Na podlagi druge alinee prvega odstavka 107. člena in prvega odstavka 91. člena Ustave Republike Slovenije izdajam

Razglašam Zakon o ratifikaciji Protokola o posebej zavarovanih območjih in biološki raznovrstnosti v Sredozemlju (MPZOS), ki ga je sprejel Državni zbor Republike Slovenije na seji 25. oktobra 2002.

Ljubljana, 5. novembra 2002

Ratificira se Protokol o posebej zavarovanih območjih in biološki raznovrstnosti v Sredozemlju, sprejet v Barceloni 10. junija 1995.

Protokol se v izvirniku v angleškem jeziku in prevodu v slovenskem jeziku glasi:

The Contracting Parties to the present Protocol,
Being Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, adopted at Barcelona on 16 February 1976,
Conscious of the profound impact of human activities on the state of the marine environment and the littoral and more generally on the ecosystems of areas having prevailing Mediterranean features,
Stressing the importance of protecting and, as appropriate, improving the state of the Mediterranean natural and cultural heritage, in particular through the establishment of specially protected areas and also by the protection and conservation of threatened species,
Considering the instruments adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and particularly the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992),
Conscious that when there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be invoked as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat,
Considering that all the Contracting Parties should cooperate to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of ecosystems and that they have, in this respect, common but differentiated responsibilities,
Have agreed as follows:

For the purposes of this Protocol:
(a) “Convention“ means the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, adopted at Barcelona on 16 February 1976 and amended at Barcelona in 1995;
(b) “Biological diversity“ means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems;
(c) “Endangered species“ means any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or part of its range;
(d) “Endemic species“ means any species whose range is restricted to a limited geographical area;
(e) “Threatened species“ means any species that is likely to become extinct within the foreseeable future throughout all or part of its range and whose survival is unlikely if the factors causing numerical decline or habitat degradation continue to operate;
(f) “Conservation status of a species“ means the sum of the influences acting on the species that may affect its long-term distribution and abundance;
(g) “Parties“ means the Contracting Parties to this Protocol;
(h) “Organization“ means the organization referred to in Article 2 of the Convention;
(i) “Centre“ means the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas.

1. The area to which this Protocol applies shall be the area of the Mediterranean Sea as delimited in Article 1 of the Convention. It also includes:
– the seabed and its subsoil;
– the waters, the seabed and its subsoil on the landward side of the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured and extending, in the case of watercourses, up to the freshwater limit;
– the terrestrial coastal areas designated by each of the Parties, including wetlands.
2. Nothing in this Protocol nor any act adopted on the basis of this Protocol shall prejudice the rights, the present and future claims or legal views of any State relating to the law of the sea, in particular, the nature and the extent of marine areas, the delimitation of marine areas between States with opposite or adjacent coasts, freedom of navigation on the high seas, the right and the modalities of passage through straits used for international navigation and the right of innocent passage in territorial seas, as well as the nature and extent of the jurisdiction of the coastal State, the flag State and the port State.
3. No act or activity undertaken on the basis of this Protocol shall constitute grounds for claiming, contending or disputing any claim to national sovereignty or jurisdiction.

1. Each Party shall take the necessary measures to:
(a) protect, preserve and manage in a sustainable and environmentally sound way areas of particular natural or cultural value, notably by the establishment of specially protected areas;
(b) protect, preserve and manage threatened or endangered species of flora and fauna.
2. The Parties shall cooperate, directly or through the competent international organizations, in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the area to which this Protocol applies.
3. The Parties shall identify and compile inventories of the components of biological diversity important for its conservation and sustainable use.
4. The Parties shall adopt strategies, plans and programmes for the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of marine and coastal biological resources and shall integrate them into their relevant sectoral and intersectoral policies.
5. The Parties shall monitor the components of biological diversity referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article and shall identify processes and categories of activities which have or are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and monitor their effects.
6. Each Party shall apply the measures provided for in this Protocol without prejudice to the sovereignty or the jurisdiction of other Parties or other States. Any measures taken by a Party to enforce these measures shall be in accordance with international law.

The objective of specially protected areas is to safeguard:
(a) representative types of coastal and marine ecosystems of adequate size to ensure their long-term viability and to maintain their biological diversity;
(b) habitats which are in danger of disappearing in their natural area of distribution in the Mediterranean or which have a reduced natural area of distribution as a consequence of their regression or on account of their intrinsically restricted area;
(c) habitats critical to the survival, reproduction and recovery of endangered, threatened or endemic species of flora or fauna;
(d) sites of particular importance because of their scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational interest.

1. Each Party may establish specially protected areas in the marine and coastal zones subject to its sovereignty or jurisdiction.
2. If a Party intends to establish, in an area subject to its sovereignty or national jurisdiction, a specially protected area contiguous to the frontier and to the limits of a zone subject to the sovereignty or national jurisdiction of another Party, the competent authorities of the two Parties shall endeavour to cooperate, with a view to reaching agreement on the measures to be taken and shall, inter alia, examine the possibility of the other Party establishing a corresponding specially protected area or adopting any other appropriate measures.
3. If a Party intends to establish, in an area subject to its sovereignty or national jurisdiction, a specially protected area contiguous to the frontier and to the limits of a zone subject to the sovereignty or national jurisdiction of a State that is not a Party to this Protocol, the Party shall endeavour to cooperate with that State as referred to in the previous paragraph.
4. If a State which is not party to this Protocol intends to establish a specially protected area contiguous to the frontier and to the limits of a zone subject to the sovereignty or national jurisdiction of a Party to this Protocol, the latter shall endeavour to cooperate with that State as referred to in paragraph 2.

The Parties, in conformity with international law and taking into account the characteristics of each specially protected area, shall take the protection measures required, in particular:
(a) the strengthening of the application of the other Protocols to the Convention and of other relevant treaties to which they are Parties;
(b) the prohibition of the dumping or discharge of wastes and other substances likely directly or indirectly to impair the integrity of the specially protected area;
(c) the regulation of the passage of ships and any stopping or anchoring;
(d) the regulation of the introduction of any species not indigenous to the specially protected area in question, or of genetically modified species, as well as the introduction or reintroduction of species which are or have been present in the specially protected area;
(e) the regulation or prohibition of any activity involving the exploration or modification of the soil or the exploitation of the subsoil of the land part, the seabed or its subsoil;
(f) the regulation of any scientific research activity;
(g) the regulation or prohibition of fishing, hunting, taking of animals and harvesting of plants or their destruction, as well as trade in animals, parts of animals, plants, parts of plants, which originate in specially protected areas;
(h) the regulation and if necessary the prohibition of any other activity or act likely to harm or disturb the species or that might endanger the state of conservation of the ecosystems or species or might impair the natural or cultural characteristics of the specially protected area;
(i) any other measure aimed at safeguarding ecological and biological processes and the landscape.

1. The Parties shall, in accordance with the rules of international law, adopt planning, management, supervision and monitoring measures for the specially protected areas.
2. Such measures should include for each specially protected area:
(a) the development and adoption of a management plan that specifies the legal and institutional framework and the management and protection measures applicable;
(b) the continuous monitoring of ecological processes, habitats, population dynamics, landscapes, as well as the impact of human activities;
(c) the active involvement of local communities and populations, as appropriate, in the management of specially protected areas, including assistance to local inhabitants who might be affected by the establishment of such areas;
(d) the adoption of mechanisms for financing the promotion and management of specially protected areas, as well as the development of activities which ensure that management is compatible with the objectives of such areas;
(e) the regulation of activities compatible with the objectives for which the specially protected area was established and the terms of the related permits;
(f) the training of managers and qualified technical personnel, as well as the development of an appropriate infrastructure.
3. The Parties shall ensure that national contingency plans incorporate measures for responding to incidents that could cause damage or constitute a threat to the specially protected areas.
4. When specially protected areas covering both land and marine areas have been established, the Parties shall endeavour to ensure the coordination of the administration and management of the specially protected area as a whole.

1. In order to promote cooperation in the management and conservation of natural areas, as well as in the protection of threatened species and their habitats, the Parties shall draw up a “List of Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance“, hereinafter referred to as the “SPAMI List“.
2. The SPAMI List may include sites which:
– are of importance for conserving the components of biological diversity in the Mediterranean;
– contain ecosystems specific to the Mediterranean area or the habitats of endangered species;
– are of special interest at the scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational levels.
3. The Parties agree:
(a) to recognize the particular importance of these areas for the Mediterranean;
(b) to comply with the measures applicable to the SPAMIs and not to authorize nor undertake any activities that might be contrary to the objectives for which the SPAMIs were established.

