The Sud Region and Costa Rica launch a joint project to strengthen the management of Marine Protected Areas. Supported by the French Development Agency, OCEAMP is mobilizing 1.8 million euros to take action on the ground and share knowledge.
On the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), held in Nice, the Sud Region and the Republic of Costa Rica presented a new step in their environmental cooperation. The OCEAMP project, selected in May 2025 by the French Development Agency, is endowed with 1.8 million euros and is part of a dynamic initiated since 2019 between the two territories.
Specifically, OCEAMP focuses on three areas: the management of Marine Protected Areas, the training of local actors, and raising awareness among citizens, especially the youth. It is an operational project based on field exchanges, mutual learning, and skills enhancement.
On the Mediterranean side, several organizations are involved: the Port-Cros National Park, the MedPan network, the Septentrion Environnement association, and the University of Côte d’Azur. In Costa Rica, the system relies on SINAC (National System of Conservation Areas), the organization Costa Rica Forever, and the University of Costa Rica.
For Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and Deputy President of Regions of France, this approach illustrates a willingness to act locally with field partners: “our partnership with Costa Rica embodies a concrete climate diplomacy, rooted in territories and focused on action. The selection of the OCEAMP project by the AFD is a strong recognition of our shared commitment to marine biodiversity. At a time when the Ocean is at the center of international negotiations, our Region is more than ever ready to engage.”
A link between maritime territories despite the distance
The cooperation between the Sud Region and Costa Rica is built on shared values and a desire to develop adaptable solutions for different geographical contexts. The OCEAMP project demonstrates that two regions, though separated by thousands of kilometers, can work together to preserve marine environments.
For Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, this project strengthens an existing bond between the two territories: “with OCEAMP, we reinforce our friendship and cooperation with the Sud Region through concrete actions. We are pleased with this initiative, which will bring significant cooperation to Costa Rica and have a direct impact on citizens beyond the greater metropolitan area.”
By relying on exchanges between researchers, reserve managers, and associative actors, OCEAMP aims to sustain its actions over time. The marine issue thus becomes a catalyst for dialogue and experimentation between regions committed to climate action.
