Earlier this year, Francis was appointed as a member of the newly formed Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) for Mediterranean Marine Protected and Conserved Areas.
The EAGL is a key component of the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas programme. EAGLs are established in each jurisdiction participating in the Green List programme to adapt the global Green List Standard to the local context and evaluate protected areas applying for Green List certification. They play a crucial role in ensuring the standard is relevant and applicable within the specified jurisdiction.
In May 2025, the inaugural workshop of the Mediterranean Marine Green List took place in la Noria, Málaga, Spain. The workshop was attended by all 11 appointed members of the EAGL for Mediterranean Marine Protected and Conserved Areas, as well as representatives from the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN MED), IUCN Head Quarters (HQ), and the Green List Reviewer for the Mediterranean jurisdiction. The workshop was an opportunity for all new EAGL members to meet in person, learn about and jointly discuss their role within the Green List Programme.
The workshop achieved the following key objectives:
- Delivering a training on the IUCN Green List Standard, its Generic Indicators and associated User Manual for the newly appointed Med Marine EAGL members.
- Presenting the GreenList4MMPAs Interreg Euro-MED project and the role of the Med Marine EAGL within it.
- Holding the first meeting of the new Med Marine EAGL to elect a new chair and starting to define ways of working as well as discuss coordination frames with the existing EAGLs in the jurisdiction.
This nomination allows Blue Pangolin Consulting to strengthen its activity and knowledge within the Mediterranean region alongside building on the team’s expertise and knowledge on the effective management of Area-based Management Tools, including Marine Protected Areas.