1. SPAMIs may be established, following the procedure provided for in paragraph 2 to 4 of this Article, in: (a) the marine and coastal zones subject to the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Parties; (b) zones partly or wholly on the high seas.
2. Proposals for inclusion in the List may be submitted:
(a) by the Party concerned, if the area is situated in a zone already delimited, over which it exercises sovereignty or jurisdiction;
(b) by two or more neighbouring Parties concerned if the area is situated, partly or wholly, on the high sea;
(c) by the neighbouring Parties concerned in areas where the limits of national sovereignty or jurisdiction have not yet been defined.
3. Parties making proposals for inclusion in the SPAMI List shall provide the Centre with an introductory report containing information on the area’s geographical location, its physical and ecological characteristics, its legal status, its management plans and the means for their implementation, as well as a statement justifying its Mediterranean importance;
(a) where a proposal is formulated under subparagraphs 2 (b) and 2 (c) of this Article, the neighbouring Parties concerned shall consult each other with a view to ensuring the consistency of the proposed protection and management measures, as well as the means for their implementation;
(b) proposals made under paragraph 2 of this Article shall indicate the protection and management measures applicable to the area as well as the means of their implementation.
4. The procedure for inclusion of the proposed area in the List is the following:
(a) for each area, the proposal shall be submitted to the National Focal Points, which shall examine its conformity with the common guidelines and criteria adopted pursuant to Article 16;
(b) if a proposal made in accordance with subparagraph 2 (a) of this Article is consistent with the guidelines and common criteria, after assessment, the Organization shall inform the meeting of the Parties, which shall decide to include the area in the SPAMI List;
(c) if a proposal made in accordance with subparagraphs 2 (b) and 2 (c) of this Article is consistent with the guidelines and common criteria, the Centre shall transmit it to the Organization, which shall inform the meeting of the Parties. The decision to include the area in the SPAMI list shall be taken by consensus by the Contracting Parties, which shall also approve the management measures applicable to the area.
5. The Parties which proposed the inclusion of the area in the List shall implement the protection and conservation measures specified in their proposals in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article. The Contracting Parties undertake to observe the rules thus laid down. The Centre shall inform the competent international organizations of the List and of the measures taken in the SPAMIs.
6. The Parties may revise the SPAMI List. To this end, the Centre shall prepare a report.

Changes in the delimitation or legal status of a SPAMI or the suppression of all or part of such an area shall not be decided upon unless there are important reasons for doing so, taking into account the need to safeguard the environment and comply with the obligations laid down in this Protocol and a procedure similar to that followed for the creation of the SPAMI and its inclusion in the List shall be observed.

1. The Parties shall manage species of flora and fauna with the aim of maintaining them in a favourable state of conservation.
2. The Parties shall, in the zones subject to their sovereignty or national jurisdiction, identify and compile lists of the endangered or threatened species of flora and fauna and accord protected status to such species. The Parties shall regulate and, where appropriate, prohibit activities having adverse effects on such species or their habitats, and carry out management, planning and other measures to ensure a favourable state of conservation of such species.
3. With respect to protected species of fauna, the Parties shall control and, where appropriate, prohibit:
(a) the taking, possession or killing (including, to the extent possible, the incidental taking, possession or killing), the commercial trade, the transport and the exhibition for commercial purposes of these species, their eggs, parts or products;
(b) to the extent possible, the disturbance of wild fauna, particularly during the period of breeding, incubation, hibernation or migration, as well as other periods of biological stress.
4. In addition to the measures specified in the previous paragraph, the Parties shall coordinate their efforts, through bilateral or multilateral action, including if necessary, agreements for the protection and recovery of migratory species whose range extends into the area to which this Protocol applies.
5. With respect to protected species of flora and their parts and products, the Parties shall regulate, and where appropriate, prohibit all forms of destruction and disturbance, including the picking, collecting, cutting, uprooting, possession of, commercial trade in, or transport and exhibition for commercial purposes of such species.
6. The Parties shall formulate and adopt measures and plans with regard to ex situ reproduction, in particular captive breeding, of protected fauna and propagation of protected flora.
7. The Parties shall endeavour, directly or through the Centre, to consult with range States that are not Parties to this Protocol, with a view to coordinating their efforts to manage and protect endangered or threatened species.
8. The Parties shall make provision, where possible, for the return of protected species exported or held illegally. Efforts should be made by Parties to reintroduce such specimens to their natural habitat.

1. The Parties shall adopt cooperative measures to ensure the protection and conservation of the flora and fauna listed in the Annexes to this Protocol relating to the List of Endangered or Threatened Species and the List of Species whose Exploitation is Regulated.
2. The Parties shall ensure the maximum possible protection and recovery of the species of fauna and flora listed in the Annex relating to the List of Endangered or Threatened Species by adopting at the national level the measures provided for in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Article 11 of this Protocol.
3. The Parties shall prohibit the destruction of and damage to the habitat of species listed in the Annex relating to the List of Endangered or Threatened Species and shall formulate and implement action plans for their conservation or recovery. They shall continue to cooperate in implementing the relevant action plans already adopted.
4. The Parties, in cooperation with competent international organizations, shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the conservation of the species listed in the Annex relating to the List of Species whose Exploitation is Regulated while at the same time authorizing and regulating the exploitation of these species so as to ensure and maintain their favourable state of conservation.
5. When the range area of a threatened or endangered species extends to both sides of a national frontier or of the limit that separates the territories or the areas subject to the sovereignty or the national jurisdiction of two Parties to this Protocol, these Parties shall cooperate with a view to ensuring the protection and conservation and, if necessary, the recovery of such species.
6. Provided that no other satisfactory solutions are available and that the exemption does not harm the survival of the population or of any other species, the Parties may grant exemptions to the prohibitions prescribed for the protection of the species listed in the Annexes to this Protocol for scientific, educational or management purposes necessary to ensure the survival of the species or to prevent significant damage. Such exemptions shall be notified to the Contracting Parties.

1. The Parties shall take all appropriate measures to regulate the intentional or accidental introduction of non-indigenous or genetically modified species to the wild and prohibit those that may have harmful impacts on the ecosystems, habitats or species in the area to which this Protocol applies.
2. The Parties shall endeavour to implement all possible measures to eradicate species that have already been introduced when, after scientific assessment, it appears that such species cause or are likely to cause damage to ecosystems, habitats or species in the area to which this Protocol applies.

1. The procedures for amendments to Annexes to this Protocol shall be those set forth in Article 17 of the Convention.
2. All proposed amendments submitted to the meeting of Contracting Parties shall have been the subject of prior evaluation by the meeting of National Focal Points.

Each Party shall compile comprehensive inventories of:
(a) areas over which they exercise sovereignty or jurisdiction that contain rare or fragile ecosystems, that are reservoirs of biological diversity, that are important for threatened or endangered species;
(b) species of fauna or flora that are endangered or threatened.

The Parties shall adopt:
(a) common criteria for the choice of protected marine and coastal areas that could be included in the SPAMI List which shall be annexed to the Protocol;
(b) common criteria for the inclusion of additional species in the Annexes;
(c) guidelines for the establishment and management of specially protected areas.
The criteria and guidelines referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) may be amended by the meeting of the Parties on the basis of a proposal made by one or more Parties.

In the planning process leading to decisions on industrial and other projects and activities that could significantly affect protected areas and species and their habitats, the Parties shall evaluate and take into consideration the possible direct or indirect, immediate or long-term, impact, including the cumulative impact of the projects and activities being contemplated.

1. In formulating protective measures, the Parties shall take into account the traditional subsistence and cultural activities of their local populations. They shall grant exemptions, as necessary, to meet such needs. No exemption which is allowed for this reason shall:
(a) endanger either the maintenance of ecosystems protected under this Protocol or the biological processes contributing to the maintenance of those ecosystems;
(b) cause either the extinction of, or a substantial reduction in, the number of individuals making up the populations or species of flora and fauna, in particular endangered, threatened, migratory or endemic species.
2. Parties which grant exemptions from the protection measures shall inform the Contracting Parties accordingly.

1. The Parties shall give appropriate publicity to the establishment of specially protected areas, their boundaries, applicable regulations, and to the designation of protected species, their habitats and applicable regulations.
2. The Parties shall endeavour to inform the public of the interest and value of specially protected areas and species, and of the scientific knowledge which may be gained from the point of view of nature conservation and other points of view. Such information should have an appropriate place in education programmes. The Parties shall also endeavour to promote the participation of their public and their conservation organizations in measures that are necessary for the protection of the areas and species concerned, including environmental impact assessments.

1. The Parties shall encourage and develop scientific and technical research relating to the aims of this Protocol. They shall also encourage and develop research into the sustainable use of specially protected areas and the management of protected species.
2. The Parties shall consult, when necessary, among themselves and with competent international organizations with a view to identifying, planning and undertaking scientific and technical research and monitoring programmes necessary for the identification and monitoring of protected areas and species and assessing the effectiveness of measures taken to implement management and recovery plans.
3. The Parties shall exchange, directly or through the Centre, scientific and technical information concerning current and planned research and monitoring programmes and the results thereof. They shall, to the fullest extent possible, coordinate their research and monitoring programmes, and endeavour jointly to define or standardize their procedures.
4. In technical and scientific research, the Parties shall give priority to SPAMIs and species appearing in the Annexes to this Protocol.

