2026 SPAMI Day programme
29 June 2026 – Urban Center Trieste
09:00 – 09:30
Opening Session
Welcome Remarks:
- Francesco Tomas, Directorate-General for Biodiversity and Marine Protection, Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (remote participation)
- Luciano Del Prete, Maritime Director of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Commander of the Port Authority of Trieste
- Pierpaolo Zanchetta, Biodiversity Service, Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Maurizio Spoto, Miramare Marine Protected Area, WWF Foundation
- Tatjana Hema, UNEP/MAP Coordinator (recorded video message)
- Elyes Hamza, Director, Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (UNEP/MAP - SPA/RAC)
09:30 – 12:30
Technical Workshop: Restoration in SPAMIs
- 09:30 – 09:45 Restoration targets under the Barcelona Convention and its Post-2020 Strategic Action Programme for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Mediterranean Region (Post-2020 SAPBIO) by Atef Ouerghi (SPA/RAC)
- 09:45 - 10:05 Towards the Italian National Recovery Plan for marine habitats by Saša Raicevich
- 10:05 - 10:30 "Marine Ecosystem Restoration” (MER) project: mapping, condition, natural and active restoration measures of sensitive habitats by Leonardo Tunesi
- 10:30 - 10:45 "Are we restoring the easy winner? Biological constraints to scaling up marine forest restoration under the Nature Restoration Law" in Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre (SPAMI) by Annalisa Falace
- 10:45 - 11:00 Pilot restoration activities in Miramare MPA (SPAMI): Cymodocea nodosa by Saul Ciriaco
- 11:00 - 11:15 Best practices for the restoration of Pinna nobilis in Strunjan Landscape Park (SPAMI) by Valentina Pitacco
11:15 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 - 12:30
Panel discussion
- Factors to consider in restoration
- Effectiveness and Success Metrics
- Role of SPAMIs in Restoration Leadership
- From Pilot Projects to LargeScale Restoration
Moderated by SPA/RAC and Miramare MPA
12:30 - 14:30
Lunch
14:30 – 16:00
Assessing Financial Needs for Effective Marine Protected Areas: a proposal from the Italian MPAs
- Introduction to objectives and working methods
- Presentation of initial results of an analysis on a sample of Italian MPAs
- Presentation of macro-issues and related “composed indicators”
- Interactive discussion
- Participatory prioritization process
- Insights from SPAMI Representatives
- Conclusions and next steps
Moderated by WWF Italy
16:00 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 17:15
The Added Value of the SPAMI Network
- Introduction by Asma Kheriji and Carlo Franzosini
- SPAMI best practices in co-management and governance
- SPAMI testimonies:
- Miramare (Italy): 40 years from institution - its role within the national and regional networks of MPAs by Carlo Franzosini
- Lara–Toxeftra (Cyprus): Long-term protection and monitoring of marine turtles by Giannis Ioannou
- Galite Archipelago (Tunisia): co-management and NGO involvement in monitoring and conservation actions by Hassen Zaghdoudi
- Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (Lebanon): The importance of SPAMI twinning and cooperation by Ali Badreddine
- Pelagos Sanctuary (France, Italy and Monaco): The experience of the only international and transboundary SPAMI by Maria Betti
- Concluding reflections
Moderated by SPA/RAC and Miramare MPA
17:15 – 17:45
SPAMI Certificates Ceremony
- Introduction
- Delivery of SPAMI Certificates.
- Open Floor for SPAMI Representatives.
- Group photo.
Facilitated by SPA/RAC
18:00 – 19:00
Cocktail
30 June 2026 – Discovering Miramare SPAMI
Transportation information: A shuttle bus will be provided. Departure from the Urban Center Trieste (Corso Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour 2/2, 34132 Trieste TS, Italy) at 08:00. Return departure at 15:00 from the Port of Grignano.
09:00 – 09:15
Arrival at Miramare by shuttle
5-minute walk to the BioMa
09:15 – 10:30
Guided visit of the Miramare Marine Biodiversity Center (BioMa) - Stables of the Miramare Castle (Viale Miramare 345)
An environmental interpretation centre, an immersive museum and an educational venue: the Marine Biodiversity Centre “BioMa” is the driving force behind the awareness-raising activities of the Miramare MPA, visited every year by thousands of students, families, residents and tourists. Located within Miramare Park, in the right wing of the former Stables of the Castle, thanks to 3D reconstructions, dioramas, sound showers, 360 visors and multimedia installations, BioMa takes visitors on a virtual immersion among marine and coastal environments to discover their extremely rich biodiversity, while describing some of the human impacts affecting their conservation.
10:30 – 10:35
5-minute walk from the Stables to the Castle
10:40 – 11:30
Guided tour of the Miramare Castle
The guided tour of Miramare Castle, one of the most iconic landmarks of Trieste and a destination attracting around one million visitors each year, offers a fascinating journey through the history and art of 19th century Trieste. Visitors explore the elegant rooms commissioned by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg, who had it built in the mid 1850s and made it his residence. Set within a picturesque park overlooking the sea, the complex combines refined interiors, original furnishings, and stunning views of the Gulf.
11:40
Arrival at the port of Grignano (10-minute walk from the Castle)
11:45 – 13:00
Boat trip in the Biosphere Reserve of Miramare and the Trieste Coast
Accompanied by WWF staff, we will explore the waters of the oldest marine reserve in Italy, while enjoying the evocative view of Miramare Castle reflected on the sea. The route, from Grignano to Santa Croce, will offer the opportunity to observe the Trieste coastal landscape, characterized by mussel farms and terraced vineyards and olive groves-distinctive features of a territory recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve for its balance between environmental conservation and the development of traditional economic activities carried out in harmony with nature.
13:00
Arrival at the Port of Grignano and lunch at the Adriatico Restaurant of ICTP
After lunch: Departure by shuttle from Grignano