Sixty representatives of governments, NGOs, research centres and also from the Ramsar Convention on wetlands Secretariat, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the MedWet Initiative – met at la Tour du Valat, from 7 to 10 February, for the 3rd international Partners and users workshop of the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory (MWO). One goal: act together to preserve the future of Mediterranean wetlands….

This project was implemented in close collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSCN) in Jordan. MedWet acted as the mentoring NGO and twinning partnerships were created with the other partners and knowledge was transferred on environmental policy promotion in the framework of collaborating with ministries and local people, involving stakeholders in wetland management, using digital technology, considering socio-economic issues in site management, and operating in the framework of EU policies and directives

MedWet information and knowledge network for the sustainable development of wetland ecosystems. MedWet was the coordinator of this project which was funded by the EU’s Interreg IIIC programme. Project activities took place in France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Estonia, Cyprus and Serbia, with 4 of the project partners being members of the MedWet Scientific and Technical Team. The purpose of this project was the exchange of current knowledge and expertise on methods of inventorying and monitoring wetland ecosystems. One of the main goals was to streamline MedWet Inventory tools in line with new EU regulations, while incorporating Earth Observation technologies and creating an on-line information system for recording wetland data of EU member states.

This project involved three wetland sites in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia and ran from 2004 to 2006. It aimed to reinforce capacity building on a national and local level so that “wise use” of wetlands policies could be implemented. Socio-economic aspects were taken into consideration and were used to involve local stakeholders and improve the income of local communities. Practically, this involved the training of the technical personnel and site managers in the management and monitoring (data collection) of the site. Environmental education centers were established and ecotourism was promoted.

The project took place in 16 wetland sites in Spain and Portugal and ended in 2004. It aimed to improve the management and monitoring plans of the selected sites and provide them with the MedWet inventory methodology for wetland monitoring. The methodology included the use of a GIS system which accounted for legal, socio-economic and cultural aspects. At the same time, an attempt was made to increase country wide and regional cooperation and promote public awareness.