1. The Parties shall, directly or with the assistance of the Centre or international organizations concerned, establish cooperation programmes to coordinate the establishment, conservation, planning and management of specially protected areas, as well as the selection, management and conservation of protected species. There shall be regular exchanges of information concerning the characteristics of protected areas and species, the experience acquired and the problems encountered.
2. The Parties shall, at the earliest opportunity, communicate any situation that might endanger the ecosystems of specially protected areas or the survival of protected species of flora and fauna to the other Parties, to the States that might be affected and to the Centre.

1. The Parties shall cooperate, directly or with the assistance of the Centre or the international organizations concerned, in formulating, financing and implementing programmes of mutual assistance and assistance to developing countries that express a need for it with a view to implementing this Protocol.
2. These programmes shall include public environmental education, the training of scientific, technical and management personnel, scientific research, the acquisition, utilization, design and development of appropriate equipment, and transfer of technology on advantageous terms to be agreed among the Parties concerned.
3. The Parties shall, in matters of mutual assistance, give priority to the SPAMIs and species appearing in the Annexes to this Protocol.

The Parties shall submit to ordinary meetings of the Parties a report on the implementation of this Protocol, in particular on:
(a) the status and the state of the areas included in the SPAMI List;
(b) any changes in the delimitation or legal status of the SPAMIs and protected species;
(c) possible exemptions allowed pursuant to Articles 12 and 18 of this Protocol.

Each Party shall designate a National Focal Point to serve as liaison with the Centre on the technical and scientific aspects of the implementation of this Protocol. The National Focal Points shall meet periodically to carry out the functions deriving from this Protocol.

1. The Organization shall be responsible for coordinating the implementation of this Protocol. For this purpose, it shall receive the support of the Centre, to which it may entrust the following functions:
(a) assisting the Parties, in cooperation with the competent international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in:
– establishing and managing specially protected areas in the area to which this Protocol applies;
– conducting programmes of technical and scientific research as provided for in Article 20 of this Protocol;
– conducting the exchange of scientific and technical information among the Parties as provided for in Article 20 of this Protocol;
– preparing management plans for specially protected areas and species;
– developing cooperative programmes pursuant to Article 21 of this Protocol;
– preparing educational materials designed for various groups;
(b) convening and organizing the meetings of the National Focal Points and providing them with secretariat services;
(c) formulating recommendations on guidelines and common criteria pursuant to Article 16 of this Protocol;
(d) creating and updating databases of specially protected areas, protected species and other matters relevant to this Protocol;
(e) preparing reports and technical studies that may be required for the implementation of this Protocol;
(f) elaborating and implementing the training programmes mentioned in Article 22, paragraph 2;
(g) cooperating with regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with the protection of areas and species, provided that the specificity of each organization and the need to avoid the duplication of activities are respected;
(h) carrying out the functions assigned to it in the action plans adopted in the framework of this Protocol;
(i) carrying out any other function assigned to it by the Parties.

1. The ordinary meetings of the Parties to this Protocol shall be held in conjunction with the ordinary meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Convention held pursuant to Article 14 of the Convention. The Parties may also hold extraordinary meetings in conformity with that Article.
2. The meetings of the Parties to this Protocol are particularly aimed at:
(a) keeping under review the implementation of this Protocol;
(b) overseeing the work of the Organization and of the Centre relating to the implementation of this Protocol and providing policy guidance for their activities;
(c) considering the efficacy of the measures adopted for the management and protection of areas and species, and examining the need for other measures, in particular in the form of Annexes and amendments to this Protocol or to its Annexes;
(d) adopting the guidelines and common criteria provided for in Article 16 of this Protocol;
(e) considering reports transmitted by the Parties under Article 23 of this Protocol, as well as any other pertinent information which the Parties transmit through the Centre;
(f) making recommendations to the Parties on the measures to be adopted for the implementation of this Protocol;
(g) examining the recommendations of the meetings of the National Focal Points pursuant to Article 24 of this Protocol;
(h) deciding on the inclusion of an area in the SPAMI List in conformity with Article 9, paragraph 4, of this Protocol;
(i) examining any other matter relevant to this Protocol, as appropriate;
(j) discussing and evaluating the exemptions allowed by the Parties in conformity with Articles 12 and 18 of this Protocol.

The provisions of this Protocol shall not affect the right of Parties to adopt relevant stricter domestic measures for the implementation of this Protocol.

1. The Parties shall invite States that are not Parties to the Protocol and international organizations to cooperate in the implementation of this Protocol.
2. The Parties undertake to adopt appropriate measures, consistent with international law, to ensure that no one engages in any activity contrary to the principles or purposes of this Protocol.

This Protocol shall be open for signature in Barcelona on 10 June 1995 and in Madrid from 11 June 1995 to 10 June 1996 by any Contracting Party to the Convention.

This Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Government of Spain, which will assume the functions of Depositary.

As from 10 June 1996, this Protocol shall be open for accession by any State and regional economic grouping which is Party to the Convention.

1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of, or accession to, the Protocol.
2. From the date of its entry into force, this Protocol shall replace the Protocol Concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas of 1982, in the relationship among the Parties to both instruments.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Protocol.
DONE at Barcelona, on 10 June 1995, in a single copy in the Arabic, English, French and Spanish languages, the four texts being equally authoritative, for signature by any Party to the Convention.

A. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The Contracting Parties agree that the following general principles will guide their work in establishing the SPAMI List:
a) The conservation of the natural heritage is the basic aim that must characterize a SPAMI. The pursuit of other aims such as the conservation of the cultural heritage, and the promotion of scientific research, education, participation, collaboration, is highly desirable in SPAMIs and constitutes a factor in favour of a site being included on the List, to the extent in which it remains compatible with the aims of conservation.
b) No limit is imposed on the total number of areas included in the List or on the number of areas any individual Party can propose for inscription. Nevertheless, the Parties agree that sites will be selected on a scientific basis and included in the List according to their qualities; they will have therefore to fulfil the requirements set out by the Protocol and the present criteria.
c) The listed SPAMI and their geographical distribution will have to be representative of the Mediterranean region and its biodiversity. To this end the List will have to represent the highest number possible of types of habitats and ecosystems.
d) The SPAMIs will have to constitute the core of a network aiming at the effective conservation of the Mediterranean heritage. To attain this objective, the Parties will develop their cooperation on bilateral and multilateral bases in the field of conservation and management of natural sites and notably through the establishment of transboundary SPAMIs.
e) The sites included in the SPAMI List are intended to have a value of example and model for the protection of the natural heritage of the region. To this end, the Parties ensure that sites included in the List are provided with adequate legal status, protection measures and management methods and means.
 
B. GENERAL FEATURES OF THE AREAS THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THE SPAMI LIST
1. To be eligible for inclusion in the SPAMI List, an area must fulfil at least one of the general criteria set in Article 8 paragraph 2 of the Protocol. Several of these general criteria can in certain cases be fulfilled by the same area, and such a circumstance cannot but strengthen the case for the inclusion of the area in the List.
2. The regional value is a basic requirement of an area for being included in the SPAMI List. The following criteria should be used in evaluating the Mediterranean interest of an area:
 
a) Uniqueness
The area contains unique or rare ecosystems, or rare or endemic species.
 
b) Natural representativeness
The area has highly representative ecological processes, or community or habitat types or other natural characteristics. Representativeness is the degree to which an area represents a habitat type, ecological process, biological community, physiographic feature or other natural characteristic.
 
c) Diversity
The area has a high diversity of species, communities, habitats or ecosystems.
 
d) Naturalness
The area has a high degree of naturalness as a result of the lack or low level of human-induced disturbance and degradation.
 
e) Presence of habitats that are critical to endangered, threatened or endemic species.
 
f) Cultural representativeness
The area has a high representative value with respect to the cultural heritage, due to the existence of environmentally sound traditional activities integrated with nature which support the well-being of local populations.
3. To be included in the SPAMI List, an area having scientific, educational or aesthetic interest must, respectively, present a particular value for research in the field of natural sciences or for activities of environmental education or awareness or contain outstanding natural features, landscapes or seascapes.
4. Besides the fundamental criteria specified in article 8, paragraph 2, of the Protocol, a certain number of other characteristics and factors should be considered as favourable for the inclusion of the site in the List. These include:
a) the existence of threats likely to impair the ecological, biological, aesthetic or cultural value of the area;
b) the involvement and active participation of the public in general, and particularly of local communities, in the process of planning and management of the area;
c) the existence of a body representing the public, professional, non-governmental sectors and the scientific community involved in the area;
d) the existence in the area of opportunities for sustainable development;
e) the existence of an integrated coastal management plan within the meaning of Article 4 paragraph 3 (e) of the Convention.
 
