On November 5-6, the WE GO COOP project organized in Marseille the First Mediterranean Forum on Wetland Contracts, during the Final Conference of the Interreg Euro-MED WEGOCOOP project, hosted by MedWet Secretariat – the Ramsar Regional Initiative for the Mediterranean – with the active contribution of all project partners. The Forum brought together representatives from institutions, research bodies, local authorities, NGOs, and wetland managers from across the Mediterranean. The event aimed to foster dialogue, share best practices, and strengthen cooperation on participatory approaches to wetland governance.
The Forum recognized over 40 years of experience in developing and applying wetland contracts in the Mediterranean region. To date, more than 250 contracts have been signed and 23 European projects have promoted their development and dissemination in the last two decades.
This heritage of knowledge, solutions and participation on wetlands governance forms the foundation of the newly established Mediterranean Community of Practice on Wetland Contracts, officially launched during the Forum. The Community represents an opportunity for collaboration, exchange, and policy support among all actors engaged in wetland management.
“With this Community of Practice, we can further strengthen the action of wetland contracts for the sustainable management of Mediterranean wetlands, fostering active participation by local communities, shared responsibility among all actors, and concrete commitments for nature conservation including as part of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. These amazing habitats must be recognized as territorial assets of unparalleled value, particularly in the face of climate change challenges”, MedWet, host of the event and responsible partner of the WP1 ‘Mediterranean Community of Practice on Wetland Contracts’.
The Forum featured contributions from a wide range of experts and institutional representatives, including: Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director for Biodiversity, EU DG Environment; Curzio Cervelli, Interreg Euro-MED Joint Secretariat; Adriana Salazar, Union for the Mediterranean; Arnaud Terrisse, UNEP/MAP Plan Bleu and Natural Heritage Mission; Marko Prem, UNEP/MAP PAP/RAC – Priority Actions Programme / Regional Activity Centre; Eric Mino, OIEau – Office International de l’Eau and INBO – International Network of Basin Organizations; Carol Martinez, MedPAN – Network of MPA Managers in the Mediterranean; Francesco Puma, Italian River Contracts Board. Alongside these key speakers, representatives of project partners, stakeholders, and local actors involved in active wetland contracts across the Mediterranean contributed to a constructive and forward-looking dialogue.
“The Community of Practice on Wetland Contracts has existed in France since the early 1980s and gained international relevance in the early 2000s through European projects. From Italy, the concept spread across Europe and even to parts of the MENA region, such as Lebanon and Morocco. Recognizing this long-standing experience and promoting stronger interaction among those involved are key steps toward consolidating past achievements and transferring knowledge to new Mediterranean contexts – and beyond”, MedWet.
“For ANATOLIKI, leading WEGOCOOP has shown how essential collaborative governance is for safeguarding our wetlands. The creation of the Community of Practice marks a legacy that will continue to unite Mediterranean actors, strengthen local engagement, and support evidence-based solutions for resilient and inclusive wetland management”, ANATOLIKI S.A., Lead Partner of WEGOCOOP.
