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A research centre for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands

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Observatory of Mediterranean wetlands

Meander of Melero at the Alagon river, Extremadura (Spain)

Project leader: Pere TOMAS VIVES (See the CV)

Team:

Patrick Grillas, Christian Perennou

The conservation of the natural environment, and therefore of Mediterranean wetlands, requires a good knowledge on the location, extent and conservation status of these areas. The analysis of the wetland resources, their status, trends and priorities, and the dissemination of the results are fundamental for mobilising the decision-makers about the need to conserve, manage and use aquatic ecosystems in a sustainable way. This should be reflected through the adoption and implementation of national wetland policies and action plans.
However, at present there is no general overview about the status and trends of wetland resources and biodiversity in the Mediterranean region. Data exist for many countries, regions and individual sites or taxonomic groups, but often they are not easily accessible and they are under different formats.

The general objectives are:

To assess the conservation status of wetlands in the Mediterranean and to identify the trends
To raise awareness among decision makers and to influence public policies towards their conservation and sustainable use
Overall, to contribute to the 2010 target: to "achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level".

The specific objectives of the Observatory are:

To collect and analyze data
To identify, test and propose suitable indicators, methods and techniques for the assessment of the conservation status and trends of wetlands in the Mediterranean region
To identify and quantify the changes in surface area and in quality of Mediterranean wetlands, through the based on inventory, monitoring and assessment programmes
To make regular assessments using existing data:
- Identify the location, extension and characteristics of wetlands and their resources
- Analyze the evolution of these parameters and to assess the trends
- Identify wetlands that have recently disappeared but have a high potential for restoration, and to propose priorities for restoration
- Assess the conservation status of the wetlands and to define priorities for conservation, for restoration and sustainable use
- Identify the gaps of knowledge in relation to wetland status and resources
To make hypothesis for the identification of the causes and mechanisms responsible for the ecological changes, and test them by gathering adequate data and analyses.

Transfer, awareness and policies

To transfer know-how and develop capacity building in wetland inventory, monitoring and assessment, through training programmes
To increase awareness on the importance of wetlands, their conservation and sustainable use, among decision-makers and stakeholders/users, through the transfer of the results to them and in partnership with structures that can influence them
To promote the development, adoption and implementation of wetland strategies and the integration of wetland conservation into sectoral policies.

Activities:

The Observatory of Mediterranean wetlands is currently under a development phase, it is expected that it will produce the following main results:

A proposal for indicators for the assessment of the status and trends of wetlands in the Mediterranean region
Regular assessments of the conservation status and trends of wetlands and their resources at Mediterranean-wide scale (every two years). This will be done through the combination of different methods and indicators used by the partner organisations (see below)
National wetland inventory programmes compatible with Mediterranean standards undertaken or launched in a number of countries, including contribution to the pan-Mediterranean Wetland Inventory (PMWI)
A programme for training and capacity building on inventory, monitoring and assessment
National wetland strategies and action plans undertaken or initiated in a number of countries
A process for regularly communicating the results of the analysis and to propose actions to decision-makers.