Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

On the initiative of its president, Prince Albert II, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the WWF set up a partnership in January 2008 to take action with a view to saving the bluefin tuna from ecological extinction. Since 2008, a large number of restaurant owners in the Principality of Monaco have responded to the appeal jointly launched by the Prince Albert II Foundation and the MC2D association to stop serving bluefin tuna, and thus raise awareness of the need to save this symbolic species of the Mediterranean, while there is still time. Consequently, a moratorium has been implemented in cooperation with food retailers and professionals and Monaco has become the first “bluefin tuna free” country. Since then, many other countries have followed suit. Monaco's government departments, supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, subsequently initiated a procedure to add the bluefin tuna to Appendix I of CITES (Convention on the international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora). For many months, the listing, which would have resulted in the ban on international trade of this fish, has been the topic of debate in several countries. On 3 March 2010 during the Doha Conference, the Obama administration announced that it was in favor of adding the bluefin tuna to appendix I of CITES. The European Union officially endorsed this decision on 10 March by announcing that it would vote in favor of this listing. Despite such support, the Doha Conference rejected Monaco's proposal on 18 March. Japan, the main consumer of thunnus thynnus, in addition to the developing countries, was strongly opposed to the ban. However, this is the first time that a debate on the preservation of an endangered species has made the headlines of the international press.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation organizes international meetings between foundations involved in environmental issues and their impact on the people and companies of the Mediterranean. The event brings together a hundred or so participants including over 40 international foundations and NGOs working on environmental issues and sustainable development in the Mediterranean. The aim is to create a forum to promote dialogue between the heads of these foundations, making it possible for them to expand their scope of activity, whilst at the same time fostering new partnerships and developing new networks.

The MC2D association, with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, has decided to launch a campaign, in Monaco, to promote the use of wood harvested from sustainably managed forests. This campaign is entitled “Monaco makes a commitment against deforestation”. Deforestation of the tropical rainforests accounts for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions and moreover leads to soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and the exclusion of the local populations. One of the most effective ways of combating this scourge is to give these forests an economic value through the development of sustainable management. Such management enables us to target certain species of tree and of a certain age only, whilst at the same time respecting biodiversity-rich areas and the people living there. Rational forestry practice enables forest regeneration and generates economic value for the parties concerned, foresters and the indigenous people alike. One of the concrete catalysts for change resides in the production, marketing and utilisation of certified wood under the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label, which is currently the most important forest certification label for the tropical rainforests. With this initiative, the Principality aims to set an example for the protection of the tropical rainforests and the fight against global warming.

The board of directors ensures that the foundation's goals are achieved by taking all the measures necessary. It is entrusted with:

1. Ensuring that all the foundation's goals are taken into consideration,
2. Enacting the general principles and provisions necessary for the foundation's activity,
3. Establishing and evaluating the annual action program,
4. Managing the budget.

The foundation has an executive board composed of a president, a vice president, a secretary general, a treasurer and two administrators nominated by the board of directors. The purpose of the executive board is to supervise the foundation's activities. It administers day-to-day business and implements the decisions of the board of directors.

The scientific and technical committee ensures that the foundation's positioning is transcendent, and furnishes its expertise when selecting projects to be supported by the foundation. It is entrusted with:

1. Ensuring scientific and technical monitoring in conjunction with its network of partners.
2. Establishing requests for proposals and taking part in the project selection process.
3. Organizing leadership processes for project managers and project evaluation.

The ethics commission provides the guarantee that all the foundation's activities respect the basic values of the foundation and the ethical requirements that any organization of public interest managing capital flow has to fulfil. It is entrusted with:

1. Defining the foundation's priorities based on universal ethical values.
2. Taking part in the evaluation of the action programme.

The development committee helps to raise the financial resources necessary to develop the foundation's action programme and to ensure its sustainability. It is entrusted with organising and managing an international fundraising network.