The Tenth Meeting of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee (MedWet/Com10) was held from 31 May to 3 June in Bastia, Corsica. The programme included progress reports on the various projects in progress, reflection on the future of MedWet, the election of a new Steering Group, and of course the warm and friendly Corsican hospitality.
Most of the 46 MedWet members – 27 of which are from the Mediterranean basin – were present. The meeting was both joyful and serious: progress reports were made on what has been accomplished since the last get together, in 2008, in the wings of Ramsar Convention Conference of Parties that took place in Korea. After several years of doubting and financial difficulties, the MedWet Initiative is once again in good shape, with contributions coming from many projects carried out on the 3 shores of the Mediterranean. Some adjustments were made in terms of its governance in order to make it more responsive and effective. The technical and scientific expertise programme was reorganised and opened up to large NGOs (WWF MedPO, IUCN Mediterranean, and Wetlands International).
Two innovations marked this year’s meeting. First, the involvement of the local population: the first day that was open to the public, young Corsican students from the Île Rousse secondary school spoke about their experiences in a role-playing game involving water management issues. They questioned the representatives of Mediterranean countries on how young people can be involved in these societal issues.
In addition to the work sessions, an excursion was organised to the lagoons in the Eastern plain and the “Bouches de Bonifacio” reserve in the south of the island. This field visit made it possible to illustrate the main issues facing the managers of natural areas in Corsica. The principles issues involved: 1) implementation of cross-border cooperation, 2) tourists management, 3) restoration and sustainable exploitation of the lagoons. It was also an occasion to savour some of the products coming from the lagoons!
Some of the main MedWet/Com10 decisions:
- A new Steering Group for the MedWet Initiative was elected for the next 3 years, with members from France, which will be in charge of the Presidency, Greece, the host country of the MedWet Secretariat, Morocco (substitute: Tunisia), Jordan (substitute: Lebanon), the Ramsar convention secretariat, the Tour du Valat, and the IUCN (to be confirmed);
- The Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory, developed at the Tour du Valat’s instigation, was recognised as one of the major projects to be promoted within the MedWet framework, with a working group focusing on cultural values and the preparation of the Grado+20 symposium.