International, national and regional experts met in Cagliari, Sardinia, on 30 November 2017, on the occasion of the international seminar entitled ‘The Ramsar Convention for wetlands conservation and management’, in order to discuss the protection, management and enhancement of these fundamental ecosystems for life.
The international seminar ‘The Ramsar Convention for wetlands conservation and management’ in Cagliari, Sardinia. Photo: J. Jalbert
The event was part of the MARISTANIS project, an international undertaking that aims at defining an integrated management system for the coastal wetlands in the Gulf of Oristano and Sinis Peninsula of Sardinia, Italy, as a model for the other coastal regions in the Mediterranean. The project is co-funded by the MAVA Foundation and coordinated by the MedSea Foundation, in collaboration with the Marine Protected Area “Sinis Peninsula – Mal di Ventre Island”. The project is working in parallel with three other projects co-funded by MAVA in Albania, Montenegro and Tunisia.
The initiative involves six Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), covering a total of 72.377 hectares. These wetlands are rich in biodiversity and provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the local population. They are important for primary products like pastures, biomass and fish and are linked to many recreational and tourist activities. They also contribute to reducing impacts from damages caused by extreme weather events such as floods, maintaining good water quality, recharging groundwater and sequestering carbon.
Coastal wetlands in Sardinia. Photo: J. Jalbert
The Marine Protected Area “Sinis Peninsula – Mal di Ventre Island” and the FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) Pescando are involved in the coordination role. At Mediterranean level, MedSea will be supported by an international management committee made up of various international organizations involved in environmental protection, including MedWet, MedPAN, Plan Bleu, PAP-RAC, BirdLife International, MedINA, the Tour du Valat and WWF International.
Field visit to the coastal wetlands in Sardinia. Photo: I. Perroud
The objectives of the MARISTANIS project for the period 2017-2022 are:
- to improve knowledge of wetlands;
- to establish an effective governance of coastal wetlands management;
- to ensure the restoration of the optimal hydraulic conditions of the Ramsar Sites;
- to improve the conservation of coastal habitats, including dunes and Posidonia meadows;
- to reinforce the natural resilience of the coast to climate change;
- to reduce water consumption and abstraction;
- to reduce water pollution and other form of contamination;
- to reinforce traditional fishing methods and to safeguard fish species with a high trophic interest;
- to give the highest priority to the protection of endangered species such as sea turtles and migratory birds;
- the protect and conserve the historical-architectural heritage linked to the history of wetlands and to enhance the cultural landscapes of high ecological value;
- to enhance sustainable consumption and production practices among the local value chain;
- to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands and coastal and marine habitats among the local stakeholders, citizens and visitors.
Field visit to the coastal wetlands in Sardinia. Photo: J. Jalbert
“The realization of the MARISTANIS project represents an important milestone for us. We will put our know-how at the project’s disposal and we will work hard to achieve, by 2022, all the numerous and ambitious goals we are setting for ourselves today. We thank the MAVA Foundation for supporting our project to conserve and enhance the Gulf of Oristano and the Sinis Peninsula, ” said Alessio Satta, President of MedSea.
More information
Website of the project: www.maristanis.org
The project “communication campaign on coastal wetlands” in the Mediterranean.
Contact
MedSea – Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation
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