C. LEGAL STATUS
1. All areas eligible for inclusion in the SPAMI List must be awarded a legal status guaranteeing their effective long-term protection.
2. To be included in the SPAMI List, an area situated in a zone already delimited over which a Party exercises sovereignty or jurisdiction must have a protected status recognized by the Party concerned.
3. In the case of areas situated, partly or wholly, on the high sea or in a zone where the limits of national sovereignty or jurisdiction have not yet been defined, the legal status, the management plan, the applicable measures and the other elements provided for in Article 9, paragraph 3, of the Protocol will be provided by the neighbouring Parties concerned in the proposal for inclusion in the SPAMI List.
 
D. PROTECTION, PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
1. Conservation and management objectives must be clearly defined in the texts relating to each site, and will constitute the basis for assessment of the adequacy of the adopted measures and the effectiveness of their implementation at the revisions of the SPAMI List.
2. Protection, planning and management measures applicable to each area must be adequate for the achievement of the conservation and management objectives set for the site in the short and long term, and take in particular into account the threats upon it.
3. Protection, planning and management measures must be based on an adequate knowledge of the elements of the natural environment and of socio-economic and cultural factors that characterize each area. In case of shortcomings in basic knowledge, an area proposed for inclusion in the SPAMI List must have a programme for the collection of the unavailable data and information.
4. The competence and responsibility with regard to administration and implementation of conservation measures for areas proposed for inclusion in the SPAMI List must be clearly defined in the texts governing each area.
5. In the respect of the specificity characterizing each protected site, the protection measures for a SPAMI must take account of the following basic aspects:
a) the strengthening of the regulation of the release or dumping of wastes and other substances likely directly or indirectly to impair the integrity of the area;
b) the strengthening of the regulation of the introduction or reintroduction of any species into the area;
c) the regulation of any activity or act likely to harm or disturb the species, or that might endanger the conservation status of the ecosystems or species or might impair the natural, cultural or aesthetic characteristics of the area.
d) the regulation applicable to the zones surrounding the area in question.
6. To be included in the SPAMI List, a protected area must have a management body, endowed with sufficient powers as well as means and human resources to prevent and/or control activities likely to be contrary to the aims of the protected area.
7. To be included in the SPAMI List an area will have to be endowed with a management plan. The main rules of this management plan are to be laid down as from the time of inclusion and implemented immediately. A detailed management plan must be presented within three years of the time of inclusion. Failure to respect this obligation entails the removal of the site from the List.
8. To be included in the SPAMI List, an area will have to be endowed with a monitoring programme. This programme should include the identification and monitoring of a certain number of significant parameters for the area in question, in order to allow the assessment of the state and evolution of the area, as well as the effectiveness of protection and management measures implemented, so that they may be adapted if need be. To this end further necessary studies are to be commissioned.

Pogodbenice tega protokola
so pogodbenice Konvencije o varstvu Sredozemskega morja pred onesnaženjem, sprejete 16. februarja 1976 v Barceloni,
se zavedajo velikega vpliva človekovih dejavnosti na stanje morskega okolja in obale ter splošneje na ekosisteme območij s prevladujočimi sredozemskimi značilnostmi,
poudarjajo, da je pomembno varovati, in če je primerno, izboljševati stanje sredozemske naravne in kulturne dediščine, zlasti z ustanavljanjem posebej zavarovanih območij ter tudi z varovanjem in ohranjanjem ogroženih vrst,
upoštevajo dokumente, ki jih je sprejela Konferenca Združenih narodov o okolju in razvoju, in zlasti Konvencijo o biološki raznovrstnosti (Rio de Janeiro, 1992),
se zavedajo, da ob nevarnosti občutnega zmanjšanja ali izgube biološke raznovrstnosti pomanjkanje popolne znanstvene zanesljivosti ne bi smelo biti razlog za odlaganje ukrepov, s katerimi bi se lahko izognili tej grožnji ali jo čim bolj zmanjšali,
upoštevajo, da bi morale vse pogodbenice sodelovati, da se ohranita, zavarujeta in obnovita zdravje in celovitost ekosistemov, pri tem pa imajo skupne, čeprav različne odgovornosti, in
so se zato sporazumele:

V tem protokolu:
a) “konvencija“ pomeni Konvencijo o varstvu Sredozemskega morja pred onesnaženjem, sprejeto 16. februarja 1976 v Barceloni in spremenjeno leta 1995 v Barceloni;
b) “biološka raznovrstnost“ pomeni raznolikost živih organizmov iz vseh okolij, ki vključujejo med drugim kopenske, morske in druge vodne ekosisteme in ekološke komplekse, katerih del so; to vključuje raznolikost znotraj vrst, med vrstami in raznolikost ekosistemov;
c) “prizadeta vrsta“ pomeni katero koli vrsto, ki ji grozi izumrtje na celotnem območju razširjenosti ali njegovem delu;
d) “endemična vrsta“ pomeni katero koli vrsto, katere območje razširjenosti je omejeno na določeno geografsko območje;
e) “ogrožena vrsta“ pomeni katero koli vrsto, ki bo v predvidljivi prihodnosti verjetno izumrla na celotnem območju razširjenosti ali njegovem delu in verjetno ne bo preživela, če bodo še naprej delovali dejavniki, ki povzročajo upadanje števila ali poslabšanje habitata;
f) “ohranitveno stanje vrste“ pomeni vsoto vplivov, ki delujejo na vrsto in lahko vplivajo na njeno dolgoročno porazdelitev in številčnost;
g) “pogodbenice“ pomeni pogodbenice tega protokola;
h) “organizacija“ pomeni organizacijo iz 2. člena konvencije;
i) “center“ pomeni Regionalni center dejavnosti za posebej zavarovana območja.

1. Območje, za katero se uporablja ta protokol, je območje Sredozemskega morja, kot je razmejeno v 1. členu konvencije. Obsega tudi:
– morsko dno in njegovo podzemlje;
– vode, morsko dno in njegovo podzemlje na kopenski strani temeljne črte, od katere se meri širina teritorialnega morja, ki pri vodotokih sega vse do meje sladke vode;
– kopenska obalna območja, ki jih določi vsaka pogodbenica, vključno z mokrišči.
2. Nič v tem protokolu niti akt, sprejet na njegovi podlagi, ne vpliva na pravice, na sedanje in prihodnje zahtevke ali na pravna stališča katere koli države v zvezi s pravom morja, zlasti z naravo in obsegom morskih območij, razmejitvijo morskih območij med državami z nasproti ležečimi ali sosednjimi obalami, svobodno plovbo na odprtem morju, pravico in načini prehoda skozi ožine, ki se uporabljajo za mednarodno plovbo, in pravico neškodljivega prehoda skozi teritorialna morja, kot tudi z naravo ter obsegom jurisdikcije obalne države, države zastave in države pristanišča.
3. Nobeno dejanje ali dejavnost, ki temelji na tem protokolu, ne sme biti razlog za zahtevke, spore ali spodbijanje zahtevkov za suverenost ali jurisdikcijo države.

1. Vsaka pogodbenica stori vse potrebno:
a) da varuje, ohranja in upravlja območja posebne naravne ali kulturne vrednosti na trajnosten in okolju neškodljiv način, predvsem z ustanavljanjem posebej zavarovanih območij;
b) da varuje, ohranja in upravlja ogrožene ali prizadete rastlinske ali živalske vrste.
2. Pogodbenice neposredno ali prek pristojnih mednarodnih organizacij sodelujejo pri ohranjanju in trajnostni uporabi biološke raznovrstnosti na območju, na katerem se uporablja ta protokol.
3. Pogodbenice določijo sestavine biološke raznovrstnosti, ki so pomembne za njeno ohranitev in trajnostno uporabo, in sestavijo inventarje takih sestavin.
4. Pogodbenice sprejmejo strategije, načrte in programe za ohranitev biološke raznovrstnosti in trajnostno uporabo morskih in obalnih bioloških virov ter jih vključijo v svoje ustrezne sektorske in medsektorske politike.
5. Pogodbenice spremljajo sestavine biološke raznovrstnosti iz tretjega odstavka tega člena in določijo procese in vrste dejavnosti, ki imajo ali lahko imajo pomemben škodljiv vpliv na ohranjanje in trajnostno uporabo biološke raznovrstnosti, ter spremljajo njihove učinke.
6. Vsaka pogodbenica uporablja ukrepe, predvidene v tem protokolu, brez vpliva na suverenost ali jurisdikcijo drugih pogodbenic ali držav. Vsi ukrepi, ki jih sprejme pogodbenica, da bi uveljavila te ukrepe, so skladni z mednarodnim pravom.

Cilj posebej zavarovanih območij je varovati:
a) reprezentativne tipe obalnih in morskih ekosistemov ustrezne velikosti, da se zagotovi njihova dolgoročna samoohranitvena sposobnost in ohrani njihova biološka raznovrstnost;
b) habitate, ki so v nevarnosti, da izginejo iz svojega naravnega območja razširjenosti v Sredozemlju, ali katerih naravno območje razširjenosti je zmanjšano zaradi njihovega krčenja ali zato, ker so ta območja omejena že sama po sebi;
c) habitate, ki so nujni za preživetje, razmnoževanje in obnavljanje prizadetih, ogroženih ali endemičnih rastlinskih ali živalskih vrst;
d) območja posebnega pomena zaradi njihove znanstvene, estetske, kulturne ali izobraževalne zanimivosti.

