Earlier this year, the Ramsar Culture Network accepted project proposals on the theme Culture and Wetlands. MedINA’s project on the “Gastronomic Heritage in Mediterranean Wetlands- Healthy wetlands, healthy eating” was recently approved. This project is part of MedINA’s efforts to raise awareness on the importance of wetlands and their role in the provision of healthy eating and food. Although this is a small-scale project, MedINA will have the opportunity to go ahead with a long-held plan, to highlight the topic of gastronomy and wetlands and explore their role in strengthening local economies. A number of recipes with wetland-related ingredients will be gathered and disseminated broadly. Gastronomy is a great way to raise awareness to the general public and highlight the importance of wetlands.
Further, the role of cultural tourism will also be explored, a trend on the rise during the last few years. Travellers have been looking for authenticity and meaning in their journeys and in that framework local gastronomy can become a great attraction for visitors. It gives people the opportunity to literally taste the local culture, making local gastronomy a potential pillar of sustainable development. By promoting the culinary heritage of wetlands, the environment receives greater attention and local economies can become stronger, making this a win-win situation.
