The MedWet Initiative is a partnership of the Governments of 27 Mediterranean countries, Mediterranean wetland centres that form the MedWet Scientific and Technical Team and other entities like intergovernmental, international and national organizations and NGO’s that have activities related to wetland conservation. The complete overview of MedWet’s Terms of Reference is available.
The different entities of the MedWet Initiative are:
i. the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee
ii. the MedWet Steering Group
iii. the MedWet Secretariat
iv. the MedWet Scientific and Technical Team
The Mediterranean Wetlands Committee (MedWet/Com)
The Mediterranean Wetlands Committee is the decision-making body of the MedWet Initiative and operates within the framework of the Ramsar Convention. It is composed of the 27 member countries, intergovernmental organizations, International Organization Partners (IOP’s) of the Ramsar Convention and 5 specialised wetland centres, which are part of the MedWet Scientific and Technical Team. The complete list of all involved actors in the Committee is available.
The Mediterranean Wetlands Committee convenes every 1.5 years and reviews the work undertaken by MedWet, creates new strategic priorities and work plans, advises the Ramsar Convention on issues related to Mediterranean wetlands and approves the financial budget. The 10th Mediterranean Wetlands Committee meeting will be held in Corsica, France, in June 2010. All the proceedings from the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee meetings are available.
The MedWet Steering Group
The MedWet Steering Group (MedWet/SG) is the body that operates between the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee meetings and is responsible for making operational decisions and resolving issues identified during the implementation of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee decisions.
The MedWet Steering Group members are appointed by the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee. The 10th Mediterranean Wetlands Committee meeting that took place in Corsica in June 2010 appointed four country representatives, one International Organization Partner (IOP) representative, one representative from the MedWet Scientific and Technical Team, one representative of the Ramsar Secretariat, the MedWet Honorary member and the MedWet Secretariat Coordinator (ex officio non-voting). For the next triennium the members are France which is the Chair, Greece as a standing member because it hosts the MedWet Secretariat, Morocco (Tunisia as alternate), and Jordan (Lebanon as alternate). Non state members are la Tour du Valat and IUCN, the Ramsar Secretariat and the MedWet honorary member, Thymio Papayannis. All the proceedings from the MedWet Steering Group Meetings are available.
The MedWet Secretariat
The MedWet Secretariat serves as the office of the Initiative, coordinating and facilitating its work. Overall, it is responsible for supporting the collaboration between MedWet members in terms of programme development, implementation of on-going projects, the dissemination of information on activities, programmes, publications etc. and providing secretariat services.
Due to the generous contribution of the Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the MedWet Secretariat was physically established in 2002 in Athens, Greece in the northern suburb of Kifissia. The MedWet Secretariat consists of the MedWet Coordinator and supporting Secretariat staff, according to the programme needs and available resources. For more information on the people who make up the MedWet Secretariat and their contact information click here.
The MedWet Scientific and Technical Team
The MedWet Scientific and Technical Team is an integral part of MedWet and responsible for the scientific and technical support of the MedWet work plans. It is composed of 5 Mediterranean wetland centres which are independent entities but collaborate closely with MedWet. In essence, they provide the core technical and scientific input and contribute to the development and implementation of MedWet projects.
Below is a short presentation of each of the wetland centres that are members of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee and also of the MedWet Scientific and Technical Team :
The Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY)
The Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY), based in Thessaloniki, Greece, is an off-spring of the Goulandris Natural History Museum. Established in 1991, it is broadly concerned with sustainable use of natural resources throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. EKBY has developed particular wetland expertise in the fields of wetland inventorying and restoration, agricultural impacts on wetland systems as well as training, communications, public awareness and education.
Instituto da Conservação da Natureza (ICN)
Instituto da Conservação da Natureza (ICN) based in Lisbon, Portugal is responsible for the implementation of national environmental regulations. It conducts research and elaborates national strategy for the conservation of natural heritage, including wetlands.
Agenzia regionale per la protezione ambientale della Toscana (ARPAT)
Agenzia regionale per la protezione ambientale della Toscana (ARPAT), based in Florence, Italy, monitors the implementation of environmental regulations in the region of Tuscany, Italy. ARPAT carries out research that provides policy makers with environmental information among others on monitoring of surface inland and coastal waters.
Established in 1954, the Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, based in Camargue, France is a research center that develops applied expertise on the functioning of wetlands. The Biological Station of Tour du Valat moreover tests management methods and disseminates the results of its work through training, publications and joint implementation of innovative projects throughout the Mediterranean basin.
Centro Español de Humedales (CEHUM)
Recently, Sede para el Estudio de los Humedales Mediterráneos (SEHUMED) has been replaced by a new Spanish Wetland Centre (Centro Español de Humedales-CEHUM), with increased support from the Ministry of Environment. The Centre is an initiative of the Spanish Biodiversity Foundation (Fundacion Biodiversidad –FB) in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain. CEHUM is a research unit within the Valencia University and acts as a focal point in the fields of sustainable development of tourism in wetland areas, methods of monitoring for water pollution and water quality and cultural heritage of wetlands.