1. Vsaka pogodbenica lahko ustanovi posebej zavarovana območja v obmorskih in obalnih conah pod svojo suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo.
2. Če pogodbenica namerava na območju pod svojo suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo ustanoviti posebej zavarovano območje, ki se stika z državno mejo in z mejami cone pod suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo druge pogodbenice, si pristojni organi obeh pogodbenic prizadevajo sodelovati, da bi se sporazumeli o ukrepih, ki jih je treba sprejeti, in med drugim proučili možnost, da bi druga pogodbenica ustanovila ustrezno posebej zavarovano območje ali sprejela druge primerne ukrepe.
3. Če pogodbenica namerava na območju pod svojo suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo ustanoviti posebej zavarovano območje, ki se stika z državno mejo in z mejami cone pod suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo države, ki ni pogodbenica tega protokola, si pogodbenica prizadeva sodelovati s to državo tako, kot je navedeno v prejšnjem odstavku.
4. Če namerava država, ki ni pogodbenica tega protokola, ustanoviti posebej zavarovano območje, ki se stika z državno mejo in z mejami cone pod suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo pogodbenice tega protokola, si slednja prizadeva sodelovati s to državo tako, kot je navedeno v drugem odstavku.

Pogodbenice skladno z mednarodnim pravom in ob upoštevanju značilnosti vsakega posebej zavarovanega območja sprejmejo potrebne varstvene ukrepe, zlasti:
a) krepitev uporabe drugih protokolov h konvenciji in drugih ustreznih mednarodnih pogodb, katerih pogodbenice so;
b) prepoved odmetavanja ali odvajanja odpadkov in drugih snovi, ki bi verjetno neposredno ali posredno škodovali celovitosti posebej zavarovanega območja;
c) zakonsko ureditev prehoda ladij in vsakega ustavljanja ali sidranja;
d) zakonsko ureditev naselitve katere koli vrste, ki ni domorodna na obravnavanem posebej zavarovanem območju, ali gensko spremenjenih vrst ter naselitve ali ponovne naselitve vrst, ki so ali so bile na posebej zavarovanem območju;
e) zakonsko ureditev ali prepoved vsake dejavnosti, ki vključuje raziskovanje ali spreminjanje tal ali izkoriščanje kopenskega podtalja, morskega dna ali njegovega podzemlja;
f) zakonsko ureditev znanstvenoraziskovalnih dejavnosti;
g) zakonsko ureditev ali prepoved ribolova, lova, odvzema živali in nabiranja rastlin ali njihovega uničevanja ter trgovine z živalmi, deli živali, rastlinami, deli rastlin, ki izvirajo iz posebej zavarovanih območij;
h) zakonsko ureditev, in če je potrebno, prepoved vseh drugih dejavnosti ali dejanj, ki bi verjetno poškodovala ali vznemirila vrste ali bi lahko ogrozila ohranitveno stanje ekosistemov ali vrst ali škodovala naravnim in kulturnim značilnostim posebej zavarovanega območja;
i) kakršen koli drug ukrep, katerega cilj je varovanje ekoloških in bioloških procesov ter krajine.

1. Pogodbenice skladno s pravili mednarodnega prava sprejmejo ukrepe za načrtovanje, upravljanje, nadziranje in spremljanje stanja in sprememb za posebej zavarovana območja.
2. Taki ukrepi naj za vsako posebej zavarovano območje vključujejo:
a) izdelavo in sprejem načrta upravljanja, ki določa pravni in institucionalni okvir ter primerne ukrepe upravljanja in varstva;
b) stalno spremljanje ekoloških procesov, habitatov, populacijske dinamike, krajin ter vpliva človekovih dejavnosti;
c) ustrezno dejavno vključevanje lokalnih skupnosti in prebivalstva v upravljanje posebej zavarovanih območij skupaj s pomočjo lokalnim prebivalcem, ki bi bili z ustanovitvijo takih območij lahko prizadeti;
d) sprejem mehanizmov za financiranje spodbujanja uveljavitve in upravljanja posebej zavarovanih območij ter razvoj dejavnosti, ki zagotavljajo, da je upravljanje združljivo s cilji takih območij;
e) zakonsko ureditev dejavnosti, ki so združljive s cilji ustanovitve posebej zavarovanih območij, in pogojev ustreznih dovoljenj;
f) izobraževanje upravljavcev in usposobljenega strokovnega osebja ter razvoj ustrezne infrastrukture.
3. Pogodbenice zagotovijo, da nacionalni načrti za ukrepanje v izjemnih razmerah vključujejo ukrepe za odzivanje ob dogodkih, ki bi lahko povzročili škodo ali ogrozili posebej zavarovana območja.
4. Ko so posebej zavarovana območja, ki zajemajo kopenska in morska območja, ustanovljena, si pogodbenice prizadevajo zagotoviti usklajeno vodenje in upravljanje posebej zavarovanega območja kot celote.

1. Da bi spodbudile sodelovanje pri upravljanju in ohranjanju naravnih območij ter varstvu ogroženih vrst in njihovih habitatov, pogodbenice sestavijo Seznam posebej zavarovanih območij, pomembnih za Sredozemlje, v nadaljnjem besedilu seznam SPAMI.
2. Seznam SPAMI lahko vključuje območja:
– ki so pomembna za ohranjanje sestavin biološke raznovrstnosti v Sredozemlju;
– kjer so ekosistemi, značilni za sredozemsko območje, ali habitat prizadetih vrst;
– ki so posebnega pomena na znanstveni, estetski, kulturni ali izobraževalni ravni.
3. Pogodbenice se strinjajo:
a) da priznajo poseben pomen teh območij za Sredozemlje;
b) da upoštevajo ukrepe, ki se uporabljajo za SPAMI, in niti ne dovolijo niti ne izvajajo dejavnosti, ki bi lahko bile v nasprotju s cilji ustanovitve SPAMI.

1. SPAMI se lahko ustanovi po postopku, predvidenem v drugem, tretjem in četrtem odstavku tega člena, v: a) morskih in obalnih conah pod suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo pogodbenic; b) conah, ki so deloma ali v celoti na odprtem morju.
2. Predloge za vključitev v seznam lahko predložijo:
a) pogodbenica, če je območje v že razmejeni coni pod njeno suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo;
b) dve ali več sosednjih pogodbenic, če je območje deloma ali v celoti na odprtem morju;
c) sosednje pogodbenice na območjih, kjer meje državne suverenosti ali jurisdikcije še niso določene.
3. Pogodbenice, ki dajo predlog za vključitev v seznam SPAMI, pošljejo centru uvodno poročilo, ki vsebuje podatke o zemljepisni legi območja, njegovih fizičnih in ekoloških značilnostih, pravnem statusu, načrtih upravljanja in načinih njihovega izvajanja ter izjavo, ki utemeljuje sredozemski pomen območja;
a) če je predlog oblikovan skladno s pododstavkoma b) in c) drugega odstavka tega člena, se udeležene sosednje pogodbenice med seboj posvetujejo, da zagotovijo skladnost predlaganih ukrepov varstva in upravljanja ter načinov njihovega izvajanja;
b) v predlogih, danih po drugem odstavku tega člena, so navedeni ukrepi varstva in upravljanja, ki se uporabljajo za območje, ter načini njihovega izvajanja.
4. Postopek za vključitev predlaganega območja v seznam:
a) za vsako območje se predlog predloži nacionalnim koordinatorjem, ki proučijo njegovo skladnost s skupnimi smernicami in merili, sprejetimi na podlagi 16. člena;
b) če je po presoji predlog, dan v skladu s pododstavkom a) drugega odstavka tega člena, skladen s smernicami in skupnimi merili, organizacija obvesti zasedanje pogodbenic, ki se odloči, da se območje vključi v seznam SPAMI;
c) če je predlog, dan v skladu s pododstavkoma b) in c) drugega odstavka tega člena, skladen s smernicami in skupnimi merili, ga center pošlje organizaciji, ki obvesti zasedanje pogodbenice. Odločitev, da se območje vključi v seznam SPAMI, pogodbenice sprejmejo s konsenzom. Pogodbenice tudi odobrijo ukrepe upravljanja, ki se uporabljajo za območje.
5. Pogodbenice, ki so predlagale vključitev območja v seznam SPAMI, izvajajo ukrepe varstva in ohranjanja, ki so določeni v njihovih predlogih skladno s tretjim odstavkom tega člena. Pogodbenice se zavezujejo, da bodo spoštovale tako določena pravila. Center obvesti pristojne mednarodne organizacije o seznamu in ukrepih, izvedenih na teh območjih.
6. Pogodbenice lahko popravijo seznam SPAMI. V ta namen center pripravi poročilo.

