Green light for coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean!

The environmental situation of the Mediterranean and its littoral countries is bad. The overexploitation of natural resources, the destruction of habitats and pollution have direct negative impacts on human populations (e.g. water shortages) and on its endemic biodiversity. Global warming is occurring faster than in the rest of the world, aggravating these trends. Coastal areas are under more pressure because they also have to cope with rising sea levels while the main population and economic activity basins are located there, as well as many key areas for biodiversity.

In the face of these worrying trends, the protection and restoration of wetlands appear to be promising Nature-based Solutions because they can mitigate the effects of climate change thanks to the many services they provide: water storage, flood control, coastal erosion mitigation, habitat for endangered species, carbon storage... 

The project is based on 3 components:

• The Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory is preparing the 3rd edition of its scientific report on the state of these ecosystems, the pressures that threaten them and the solutions that can be mobilized. This report is intended for decision makers but will also provide the basis for advocacy activities that will be carried out by the project partners at international (COP), national and local levels.
• The United Nations has launched the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration in 2021, with a particular focus on wetlands. However, local actors often struggle to propose ecologically relevant and socially acceptable restoration projects. This is why a Mediterranean mapping of wetlands with high restoration potential has been developed. Through the "Green Light" mechanism of the Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance, the project leader will work with civil society organizations (CSOs) to extract a list of priority sites. An advocacy tool will be created for the authorities and the population to mobilize them around these restoration projects.
• In partnership with a CSO, a coastal wetland restoration operation with strong local support will be initiated as a pilot project.