Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory

©Thomas Galewski

Phase I:

2009-2011

The project, developed within the context of MedWet and the RAMSAR agreement, is aimed at setting up the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory, a key knowledge sharing and decision support tool.

The goal is to assess the state of conservation of target areas and to gauge potential changes in the long-term, to identify threats hanging over this environment and to define action to be promoted in order to ensure its protection, rehabilitation and sustainable use.

Phase II:

2013 - 2015

This project follows up on the implementation of the MWO (Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory) set up in 2009 with the Foundation's support. The MWO, developed as part of MedWet, a regional initiative implemented by the Ramsar Convention, is aimed at providing decisions makers with trustworthy information concerning the state of the wetlands, in particular water and biodiversity, the threats and measures to be implemented to promote their conservation and rational use. The first phase resulted in 25 indicators being defined characterising the state and trends of the wetlands.

The project is focused on 4 areas:

- The development of the partnership and technical framework necessary for monitoring MWO water-related indicators  (overview of follow-up and existing indicators, workshop between partners, feasibility of a composite indicator "water quality");

- The finalisation of the test of 2 socio-economic indicators: "Educational and touristic role of the wetlands" as an example of an ecosystem service and "Local development planning and wetlands";

- The development of broader biodiversity monitoring for protection and sustainable territorial development;

- Leveraging the results of MWO (in particular those of the first report on Mediterranean wetlands) by means of international events in 2013 (e.g. COP12 Ramsar).