O spremembah v razmejitvi ali pravnem statusu SPAMI ali ukinitvi celotnega ali dela območja se ne odloča, če za to ni tehtnih razlogov; pri tem je treba upoštevati, da je treba varovati okolje in spoštovati obveznosti, določene v tem protokolu, in se ravnati po postopku, ki je podoben postopku za ustanovitev SPAMI, in njegovo vključitev v seznam.

1. Pogodbenice ravnajo z rastlinskimi in živalskimi vrstami tako, da vzdržujejo njihovo ugodno ohranitveno stanje.
2. Pogodbenice v conah pod njihovo suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo določijo prizadete ali ogrožene rastlinske in živalske vrste, sestavijo njihove sezname in jim podelijo status zavarovane vrste. Pogodbenice zakonsko uredijo, in če je primerno, prepovejo dejavnosti, ki škodljivo vplivajo na take vrste ali njihove habitate, in upravljajo, načrtujejo ali izvedejo druge ukrepe tako, da zagotovijo ugodno ohranitveno stanje takih vrst.
3. Za zavarovane živalske vrste pogodbenice nadzorujejo in po potrebi prepovejo:
a) odvzemanje, posedovanje ali ubijanje (kar v možnem obsegu vključuje tudi naključni odvzem, posedovanje ali ubijanje) teh vrst, njihovih jajc, delov ali izdelkov, trgovanje z njimi ter njihovo prevažanje in razstavljanje v komercialne namene;
b) vznemirjanje prosto živečih živali, zlasti med razmnoževanjem, inkubacijo, hibernacijo ali selitvijo ter v drugih obdobjih biološkega stresa, kolikor je to le mogoče.
4. Poleg ukrepov, določenih v prejšnjem odstavku, pogodbenice usklajujejo svoja prizadevanja z dvostranskim in večstranskim delovanjem, kar po potrebi vključuje sporazume za varstvo in obnovitev selitvenih vrst, katerih območje razširjenosti sega na območje, za katero se uporablja ta protokol.
5. Za zavarovane rastlinske vrste, njihove dele in izdelke pogodbenice zakonsko uredijo in po potrebi prepovejo vse oblike uničevanja in motenja, vključno s trganjem, nabiranjem, rezanjem, ruvanjem, posedovanjem takih vrst, trgovanjem z njimi ali njihovim prevažanjem in razstavljanjem v komercialne namene.
6. Pogodbenice oblikujejo in sprejmejo ukrepe in načrte glede razmnoževanja zavarovanih živali in rastlin ex situ, zlasti glede vzreje živali v ujetništvu.
7. Pogodbenice si neposredno ali prek centra prizadevajo posvetovati se z državami na območju razširjenosti, ki niso pogodbenice tega protokola, da bi uskladile svoja in njihova prizadevanja za varstvo prizadetih ali ogroženih vrst in ravnanje z njimi.
8. Če je le mogoče, pogodbenice sprejmejo določbe za vrnitev nezakonito izvožene ali posedovane zavarovane vrste. Pogodbenice naj si prizadevajo take osebke ponovno naseliti v njihov naravni habitat.

1. Pogodbenice sprejmejo skupne ukrepe, da zagotovijo varstvo in ohranitev rastlin in živali, navedenih v tistih prilogah k temu protokolu, ki se nanašajo na Seznam prizadetih ali ogroženih vrst in Seznam vrst, katerih izkoriščanje je zakonsko urejeno.
2. Pogodbenice zagotovijo največje možno varstvo in obnovitev rastlinskih in živalskih vrst iz priloge, ki se nanaša na Seznam prizadetih ali ogroženih vrst, tako da na državni ravni sprejmejo ukrepe, predvidene v tretjem in petem odstavku 11. člena tega protokola.
3. Pogodbenice prepovejo uničenje in poškodovanje habitatov vrst iz priloge, ki se nanaša na Seznam prizadetih ali ogroženih vrst, ter oblikujejo in izvedejo načrte ukrepanja za njihovo ohranitev in obnovitev. Pogodbenice še naprej sodelujejo pri izvajanju ustreznih načrtov ukrepanja, ki so že sprejeti.
4. Pogodbenice v sodelovanju s pristojnimi mednarodnimi organizacijami storijo vse potrebno, da zagotovijo ohranitev vrst iz priloge, ki se nanaša na Seznam vrst, katerih izkoriščanje je zakonsko urejeno, in hkrati dovolijo in zakonsko uredijo izkoriščanje teh vrst, da tako zagotovijo in vzdržujejo njihovo ugodno ohranitveno stanje.
5. Če območje razširjenosti ogrožene ali prizadete vrste sega na obe strani državne meje ali meje, ki ločuje ozemlja ali območja, nad katerimi imata suverenost ali jurisdikcijo dve pogodbenici tega protokola, ti pogodbenici sodelujeta, da bi zagotovili varstvo in ohranitev ter po potrebi obnovitev takih vrst.
6. Pogodbenice lahko odobrijo izjeme pri prepovedih, predpisanih za varstvo vrst iz prilog k temu protokolu, za znanstvene ali izobraževalne namene ali namene upravljanja, ki so potrebni, da se zagotovi preživetje vrste ali prepreči pomembna škoda, če ni na voljo nobenih drugih zadovoljivih rešitev in če izjema ne škoduje preživetju populacije ali katere koli druge vrste. O takih izjemah se uradno obvestijo pogodbenice.

1. Pogodbenice storijo vse potrebno, da zakonsko uredijo namerno ali naključno naselitev tujerodnih ali gensko spremenjenih vrst v naravo in prepovejo tako naselitev, ki lahko škodljivo vpliva na ekosisteme, habitate ali vrste na območju, za katero se uporablja ta protokol.
2. Pogodbenice si prizadevajo izvajati vse možne ukrepe, da iztrebijo vrste, ki so že bile naseljene, če znanstvena presoja pokaže, da take vrste povzročajo ali bodo verjetno povzročile škodo ekosistemom, habitatom ali vrstam na območju, za katero se uporablja ta protokol.

1. Postopki za spreminjanje prilog k temu protokolu so postopki, določeni v 17. členu konvencije.
2. Vse predlagane spremembe, predložene zasedanju pogodbenic, predhodno ocenijo nacionalni koordinatorji na skupnem sestanku.

Vsaka pogodbenica izdela izčrpne inventarje:
a) tistih območij pod njeno suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo, na katerih so redki ali občutljivi ekosistemi, ki so rezervoarji biološke raznovrstnosti, in ki so pomembna za ogrožene ali prizadete vrste;
b) prizadetih ali ogroženih rastlinskih ali živalskih vrst.

Pogodbenice sprejmejo:
a) skupna merila za izbiranje zavarovanih morskih in obalnih območij, ki bi se lahko vključila v seznam SPAMI, ki bo priloga k protokolu;
b) skupna merila za vključitev dodatnih vrst v priloge;
c) smernice za ustanavljanje in upravljanje posebej zavarovanih območij.
Zasedanje pogodbenic lahko spremenijo merila in smernice iz odstavkov b) in c) na podlagi predloga ene ali več pogodbenic.

Pogodbenice med načrtovanjem, na podlagi katerega se odloča o industrijskih in drugih projektih in dejavnostih, ki bi lahko pomembno vplivali na zavarovana območja in vrste ter njihove habitate, ovrednotijo in upoštevajo možne neposredne ali posredne, takojšnje ali dolgoročne vplive, vključno s skupnim vplivom predvidenih projektov in dejavnosti.

1. Pri oblikovanju varstvenih ukrepov pogodbenice upoštevajo tradicionalne dejavnosti, ki so značilne za kulturo in preživljanje lokalnega. Če je potrebno, odobrijo izjeme, da se zadovoljijo take potrebe. Nobena izjema, dovoljena v ta namen, ne sme:
a) ogroziti ohranitve ekosistemov, zavarovanih po tem protokolu, ali bioloških procesov, ki prispevajo k ohranjanju teh ekosistemov;
b) povzročiti izumrtja ali pomembnega zmanjšanja števila osebkov, ki sestavljajo rastlinske in živalske populacije ali vrste, zlasti prizadete, ogrožene, selitvene ali endemične vrste.
2. Pogodbenice, ki odobrijo izjeme pri varstvenih ukrepih, ustrezno obvestijo druge pogodbenice.

1. Pogodbenice ustrezno seznanjajo javnost z ustanovitvijo posebej zavarovanih območij, njihovimi mejami in zanje veljavnimi predpisi ter z razglasitvijo zavarovanih vrst, njihovimi habitati in zanje veljavnimi predpisi.
2. Pogodbenice si prizadevajo obvestiti javnost o pomenu in vrednosti posebej zavarovanih območij in vrst in o znanstvenih dognanjih, ki se nanašajo na ohranjanje narave in druga področja. Take informacije naj bodo ustrezno vključene v izobraževalne programe. Pogodbenice si prizadevajo tudi spodbujati javnost in naravovarstvene organizacije, da sodelujejo pri ukrepih, ki so potrebni za varstvo obravnavanih območij in vrst, skupaj s presojami vplivov na okolje.

