Protecting the environment and biodiversity in Algeria’s coastal regions

Project description

Title: Protecting the environment and biodiversity in Algeria’s coastal regions (PEBLA)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Algeria
Lead executing agencies: Algerian Ministry of the Environment and Renewable Energies (MEER)
Overall term: 2020 to 2023

Algerien. Das Regionalprogramm „Frauenförderung im Maghreb“ fördert die gleichberechtigte Teilhabe von Frauen. © GIZ

Context

With a coastline measuring 1,622 kilometres and a multitude of unspoilt natural areas, Algeria has a diverse natural heritage. However, the increasing settlement of towns, industry, infrastructure, and the overexploitation of certain marine resources are disrupting coastal ecosystems. In 2015, Algeria adopted a strategy for the integrated management of coastal zones that aims to protect the environment and coastal biodiversity while at the same time ensuring environmentally sustainable use. The project is part of this strategy.

Objective

The environmental, economic, and planning framework for integrated coastal zone management in Algeria has improved.

Approach

In a first step, the project updated the National Strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management and developed a budgeted action plan and a monitoring system. It also advises the partner organisations on data management, geographical information systems, and communication.

Furthermore, the project is strengthening the organisational, entrepreneurial, and technical skills of resource users for the sustainable use of ecosystem services. To this end, it is setting up value chains (for natural oils, for example) and supporting product marketing through contracts with the private sector.

In order to improve the management of protected areas, the project is developing the skills of administrative staff and civil society organisations. It is also providing a range of advisory services on how to develop methodological and technical guidelines for management plans for protected marine and coastal areas.

The project also focuses on identifying new coastal and marine protected areas, as national parks for example, and on updating the status of existing protected areas. In doing so, it is helping to implement the National Biodiversity Strategy.

It works together with the GFA Consulting Group and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Last update: September 2022

Additional information