The 2017 MED QSR follows a model that has been defined in cooperation with the Contracting Parties, based on the structure of the UN Environment/MAP Mid-Term Strategy 2016-2021 and IMAP, through the Ecosystem Approach Correspondence Groups on Monitoring and the Ecosystem Approach Coordination Group. It has also considered the approach taken by other Regional Sea Programmes (i.e. OSPAR), and the work implemented at global level, such as the Regional Process on a Second World Ocean Assessment and the process on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially its oceans related Sustainable Development Goals.
Given the limited availability of data and the fact that the IMAP implementation is still at an early phase as a number of countries are in the process of revising their national monitoring programmes to align them with IMAP, the approach for the preparation of the 2017 MED QSR reflects the time limitations and data gaps of the IMAP Common Indicators. The approach followed was to use all available data for the IMAP Common Indicators, such as the MEDPOL Monitoring Programme data, and to complement and address data gaps with inputs from numerous diverse sources where appropriate. Candidate indicators have not been assessed as they require further testing. Each Indicator assessment provides all the sources of information used, assessments, reports, publications and information provided from the Contracting Parties and other partners. This includes information related to national reports on the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols, implementation of the National Action Plans (NAPs), Coastal Area Management Programmes (CAMPs), as well as the results of regionally and nationally driven implementation of relevant policies, programmes and projects.
As a result, the 2017 MED QSR, through systematic compilation of the Assessment Factsheets for all IMAP Common Indicators, presents the findings on the status of implementation of the appropriate assessment methods, identifies the status of information availability that are necessary for evaluation of the IMAP Common Indicators, provides details on the status of marine and coastal ecosystems and where possible, identifies the trends that are expressed through qualitative and quantitative assessment, including the graphics and animations as appropriate. It also determines the knowledge gaps and defines key directions to overcome them with the aim to enable successful implementation of the initial phase of IMAP (2016-2019). For each cluster, it provides the case studies that have been submitted by Contracting Parties and Partners.
The QSR Assessment for all IMAP Common Indicators was presented and reviewed by the relevant meetings of the Ecosystem Approach Correspondence Groups (on biodiversity, pollution, marine litter and coast and hydrography), the Ecosystem Approach Coordination Group and the meetings of the respective MAP Components Focal Points (MED POL, SPA/RAC, REMPEC, PAP/RAC), and were revised accordingly.
The delivery of this report is a unique MAP achievement based on joint and integrated efforts of the Contracting Parties, Secretariat, MAP Components and Partners.