TOUR DU VALAT

A research centre for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands

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Observatories, biodiversity and public policies on Mediterranean wetlands

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Mediterranean wetlands are suffering from intensive anthropogenic pressures which are likely to increase in the next decades. However, information about the actual trends of their surface area, on their current state, on the main factors driving their degradation and on the effects on the biodiversity that they support remains fragmentary. The identification and assessment of the status and trends of Mediterranean wetlands is needed for informing and making aware the decision-makers.
The need for identifying and assessing the status and trends of Mediterranean wetlands in terms of their area, their current physical state, the biodiversity that they support and the causes for changing has been recognized as a priority. Inventories and monitoring are scientific activities that address the collection, analysis and reporting of the necessary data to undertake such assessment. This assessment is not sufficient in itself, as it is essential to transfer its results to the general public, stakeholders/users, managers and decision-makers, in order to generate public opinion in favour of wetlands and to influence policies and actions related to wetlands. This can be undertaken either directly or preferably through relay organisations that are involved in the definition of environmental policies and/or can put pressure on the public to protect and conserve Mediterranean wetlands.

To this end Tour du Valat will:

  • Promote the development of inventories and monitoring programmes in various parts of the Mediterranean region, in collaboration with partners such as local operators and members of the MedWet Team (respective roles to be defined)
  • Bring together selected existing data and analyse it
  • Contribute to the development and use of integrative indicators of wetland quality and specific monitoring methods (e.g. for key or highly visible species) at different geographical scales
  • Contribute to demonstration projects
  • Produce a preliminary appraisal of the state of Mediterranean wetlands and of their recent changes.

Although the scope of the inventories and monitoring is Mediterranean-wide, Tour du Valat can also help:

  • In the setting up and implementation of monitoring programmes at the scale of the Camargue and of our estate, and
  • In monitoring, assessment and support, to ensure the scientific quality of the data. The estate of Tour du Valat and the Camargue can serve as pilot sites for monitoring and for developing and testing indicators. The workshop sites in the Mediterranean region that are planned as part of the 2006-2010 programme will also be favoured areas for this monitoring programme, especially for the approaches to be used outside protected areas.

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