Development of Certificate and Master's and PhD's programmes for the Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Protected Areas

The aim of this research is to enhance the coastal protected area management effectiveness by improving capacity of managers and experts working on coastal protected areas. Capacity needs assessment questionnaire was performed for the experts and managers working in specially protected areas in the Mediterranean region of Turkey and some of the personnel of the former Environmental Protection Agency for Specially Areas. According to the findings of the questionnaire, insufficient of national standards, scientific knowledge, coordination between the state agencies, and under-structures and wrong land-use decisions were listed as integrated coastal area management problems. Additionally, training needs of coastal protected area personnel became visible after the questionnaire. Especially requirement of training programs on strategic planning, conflict resolution, work planning, budged preparing, inspection, controlling, investigation, facilitating, meeting management and performing, organization and leadership were recognized.Moreover, universities, research centers, regional and international initiatives and organizations were widely analyzed in terms of the structures, types and level of certificate programs for the coastal protected area personnel. Besides, the interviews and the exchange views were conducted with the researchers, experts and academicians by using semi structured interview techniques.In the light of those findings, graduate certificate programs, degree programs, and their program structures and manuals, field practices and methods were developed for the individuals having responsibilities and authorities on the management of coastal protected area in order to develop their skills, knowledge and experiences.Key words: Integrated coastal area management, protected areas management capacity improvement, protected area management effectiveness improvement, coastal and marine protected areas in Turkey, the assessment of individual capacity on the coastal and marine protected areas.