Med-INAMediterranean Institute for Nature and Atnthropos

This would lead to increased social pressure for the conservation of the sensitive wetland sites in the region – currently under threat from urbanisation, extensive agriculture and other unsustainable development activities. In addition, it would enhance the interest in wetlands of visitors in the Mediterranean, thus providing additional income to local communities.

Objectives

Three main objectives have been defined:

• Disseminating the current knowledge on cultural actions in Mediterranean wetland sites.
• Monitoring the development of these actions, drawing conclusions from them and advising on their future development.
• Increasing the capacity of integrated management of both natural and cultural aspects in the region.

Activities planned

To achieve the above objectives, the following actions are planned:

• Making available the work carried out up to now through the final editing and publication of a book on the cultural aspects of Mediterranean wetlands.
• Follow-up and critical analysis of developments in the 21 selected wetland sites through questionnaires and site visits whenever required and dissemination of the results in printed and electronic form.
• Organisation of a Pan-Mediterranean Workshop on incorporating cultural aspects in the management of wetlands and editing of its proceedings. The participants will be on the one hand experts in nature conservation and in cultural aspects and on the other persons responsible for wetland management from the 21 sites identified up to now.
• Establishment and maintenance of an interactive website on Mediterranean wetland sites and on their cultural values. This is the main tool in maintaining a network of concerned and responsible experts from around the Mediterranean and in encouraging exchange of experience and views, as well as trans-boundary co-operation wherever feasible.

Expected outputs

• Publications:
  - Action for culture in Mediterranean wetlands (in English and in French).
  - Strengthening action for culture in Mediterranean wetlands (in English).
  - Workshop Proceedings Nature and culture in Mediterranean Wetlands (in English, CD-ROM).
• Workshop with approximately 30 participants.
• Web site established and operating.

Time schedule

Three years, starting from July 2007 to December 2010

Funding sources

The project is supported financially by the MAVA Foundation.

01. Albufera de Valencia – Spain
02. Burullus Lake – Egypt
03. Butrint – Albania
04. Camargue – France
05. Castro Marim – Portugal
06. Doñana National Park – Marismas de Doñana, Spain
07. Evros / Meriç / Maritsa Delta – Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey
08. Ghar el Melh Lake - Bohayrit Al Milih, Tunisia
09. Hutovo Blato – Bosnia and Herzegovina
10. Kizoren Obrugu – Turkey
11. Kune-Vain Lagoon – Albania
12. Kus Golu Lake – Turkey
13. Narta Lagoon – Albania
14. Neretva Delta – Croatia
15. Orbetello Lagoon – Italy
16. Prespa Lakes - Albania, FYROM, Greece
17. Santo André Lagoon – Lagoa de Santo André, Portugal
18. Secovlije soline – Slovenia
19. Skocjan Jame – Skocjian Caves, Slovenia
20. Tamentit and Sid Ahmed Timmi Oases – Algeria
21. Zaranik protected area – Egypt

A NEW BOOK
Culture and wetlands in the Mediterranean: an evolving story

The book is the result of a four-year research project (2007-2011), which concerned mainly the implementation in the Mediterranean Region of the Ramsar Guidance on Culture and Wetlands. It was carried out by Med-INA, the Mediterranean Institute on Nature and Anthropos, with the financial support of the MAVA Foundation.

This multi-author book follows a structure that echoes the Ramsar Guidance and investigates the benefits that can result from following its objectives, analysing various sectors of human activities and more than 20 wetland sites. In addition, it identifies areas in which the guidance provided needs to be strengthened or others that are not yet covered. Most of the 32 authors are wetland experts from many disciplines who have been sensitised to the integrated approach to heritage, both natural and cultural, and have been willing to introduce this new concept of culture in their wetland work. Each chapter and section of the book is introduced by the two editors, Thymio Papayannis, director of Med-INA and coordinator of the Ramsar Culture Working Group and Dave Pritchard, recipient of the Ramsar Award in 2008.

Papayannis, T. and Pritchard, D. (eds) 2011, Culture and Wetlands in the Mediterranean: an Evolving Story, Athens: Med-INA (hard cover and soft cover, 438 pages).

Available gratis from: afoutri@med-ina.org or fax: +30 210 3629338, providing full postal address (upon postage payment)

Link to Book, in PDF format (7MB)

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The Revival of HIMA in West Asia – North Africa
Bringing traditional understanding and modern day practices
Posted on Wensday, May 14, 2011

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Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory
Posted on Wensday, April 14, 2010
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Albania, FYROM and Greece committed to work together for the protection and sustainable development of the Prespa region.
Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2010
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Mediterranean work in Ramsar COP10
Posted on Thursday, November 26
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Prespa Workshop: Towards an integrated approach to the cultural and natural aspects of wetlands
Posted on Thursday, October 15^th, 2009
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Cultural event in a Greek wetland
Posted on Tuesday, September 16
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New culture guidance from Ramsar
Posted on Friday, September 12
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Workshop on “Action for culture in European wetlands”
Posted on Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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New Med-INA book – Action for culture in Mediterranean Wetlands
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008
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The meeting took place in the Pyli Information Centre, Greek part of Prespa Lakes. The General Secretary of the Ramsar Convention Anada Tiega greeted the meeting with his letter, while Prespa Mayor Lazaros Nalpantides opened the workshop welcoming the participants.
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Participants of the workshop were specialists, researchers, governmental officials and university professors, with experience and knowledge in the management of the cultural and natural heritage of Mediterranean wetlands, from 17 countries.

During the three-day programme of the workshop the following subjects were analysed:
- wetland cultural landscapes- archaeological sites and historic buildings
- cultural aspects of productive activities
- spiritual and secular aspects
- effective management of the natural and cultural heritage.