1. Pogodbenice spodbujajo in razvijajo znanstveno in tehnično raziskovanje, povezano s cilji tega protokola. Spodbujajo in razvijajo tudi raziskovanje trajnostne rabe posebej zavarovanih območij in ravnanje z zavarovanimi vrstami.
2. Kadar je potrebno, se pogodbenice posvetujejo med seboj in s pristojnimi mednarodnimi organizacijami, da bi določile, načrtovale in izvedle programe znanstvenih in tehničnih raziskav ter spremljanja stanja in sprememb, ki so potrebni za določanje in spremljanje zavarovanih območij in vrst, in ocenile učinkovitost ukrepov za izvajanje načrtov upravljanja in obnove.
3. Pogodbenice neposredno ali prek centra izmenjujejo znanstvene in tehnične informacije o tekočih in načrtovanih programih raziskav in spremljanja stanja in sprememb ter o rezultatih takih programov. Kolikor je le mogoče, usklajujejo svoje programe raziskav in spremljanja stanja in sprememb ter si skupaj prizadevajo opredeliti ali standardizirati svoje postopke.
4. Pri tehničnih in znanstvenih raziskavah pogodbenice dajejo prednost SPAMI in vrstam iz prilog k temu protokolu.

1. Pogodbenice neposredno ali s pomočjo centra ali mednarodnih organizacij izdelajo programe sodelovanja, da uskladijo ustanavljanje, ohranjanje, načrtovanje in upravljanje posebej zavarovanih območij ter izbiranje in ohranjanje zavarovanih vrst ter ravnanje z njimi. Redno si izmenjujejo informacije o značilnostih zavarovanih območij in vrst, o pridobljenih izkušnjah in o težavah, s katerimi se srečujejo.
2. Pogodbenice čim prej obvestijo druge pogodbenice, države, ki bi lahko bile prizadete, in center o vsaki okoliščini, ki bi lahko ogrozila ekosisteme posebej zavarovanih območij ali preživetje zavarovanih rastlinskih in živalskih vrst.

1. Pogodbenice neposredno ali s pomočjo centra ali mednarodnih organizacij sodelujejo pri oblikovanju, financiranju in izvajanju programov medsebojne pomoči in pomoči državam v razvoju, ki zaprosijo za pomoč, da bi izvajale ta protokol.
2. Ti programi vključujejo okoljsko izobraževanje javnosti, usposabljanje znanstvenega in tehničnega osebja ter upravljavcev, znanstveno raziskovanje, nabavo, uporabo, projektiranje in razvoj ustrezne opreme ter prenos tehnologije pod ugodnimi pogoji, o katerih se sporazumejo zadevne pogodbenice.
3. Pogodbenice pri medsebojni pomoči dajejo prednost SPAMI in vrstam iz prilog k temu protokolu.

Pogodbenice rednim zasedanjem pogodbenic predložijo poročilo o izvajanju tega protokola, zlasti:
a) o statusu območij, vključenih v seznam SPAMI, in o stanju na teh območjih;
b) o vseh spremembah pri razmejitvi ali pravnem statusu SPAMI in zavarovanih vrst;
c) o možnih izjemah, dovoljenih na podlagi 12. in 18. člena tega protokola.

Vsaka pogodbenica imenuje nacionalnega koordinatorja, ki je odgovoren za povezavo s centrom glede tehničnih in znanstvenih vidikov izvajanja tega protokola. Nacionalni koordinatorji se redno sestajajo za izvajanje nalog, ki izhajajo iz tega protokola.

1. Organizacija je odgovorna za usklajevanje izvajanja tega protokola. Pri tem ji pomaga center, ki mu lahko poveri te naloge:
a) v sodelovanju s pristojnimi mednarodnimi, medvladnimi in nevladnimi organizacijami pomagati pogodbenicam pri:
– ustanavljanju in upravljanju posebej zavarovanih območij na območju, za katero se uporablja ta protokol;
– izvajanju programov tehničnih in znanstvenih raziskav, kot je predvideno v 20. členu tega protokola;
– izmenjavi znanstvenih in tehničnih informacij med pogodbenicami, kot je predvideno v 20. členu tega protokola;
– pripravi programov upravljanja za posebej zavarovana območja in vrste;
– razvijanju programov sodelovanja na podlagi 21. člena tega protokola;
– pripravi izobraževalnega gradiva, namenjenega različnim skupinam;
b) sklicevati in organizirati sestanke nacionalnih koordinatorjev in jim zagotoviti storitve sekretariata;
c) oblikovati priporočila o smernicah in skupnih merilih na podlagi 16. člena tega protokola;
d) pripravljati in obnavljati baze podatkov o posebej zavarovanih območjih, zavarovanih vrstah in drugih zadevah, povezanih s tem protokolom;
e) pripravljati poročila in tehnične študije, ki bi lahko bile potrebne za izvajanje tega protokola;
f) izdelovati in izvajati programe usposabljanja iz drugega odstavka 22. člena;
g) sodelovati z regionalnimi in mednarodnimi vladnimi in nevladnimi organizacijami, ki se ukvarjajo z varstvom območij in vrst, pod pogojem, da se spoštuje svojevrstnost vsake organizacije in da se upošteva, da je treba preprečiti podvajanje dejavnosti;
h) izvajati naloge, ki so mu bile dodeljene v načrtih ukrepanja, sprejetih v okviru tega protokola;
i) izvajati kakršne koli druge naloge, ki mu jih dodelijo pogodbenice.

1. Redna zasedanja pogodbenic tega protokola potekajo skupaj z rednimi zasedanji pogodbenic konvencije, ki se skličejo na podlagi 14. člena konvencije. Skladno z omenjenim členom lahko imajo pogodbenice tudi izredna zasedanja.
2. Cilji zasedanj pogodbenic tega protokola so predvsem:
a) spremljati izvajanje tega protokola;
b) nadzorovati delo organizacije in centra v zvezi z izvajanjem tega protokola in politično usmerjati njune dejavnosti;
c) presojati učinkovitost ukrepov, sprejetih za upravljanje in varstvo območij in vrst, in proučevati potrebe po drugih ukrepih, zlasti v obliki prilog k temu protokolu in sprememb protokola ali njegovih prilog;
d) sprejeti smernice in skupna merila, predvidene v 16. členu tega protokola;
e) obravnavati poročila, ki jih pošljejo pogodbenice po 23. členu tega protokola, in vse druge ustrezne informacije, ki jih pogodbenice sporočijo prek centra;
f) dajati pogodbenicam priporočila o ukrepih, ki jih je treba sprejeti za izvajanje tega protokola;
g) proučiti priporočila s sestankov nacionalnih koordinatorjev na podlagi 24. člena tega protokola;
h) odločati o vključitvi območja v seznam SPAMI skladno s četrtim odstavkom 9. člena tega protokola;
i) ustrezno proučiti kakršne koli druge zadeve, pomembne za ta protokol;
j) obravnavati in oceniti izjeme, ki jih pogodbenice dovolijo skladno z 12. in 18. členom tega protokola.

Določbe tega protokola ne vplivajo na pravico pogodbenic, da sprejmejo ustrezne strožje notranje ukrepe za izvajanje tega protokola.

1. Pogodbenice povabijo države, ki niso pogodbenice protokola, in mednarodne organizacije, da sodelujejo pri izvajanju tega protokola.
2. Pogodbenice se zavezujejo, da bodo sprejele ustrezne ukrepe, ki bodo skladni z mednarodnim pravom, in s katerimi bodo zagotovile, da nihče ne bo opravljal nobene dejavnosti, ki bi bila v nasprotju z načeli in nameni tega protokola.

Ta protokol je vsem pogodbenicam konvencije na voljo za podpis 10. junija 1995 v Barceloni in od 11. junija 1995 do 10. junija 1996 v Madridu.

Ta protokol je treba ratificirati, sprejeti ali odobriti. Listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju ali odobritvi se deponirajo pri vladi Španije, ki bo prevzela naloge depozitarja.

Ta protokol je od 10. junija 1996 na voljo za pristop kateri koli državi in regionalni gospodarski grupaciji, ki je pogodbenica konvencije.

1. Ta protokol začne veljati trideseti dan po deponiranju šeste listine o ratifikaciji, sprejetju ali odobritvi protokola ali listine o pristopu k protokolu.
2. V odnosih med pogodbenicami obeh protokolov ta protokol z dnem, ko začne veljati, nadomesti Protokol o posebej zavarovanih območjih v Sredozemskem morju iz leta 1982.
Da bi to potrdili, so podpisani, ki so bili pravilno pooblaščeni, podpisali ta protokol.
Sestavljeno v Barceloni 10. junija 1995 v enem izvodu v angleškem, arabskem, francoskem in španskem jeziku, pri čemer so vsa štiri besedila enako veljavna, za podpis katere koli pogodbenice konvencije.

