina squatina, in annexes I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), at its 12th Conference of Parties, to be held in Manila, from 23rd until 28th October 2017. The Angelshark family (Squatinidae) has been identified as the second most threatened family of sharks and rays worldwide, in particular the S. squatina, which is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN since 2006. The main threats to this species are bycatch in coastal fisheries, unrestricted recreational angling, t...[more]
Monaco supports the GFCM measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. In this respect, the commitment of Monaco for this four years agreed period aims to support the GFCM activities to curb IUU fishing. For the period 2017-2020, Monaco supports: - The celebration of an International Day for the fight against IUU fishing; - The Port State Measures Agreement to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; - The GFCM Secretariat in IUU fishing international meetings; - IUU ...[more]
Ocean acidification is directly caused by climate change and represents a direct threat to the marine resources such as coral reefs and sea shells. It also has direct and indirect impacts on Pacific island coastal and pelagic ecosystems. The SPREP assists countries in developing national adaptation plans and other climate change policies, and is dedicated to coordinate the regions response to climate change. For that purpose Monaco supports SPREP to build coastal communities resilience to ocean acidification through the Pacific Partnership on Ocean Acidification project. Monaco commits...[more]
More than 200kg of plastic waste is dumped into the worlds oceans and seas every second, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Studies show that about 80% of marine debris are plastics. This calls for urgent measures. Since June 1st 2016, the distribution (free of charge or for a fee) of single-use plastic bags, of a thickness of less than 50 microns and a volume of less than 25 liters and of oxo-fragmentable plastic bags is prohibited. On January 1st 2017, all other disposable bags intended for goods packaging at a retailer, which are not compostable and not compos...[more]
Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Monaco Explorations intend to revive the Principalitys long-standing tradition of exploration at sea. Marine research, discovery, better understanding, awareness raising, as well concrete actions will all be major outcomes of this initiative. This endeavor will consist of 15 Missions around the World. Each Mission will be designed according to a specific topic or feature. The Monaco Explorations research team aboard the Yersin will also systematically associate local experts from the countries or the regions visited...[more]
Monaco supports the program entitled Initiative de la Francophonie for Sustainable Tourism in Small Islands Developing States The program is developed for pilot countries sharing the same sustainable objectives, i.e. Cabo Verde, Comores, Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Saint Lucia and Vanuatu. Within the framework of a multi-stakeholder approach, the Institut de la Francophonie pour le dveloppement durable (IFDD) contributes to the definition of sustainable tourism norms enabling those countries to benefit from tourism...[more]
