The project INNOVA aims at establishing common models of integrated sustainable monitoring, planning and management of high environmental value areas to control natural resources degradation.The main problem addressed by the project is the absence of common guidelines in the ARCHIMED ecoregion for monitoring, management and planning of high environmental value areas. In order to favour regional cohesion between ARCHIMED countries, the project proposes the participatory development of common regional based guidelines for monitoring, planning and management of the areas of high environmental value (IUCN protected areas). This goal can be achieved through the wide partnership involved in the project (N°14 Partner of 7 Countries) at both analytical or activity level and network level – institutional and scientific – favouring the widest consultation in developing shared guidelines and implementing them at each country in pilot areas. Results will be disseminated and used beyond the project as the networks are envisaged to become permanent consultation tools. The financial participation of 3 Third Countries and of the national or regional public administration of Apulia, Malta, Cyprus, Greece proves the importance of the objectives proposed for the ARCHIMED area. An important support derives from the involvement of Lebanon and Syria (letter of intent as cooperating member). The final objective is to improve sustainable management of high environmental value areas, through the adoption of common guidelines of monitoring, planning and management of the Mediterranean ecoregion. A basic element will be the creation of international networks of political-administrative and scientific agencies responsible for the management of areas. The project meets the following requirements: • Improving the public intervention in the sector of natural resources and biodiversity management in order to stop physical degradation of natural resources, soil and water in particular, the decrease of habitats and impoverishment of biodiversity; • Working out integrated strategies for the spatial development of protected areas, of high environmental value areas, through actions for sustainable development; • Improving the management, planning and sustainable enhancement of local developer and of local populations; • Promoting trans-national cooperation interventions for the implementation of integrated strategies in the natural resources management; • Improving technologically advanced methods and tools for monitoring, management and planning of nature areas and in support of decision-making. The final result will be the transposition of common guidelines in ARCHIMED countries, an information system to support the management of areas and a permanent institutional consulting table.