A. SPLOŠNA NAČELA
Pogodbenice se strinjajo, da bodo navedena splošna načela vodila njihovo delo pri izdelavi seznama SPAMI:
a) Ohranjanje naravne dediščine je temeljni cilj, ki mora opredeljevati SPAMI. Uresničevanje drugih ciljev, kot je ohranjanje kulturne dediščine, in spodbujanje znanstvenih raziskav, izobraževanja, udeleževanja in sodelovanja sta pri SPAMI zelo zaželeni in se štejeta v dobro za vključitev območja v seznam, dokler sta združljivi s cilji ohranjanja.
b) Skupno število območij, vključenih v seznam, ali število območij, ki jih posamezna pogodbenica lahko predlaga za vpis, ni omejeno. Kljub temu pa se pogodbenice strinjajo, da se bodo območja izbirala na znanstveni podlagi in vključevala v seznam glede na njihove lastnosti; zato bodo morala izpolnjevati zahteve, določene v protokolu in s temi merili.
c) SPAMI, vključeni v seznam, in njihova geografska razporeditev bodo morali biti značilni za sredozemsko regijo in njeno biološko raznovrstnost. V ta namen bo moral seznam predstavljati največje možno število tipov habitatov in ekosistemov.
d) SPAMI bodo morali sestavljati jedro omrežja, katerega cilj bo učinkovito ohranjanje sredozemske dediščine. Da bi dosegle ta cilj, bodo pogodbenice razvile dvostransko in večstransko sodelovanje pri ohranjanju in upravljanju naravnih območij, in sicer predvsem z ustanavljanjem čezmejnih SPAMI.
e) Območja, vključena v seznam SPAMI, so primer in model za varstvo naravne dediščine v regiji. Pogodbenice zato zagotovijo, da imajo območja, vključena v seznam, ustrezen pravni status in da so zanje na voljo varstveni ukrepi ter metode in sredstva za upravljanje.
 
B. SPLOŠNE ZNAČILNOSTI OBMOČIJ, KI BI SE LAHKO VKLJUČILA V SEZNAM SPAMI
1. Da bi bilo upravičeno do vključitve v seznam SPAMI, mora območje izpolnjevati vsaj eno splošno merilo, določeno v drugem odstavku 8. člena protokola. V določenih primerih lahko isto območje izpolnjuje več splošnih meril, kar lahko le okrepi možnost za vključitev območja v seznam.
2. Regionalni pomen je temeljna zahteva za vključitev območja v seznam SPAMI. Pri vrednotenju pomena območja za Sredozemlje naj bi se uporabljala ta merila:
 
a) Edinstvenost
Na območju so edinstveni ali redki ekosistemi ali redke ali endemične vrste.
 
b) Naravna reprezentativnost
Na območju potekajo zelo značilni ekološki procesi ali so na njem zelo značilne z družbe ali habitatni tipi ali ima druge naravne značilnosti. Reprezentativnost je stopnja, do katere je neko območje značilno kot habitatni tip, ekološki proces, življenjska z družba, fiziografska značilnost ali druga naravna značilnost.
 
c) Raznovrstnost
Na območju je zelo velika raznovrstnost vrst, združb, habitatov ali ekosistemov.
 
d) Naravnost
Območje je zelo naravno, ker motenj in propadanja, ki bi jih povzročil človek, ni ali so majhni.
 
e) Navzočnost habitatov, ki so bistveni za prizadete, ogrožene ali endemične vrste.
 
f) Kulturna reprezentativnost
Območje ima glede kulturne dediščine veliko reprezentativno vrednost zaradi okolju neškodljivih tradicionalnih dejavnosti, ki so povezane z naravo in prispevajo k blaginji lokalnega prebivalstva.
3. Da se vključi v seznam SPAMI, mora imeti območje znanstvenega, izobraževalnega ali estetskega pomena ustrezno vrednost za raziskovanje na področju naravoslovja ali za dejavnosti okoljskega izobraževanja ali ozaveščanja ali pa morajo biti na območju izjemne naravne značilnosti ali kopenske ali morske krajine.
4. Poleg temeljnih meril, določenih v drugem odstavku 8. člena protokola, naj bi se v dobro vključitvi območja v seznam upoštevalo še določeno število drugih značilnosti in dejavnikov. To so med drugim:
a) obstoj nevarnosti, ki bodo verjetno škodovale ekološki, biološki, estetski ali kulturni vrednosti območja;
b) vključenost in dejavno sodelovanje javnosti na splošno in predvsem lokalnih skupnosti pri načrtovanju in upravljanju območja;
c) obstoj organa, ki zastopa javni, strokovni in nevladni sektor ter znanstvenike, ki so povezani z območjem;
d) možnosti za trajnostni razvoj na območju;
e) obstoj celostnega načrta upravljanja obale v smislu točke e) tretjega odstavka 4. člena konvencije.
 
C. PRAVNI STATUS
1. Vsem območjem, ki so upravičena do vključitve v seznam SPAMI, mora biti dodeljen pravni status, ki zagotavlja učinkovito dolgoročno varstvo teh območij.
2. Da se vključi v seznam SPAMI, mora imeti območje, ki leži v že razmejeni coni pod suverenostjo ali jurisdikcijo pogodbenice, status zavarovanega območja, ki ga priznava ta pogodbenica.
3. Če je območje deloma ali v celoti na odprtem morju ali v coni, kjer meje nacionalne suverenosti ali jurisdikcije še niso določene, za pravni status, načrt upravljanja, ukrepe, ki se uporabljajo, in druge elemente, predvidene v tretjem odstavku 9. člena protokola, poskrbijo sosednje pogodbenice, ki jih to zadeva, v predlogu za vključitev v seznam SPAMI.
 
D. UKREPI VARSTVA, NAČRTOVANJA IN UPRAVLJANJA
1. Cilji ohranjanja in upravljanja morajo biti jasno opredeljeni v besedilih, ki se nanašajo na vsako območje in bodo podlaga za presojo ustreznosti sprejetih ukrepov in učinkovitosti njihovega izvajanja pri popravljanju seznama SPAMI.
2. Ukrepi varstva, načrtovanja in upravljanja, ki se uporabljajo za vsako območje, morajo biti ustrezni, da se dosežejo kratkoročni in dolgoročni cilji ohranjanja in upravljanja, določeni za območje, in morajo upoštevati zlasti dejavnike, ki ogrožajo območje.
3. Ukrepi varstva, načrtovanja in upravljanja morajo temeljiti na zadostnem poznavanju elementov naravnega okolja ter socialno-ekonomskih in kulturnih dejavnikov, ki opredeljujejo vsako območje. Če je temeljno poznavanje pomanjkljivo, mora imeti območje, predlagano za vključitev v seznam SPAMI, program za zbiranje manjkajočih podatkov in informacij.
4. Pristojnosti in odgovornosti glede uresničevanja in izvajanja ukrepov ohranjanja za območja, predlagana za vključitev v seznam SPAMI, morajo biti jasno opredeljene v besedilih, ki urejajo posamezno območje.
5. Glede svojevrstnosti vsakega zavarovanega območja morajo varstveni ukrepi za SPAMI upoštevati te temeljne vidike:
a) krepitev zakonske ureditve izpuščanja ali odmetavanja odpadkov in drugih snovi, ki bi lahko neposredno ali posredno škodovali celovitosti območja;
b) krepitev zakonske ureditve naselitve in ponovne naselitve katere koli vrste na območje;
c) zakonska ureditev vseh dejavnosti in dejanj, ki bi lahko poškodovali ali vznemirili vrsto ali bi lahko ogrozili ohranitveno stanje ekosistemov ali vrst ali škodovali naravnim, kulturnim ali estetskim značilnostim območja;
d) zakonska ureditev, ki se uporablja za cone, ki obkrožajo obravnavano območje.
6. Da se vključi v seznam SPAMI, mora zavarovano območje imeti upravni organ, ki so mu bila dana zadostna pooblastila in ima dovolj sredstev in kadrov, da lahko prepreči in/ali nadzoruje dejavnosti, ki bi lahko bile v nasprotju s cilji zavarovanega območja.
7. Da se vključi v seznam SPAMI, bo moralo zavarovano območje imeti načrt upravljanja. Glavna pravila tega načrta upravljanja je treba določiti na dan vključitve in jih takoj izvajati. Podroben načrt upravljanja mora biti predstavljen v treh letih od vključitve. Če se ta obveznost ne izpolni, se območje umakne s seznama.
8. Da se vključi v seznam SPAMI, bo moralo zavarovano območje imeti program spremljanja stanja in sprememb. Ta program naj bi vključeval določitev in spremljanje določenega števila parametrov, pomembnih za določeno območje. To omogoča presojo stanja in razvoja območja ter učinkovitosti izvajanih ukrepov varstva in upravljanja, da se lahko po potrebi prilagodijo. V ta namen se naročijo potrebne nadaljnje študije.

Za izvajanje protokola skrbita Ministrstvo za okolje, prostor in energijo in Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo, gozdarstvo in prehrano.

Ta zakon začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije – Mednarodne pogodbe.