Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered as a strategic component for the conservation of
marine and coastal ecosystems and for the implementation of integrated coastal zone
management (ICZM).
In the 1980s, the Algerian authorities set up a legal framework aimed at developing, managing
and preserving natural environments and resources. In this context, several protected areas were
created, including the Taza National Park (PNTaza), whose adjacent marine area is currently
being classified as a marine protected area (MPA). The establishment of this MPA is part of
"the strategic partnership for the large ecosystems of the Mediterranean for the conservation of
marine and coastal biodiversity and the development of the network of marine protected areas".
Although Law 11-02 on protected areas in the context of sustainable development classifies
protected areas and determines the modalities of their management and protection, in practice,
ensuring good governance of these protected areas is an extremely difficult task which requires
consultation, negotiation and collaboration between the stakeholders.
In order to illustrate and highlight this issue, the present study focused on the management and
governance process of two island environments belonging to the future Marine Protected Area
of the Taza National Park (PNTaza) in Jijel (East Coast of Algeria): the island of El Aouana
and the peninsula of the Grand Phare.
The approach was first based on a structural analysis (MICMAC) and an analysis of the set of
the involved actors (stakeholders) via the MACTOR method, which made it possible to better
define the ecosystem and identify the key variables and actors influencing these island
environments. In a second phase, the study focused on the analysis of the implementation
process of the underwater trails within the study area. In order to address the issue, entretiens
and surveys were conducted to highlight the role that these underwater trails can play in the
development and the integrated management of the Taza MPA in general and the island
environments in particular.
Keywords: Governance, marine protected area, insular environment, Taza National Park,
stakeholders, integrated coastal zone management
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered as a strategic component for the conservation of
marine and coastal ecosystems and for the implementation of integrated coastal zone
management (ICZM).
In the 1980s, the Algerian authorities set up a legal framework aimed at developing, managing
and preserving natural environments and resources. In this context, several protected areas were
created, including the Taza National Park (PNTaza), whose adjacent marine area is currently
being classified as a marine protected area (MPA). The establishment of this MPA is part of
"the strategic partnership for the large ecosystems of the Mediterranean for the conservation of
marine and coastal biodiversity and the development of the network of marine protected areas".
Although Law 11-02 on protected areas in the context of sustainable development classifies
protected areas and determines the modalities of their management and protection, in practice,
ensuring good governance of these protected areas is an extremely difficult task which requires
consultation, negotiation and collaboration between the stakeholders.
In order to illustrate and highlight this issue, the present study focused on the management and
governance process of two island environments belonging to the future Marine Protected Area
of the Taza National Park (PNTaza) in Jijel (East Coast of Algeria): the island of El Aouana
and the peninsula of the Grand Phare.
The approach was first based on a structural analysis (MICMAC) and an analysis of the set of
the involved actors (stakeholders) via the MACTOR method, which made it possible to better
define the ecosystem and identify the key variables and actors influencing these island
environments. In a second phase, the study focused on the analysis of the implementation
process of the underwater trails within the study area. In order to address the issue, entretiens
and surveys were conducted to highlight the role that these underwater trails can play in the
development and the integrated management of the Taza MPA in general and the island
environments in particular.
Keywords: Governance, marine protected area, insular environment, Taza National Park,
stakeholders, integrated coastal zone management