Project for the "Sustainable Small Islands Initiative - implementing an international approach for sustainable small island management and biodiversity protection"

This project’s goal is to support the development of SMILO during its pilot phase. Measures supported within this framework are intended to link and facilitate exchanges between local key-players on the 18 first small islands involved in the program. These measures allow technical, financial, institutional and management capacity reinforcement for water, energy, waste, biodiversity/ecosystems and landscapes within good governing structures. This program is based on providing educational tools and the presence of thematic experts on the sites aiming for a territorial certification approach (“SMILO/Sustainable Island label”). The creation of a fund dedicated to eligible small islands also allows to support priority investments/work highlighted in the territorial diagnosis. This project is co-driven by the Conservatoire du Littoral and SMILO.

With the support: of the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), the Rhône Mediterranean and Corsican Water Agency and the City of Marseille.

Project partners: national and local communities, NGOs and private stakeholders of the following territories: Ibo Island, Quirimbas Archipelago (Mozambique), Islands of the Emerald Sea (Madagascar), Bolama Island, Bijagos Archipelago (Guinea Bissau), Gorée Island (Senegal), Principe Island (Sao Tome & Principe), Santa Luzia Island (Cape Verde); Mediterranean (excluding France): Kerkennah Archipelago (Tunisia), Tavolara Island, Cavoli Island, Capraia Island, Palmaria Island (Italy), Sazani Island (Albania), Zlarin Island (Croatia).

Project budget: 7.708500 euros which includes € 1,650,000 from the FFEM (for the Conservatoire du Littorale and SMILO association).

The goal of this project is to support the development of SMILO during its pilot phase. The support of the Rhône Mediterranean and Corsican Water Agency has allowed to develop a cooperation network bringing together the different key-players involved in the sustainable development of small islands. It also allows to test the tools and SMILO certification process on the pilot sites participating in the process. They are spread across several ecoregions/geographical areas, guaranteeing a greater level of representation, that present interconnecting issues for sustainable development. This project provides strategic and financial support, brings industry expertise and cross-functional skills to enrich the SMILO process.

Measures planned along 4 lines:

• Support for the overall coordination of SMILO (strategy around 2020, institutional and public, communication...)
• Compilation and enhancement of good practices that can be replicated on islands and coastal environments (worksheets, informational/tutorial videos...)
• Enriching the SMILO network (website, conferences, training...)
• Implementation of the labelling process and testing of relevance, social and institutional involvement and the impact on pilot sites (Mediterranean, Pacific - Philippines - and Indian Ocean - Madagascar).

With the support of: the Rhône Mediterranean and Corsican Water Agency

Project partners: local and national communities, NGOs and private stakeholders of the following Areas: Zlarin Island (Croatia); Embiez Archipelago (France); Kerkennah Archipelago (Tunisia); Ua Pou Islands (French Polynesia); Pangatalan Island (Philippines)

Total project budget: € 267.141,00 (for the Conservatoire du littoral)

The ISOS project (Isole Sostenibili) “Sustainable Islands: network for the sustainable development of islands and heritage preservation”

The 'ISOS' project aims to create a network of French and Italian islands, pilot territories committed to the preservation of their natural and cultural heritage: the Lérins Islands (Alpes-Maritimes, the Hyères Islands archipelago (Port-Cros, Porquerolles and Le Levant - Var), and the Lavezzi Islands Archipelago (Corsica) for France, and Capraia Island (Tuscany), Tavolara Island (Sardinia) and Palmaria Island (Liguria) for Italy.

This network brings together various stakeholders involved in the protection of Islands around common objectives; it supports and promotes innovative solutions in terms of natural resource management (water, energy, waste), in terms of preservation and enhancement of natural heritage (biodiversity and landscapes) and cultural heritage (tangible and intangible). Carrying out technical workshops, conferences, mobilising experts on site, exchanges between peers and local investments which will help to create sustainable protection strategies together, for the benefit of local people and islands.

With the support of: Interreg Italy-France Maritime Program 2014-2020 (trans-border program co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Territorial Cooperation objective)

Project partners: Department of the Var (leader), Conservatoire du Littoral, Port Cros National Park, the City of Cannes, the Corsican Environmental Office, Provincia della Spezia, Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano, Regione autonoma della Sardegna, Consorzio di Gestione area marina protetta Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo

Total budget of the project: 1.495.157, 44 euros (FEDER €1.270.883,82)

Zlarin Island in Croatia, has been committed to SMILO since May 2016, with the aim of becoming the first 'sustainable' labelled island in Croatia. The grant awarded by the French Institute of Zagreb allowed to organise a Franco-Croatian Conference on the 5th and 6th of May 2017, dedicated to SMILO and the main topics regarding the sustainable development of small islands. On this occasion the city of Šibenik and Šibenik-Knin County signed the Island Declaration, the first step for committing to the SMILO labelling process. The island Committee was also created, another step towards the implementation of a sustainable development plan for the island.

With the support of: the French Institute of Zagreb and the Zlarin Island Tourism and Council Office

Project partners: the Conservatoire du Littoral, Port Cros National Park, Zlarin Island Tourism and Council Office, Kud-Koralj Associations, Punta Arta and Boduliči, Freiwillige Zalrin, the Zlarin volunteer firefighters, the Yacht club, the City of Šibenik, Šibenik-Knin County and CAR/PAP

Amount of the grant: 10,000 hrk (approximately €1345)