The MedIsWet project: Conservation of Mediterranean Islands Wetlands

Description

This session deals with the conservation of Mediterranean Basin islands wetlands and highlight the MedIsWet project. MedIsWet contributes to the implementation of a network of nine countries involved in the completion of the inventories of all the Mediterranean islands wetlands, dissemination of knowledge and promotion of certain conservation measures at local, national and Mediterranean scale.

One of the aim of the project is to find further financing resources to develop urgent and effective restoration activities. Accordingly, this session will present several restoration activities of small wetlands taking place in small islands. In addition, governance system, funding and type of restoration will be discussed between participants. These outputs will be the occasion to identify and prioritize the issues related to islands wetlands specificities and will provide the basis to set up a roadmap for islands wetlands of the Mediterranean.

Topics to address
  • Presentation of the MedIsWet project “Conservation of Mediterranean Islands wetlands”
  • First results of the project, with a special focus on the inventories of Sardinia (1) , Malta (2) and Turkey (3)
  • Examples of restauration activities in small wetlands (Sicily, Greece, France)
  • Presentation of the legal framework for wetland protection
Chair of the session

Mathieu Thévenet (PIM Initiative)

Co-Chair of the session

Krista Falzon (Nature Trust Malta)

Eylül Dizdaroglu (WWF Turkey)

Mauro Fois (CCB/University of Cagliari)

Pietro Minissale (University of Catania)

Thanos Giannakakis (WWF Greece)

Boris Lauš (Hyla)

Pantelina Emmanouilidou (Limoges University)

The MedIsWet Project: Conservation of Mediterranean Island Wetlands

Total Duration side-event: 1h30 

General Introduction. 

Chairman: Mathieu Thévenet. (10min)

Part 1 – Presentation of the first results of national inventories and possible restoration activities. (60 min) 

  1. Intro (Mathieu Thévenet/Thanos Giannakakis) + presentation of the first results of the inventories and possible restoration activities (20 min) 
  • Mauro Fois (CCB/University of Cagliari): first results in Sardinia 
  • Eylül Dizdaroglu (WWF Turkey) : first results in Turkey + presentation of 3 sites on Gökçeada and Ayvalik islands among the visited wetlands might be suitable for small/wide scale restoration 
  • Krista Farrugia (NTM-FEE Malta): first results in Malta + case of the restoration of a prime artificial wetland currently protected known as Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk identified for restoration opportunities
  1. Examples of restoration of Mediterranean island wetlands (20 min)  
  • Thanos Giannakakis (WWF Greece): example of the case of the estuary of Moronis River in Crete  main achievements, setbacks and failures, lessons learnt (5 min)
  • Pietro Minissale (University of Catania): Example of the restoration of the Saline di Priolo (Natural Reserve)  Invasive species eradication + restoration with native species (5 min)
  • Boris Lauš (Hyla)  : Example of the small pond restoration pilot-project on Istria peninsula + possibilities of replication on several Adriatic islands (5 min)
  • Eva Tankovic (PIM Initiative) : Tunisian opportunities (Kuriat & Kerkennah) (5 min)
  1. Advocacy strategy for the protection of islands wetlands in France & Italy  (10 mn)
  • Lina Emmanouilidou (Limoges University) : Presentation of the legal framework study + legal tools for restoration

Part 2 – Discussions with the participants to highlight priorities for restoration activities on Mediterranean islands wetlands (small wetlands) – 30 min

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