The MedWet Series of manuals on Inventory, assessment and monitoring of Mediterranean wetlands have been developed to support the use of the new MedWet system for gathering, storing and analysing data on Mediterranean wetlands.
The present MedWet system represents the latest stage in the program of MedWet for inventorying activity which is improved in its operation and enhanced to include socioeconomic and cultural aspects of wetlands, the Water Framework Directive requirements, inventory based indicators, the Pan-Mediterranean Wetland Inventory and Earth Observation techniques.
A suite of eight manuals has been developed to guide users through the upgraded MedWet system for inventorying, incorporating the following works:
- The Pan-Mediterranean Wetland Inventory Module, which describes and explains how to record the relevant information for a broad scale inventory which could contribute to the compilation of the Pan-Mediterranean Wetland Inventory (PMWI).
- The Catchment Module & The Site Module, which describes and explains how to record the relevant information for simple or detailed inventory of wetland sites and their catchments.
- The Water Framework Directive (WFD) Module, which associates the WFD criteria identifying the data needed to describe the location and quality status of water bodies to ensure an integrated approach for inventorying wetlands under the Directive.
- The Surveillance Module, which describes and explains how to record the information from surveillance of hydrochemistry elements, soil elements and wetland birds of a wetland site.
- The Indicators Module, which describes and explains how to undertake statistical calculations and derive indicators for status and trends relating to wetland area, water quality, threats, bird populations and wetland extent covered by Ramsar designation, based on specific wetland data, already stored in the MedWet/WIS.
- The MedWet Web Information System User Manual, which describes and explains the functions and how to use the tools delivered by the latest version of the MedWet Database (MedWet/WIS), governed and administered by the MedWet Initiative for the purpose of maintaining a Mediterranean wetland databank.
- The MedWet Inventory Data Sharing Protocol, which provides a clearly defined framework for the procedures and agreements which will facilitate wetland data exchange and sharing through the MedWet/WIS and will enable the creation of a common databank on Mediterranean wetlands.
- Mapping Wetlands Using Earth Observation Techniques (EO), which advances the understanding of the capabilities that EO offers in mapping wetland features such as vegetation and habitat, biophysical parameters, water constituents or sea bottom properties, in a variety of spatial and temporal scales, and aims to raise awareness of the need for a coordinated effort to map Mediterranean wetlands.
The set of manuals provide a powerful tool for training, education that are necessary for the effective application of the MedWet system for inventorying, monitoring and assessment of wetlands. Each manual can be used in two ways: as a stand-alone reference for its particular theme or subject; or as an integral part of a series of works which guide the reader through the entire process from the reviewing to joining, using and getting the best out of the system.
More details on the new MedWet series can be found in the Foreword.