Prince Albert II Foundation marks 20 years of work: connections with Croatia's sea and wetlands

Twenty years and three areas of activity

A gala evening marking twenty years of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation was held on 18 September in the Salle Garnier at the Monte-Carlo Opera. Riviera Radio reported on the event on 21 September. The Foundation itself announced it on 13 September, so it is important to distinguish between the announcement date, the event date and the subsequent report. ^{1, 2}

The Foundation was established in 2006. In its anniversary announcement, it states that it has supported more than 830 projects worldwide to date, focused on climate change, biodiversity and water resources. Areas it considers particularly important include the Mediterranean, polar regions and the least developed countries. The project count is the Foundation's own figure, not an independent assessment of the ecological results of each project. ²

Croatian readers may be interested to see that some of this cooperation can be traced to specific local organisations and places. It is important to distinguish between the Foundation, joint funding initiatives and the organisations carrying out fieldwork.

Pakleni Islands: support for long-term management

MedFund was established in 2015 by Monaco, France and Tunisia, at the initiative of the Foundation and the MedPAN network. Its purpose is to provide long-term funding for the management of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. UNEP/MAP describes it as a mechanism that, with several financial supporters, connects public institutions, civil society and local communities. It is not simply about financing a single activity or ceremonially declaring protection. ^{3, 7}

One Croatian example is a project led by the Sunce Association with the More i krš Public Institution in the waters around the Pakleni Islands. According to the project description, it runs from 17 March 2026 to 17 March 2031 and has a total budget of €241,500. ⁴

Planned activities include monitoring Posidonia meadows, reefs and fish populations, strengthening ranger capacity and involving stakeholders in management. The project also supports the process of establishing additional protection for the marine area in future. This is not the same as saying that the proposed special marine reserve has already been designated or that all planned measures have been completed. ⁴

Lake Vrana: a separate initiative for freshwater ecosystems

The second connection leads to DIMFE, the Donors' Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems, which the Foundation lists among its initiatives. It is a separate programme from MedFund. ⁵

In December 2025, Association Biom presented a wetland habitat restoration project that it is implementing with the Lake Vrana Nature Park Public Institution. The description specifies an implementation period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028 and a total value of €657,248. DIMFE's contribution is €348,608, so it does not equal the entire project budget. ⁶

The plans include a baseline assessment, selection of areas for restoration, monitoring plans, mowing and invasive plant removal, and cooperation with local stakeholders. The project description sets out objectives and activities. Assessing restoration impacts requires tracking their results rather than assuming success solely on the basis of funding awarded. ⁶

A new call is also open, with specific conditions

DIMFE's 2026 call is open until 15 October. It supports freshwater ecosystem conservation and restoration, sustainable water management and appropriate financial mechanisms. Selected projects are considered for funding from 2027. ⁸

According to the published rules, grants range from 100.000 to 500.000 euros. Projects must have a clear environmental objective and tangible results on the ground. Initiatives limited solely to research, communication or awareness-raising are not sufficient. When planning an application, all conditions should be checked, including co-financing, applicant eligibility and the project start deadline. ⁹

What is worth tracking after the anniversary?

From an editorial perspective, the anniversary is an occasion to look beyond the guest list for projects, lead organisations, deadlines and measurable results. Croatian examples give that question specific locations: the sea around the Pakleni Islands and habitats in the Lake Vrana area.

These are projects launched earlier, not projects presented as a result of the September gala evening. To follow the story, it is worth tracking what has been implemented, how habitat conditions are changing and where the results are publicly available. The anniversary is a news occasion; the success of nature conservation is demonstrated through long-term work.