A strategic assessment in a context of growing tensions
For over a decade, the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory (MWO) [1] has supported public policy and conservation efforts by producing regional assessments based on robust scientific data. Following a first edition in 2012 that laid the foundation for a pan-Mediterranean monitoring, and a second report in 2018 which updated knowledge and explored pathways towards sustainable wetlands, this third edition “Mediterranean Wetlands: Responses to ongoing Crises” [2] marks a new milestone. Published on the occasion of Ramsar COP15 (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 23-31 July 2025), the report provides an up-to-date overview, in a context of mounting environmental, social and climatic pressures.
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MWO-3 draws on a structured analysis using 18 DPSIR indicators (Drivers – Pressures – State – Impacts – Responses), developed by the MWO in close collaboration with a broad network of scientific and technical partners across the 28 countries of the MedWet Ramsar Regional Initiative and beyond. This framework enables a comprehensive analysis of the observed dynamics: from major drivers of change such as demographic growth and climate change, to the pressures exerted on wetlands (land conversion, pollution, water abstraction); from the assessment of ecological conditions and their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services, to the responses implemented at different scales.
The findings highlight an ongoing degradation: continued loss of wetlands and ecological quality, alteration of hydrological connectivity, mounting pressure on water resources, and increasing vulnerability to climatic extreme events. Yet the report goes beyond diagnosis. It also sheds light on existing responses and potential for improvement. It identifies concrete levers for restoring ecological functions, strengthening ecosystem resilience, and ensuring the sustainable provision of services to Mediterranean societies.
The report is structured into three complementary components:
- A technical summary presenting observed trends, key insights from the 18 DPSIR indicators, and the major drivers of change across the basin;
- Recommendations built around five levers for actions, providing guidance for policymakers, site managers and field actors to mobilise concrete efforts to reconcile development with the preservation of wetlands;
- A series of detailed indicator fact sheets, offering structured results alongside concise interpretations.
In addition, several case studies from diverse local contexts illustrate the processes at work and responses being implemented on the ground. Infographics and maps also enhance readability and make findings more accessible to a wide audience.
MWO-3 is intended for all stakeholders concerned with the future of Mediterranean wetlands: national authorities, local governments, river basin agencies, civil society organisations, scientists, users and local communities. It aims to inform dialogue, improve policy coherence, and inspire coordinated, ambitious action that meets the scale of the challenges.
In a Mediterranean region facing multiple tensions, the message from the MWO is clear: protecting wetlands is not about halting development; it is what makes development possible, integrated and sustainable.
More information
Download the report “Mediterranean Wetlands: Responses to ongoing Crises” [2]
Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory (2025). Mediterranean Wetlands: Responses to ongoing Crises. Tour du
Valat, France.