We are The Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands
The Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands is a powerful voice for wetland and river conservation. Our network consists of 30 of the best conservation organizations and research institutions from across 18 countries. We provide a platform of support to civil society organizations and research institutions working to protect, restore, and sustainably use Mediterranean wetlands and rivers.
We help civil-society organizations protect wetlands and rivers by facilitating cooperation between them and scientific institutions, supporting communication, offering capacity-building programs and advocating with authorities for implementing and enforcing policies. We are also a knowledge hub where we actively share scientific information, lessons learned and technical approaches amongst our members and community organizations.
Wetlands are key to maintaining biodiversity and combating climate change. They contain a high concentration of plant and animal species, making them critical for the planet’s ecosystem. The Mediterranean region alone is home to 400 coastal lagoons that provide essential feeding and breeding grounds for many marine species. This helps to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and other marine life.
Sadly, Mediterranean wetlands are the world’s most threatened ecosystem and they are in danger of collapse without more active local management. Local, community-based organizations often need help organizing and running effective protection campaigns with authorities.
Alters ecosystems, blocks species from travelling, and reduces water availability.
Reduces the populations of species that are hunted, fished or harvested for human consumption and prevents their regeneration.
Destroys, fragments or reduces the quality of available habitats for species and increases both air and water pollution.
Leads to the direct destruction of habitats for species and generates pollution due to an excess of nutrients and pesticides.
Modifies habitats, forces species to migrate, and makes conditions harsher for the species that cannot adapt or move.
Species introduced by man, intentionally or accidentally, that negatively impact the native species.
A protocol to support the nature restoration movement in the Mediterranean
In response to the urgent need to restore degraded ecosystems, the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands developed the Green Light Protocol to help initiate and accelerate wetland restoration projects across the Mediterranean. It brings stakeholders, scientists and landscape architects together to co-design the first restoration concept, build a shared vision for action, and lay the foundations for an effective restoration strategy.
See pilot sites : Göçke Bay (Türkiye) · Dar Fatma (Tunisia) · Vrina (Albania) · Carska Bara (Serbia)
Are you a civil society organization in the Mediterranean, and do you need help in protecting a river or wetland? We can help you by developing a strategy to help you draw the attention of society, decision-makers, and the international community to stop the destruction of protected areas.
The Red Alert system is a way to identify and stop (or reduce) emerging threats towards important Mediterranean wetlands and rivers. Once a Red Alert is launched, we go into action to help community based organizations protect their important natural resources.
