Undertaken between 2005-2007, the MedWet/CODDE project addresses the urgent need of policy makers, wetland managers and researchers for having easy access to up-to-date and standardized data in order to assess and monitor the current status and trends of Mediterranean wetlands and their surroundings. The project was launched under the INTERREG IIIC programme.

Wetlands are important water-related ecosystems providing a number of services to man such as flood control, water storage and purification, climate control as well as development opportunities including fisheries, agriculture and tourism. Sustainable development of wetland ecosystems depends on the knowledge of decision makers about the resources and services they can provide. At a time when the conservation of wetland ecosystems is being emphasized, MedWet believes that the inventorying tool provided by the MedWet CODDE project can be a catalyst to support better site management. By adopting the tool it is hoped that national governments and managers of wetland sites will be able to address priority issues and ensure regional development coupled with conservation of wetlands in the Mediterranean region.