Key Documents of the Ramsar Convention

Decisions of the 1st Meeting of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee

The Mediterranean Wetlands Committee (MedCom)

meeting for the first time, in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, on 15-16 March 1998

and consisting of officially designated representatives from 21 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yugoslavia), the Palestinian Authority, the Council of Europe, the United Nations Environment Programme - Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan, the Convention on Wetlands, and seven organisations working on wetland-related issues in the Mediterranean (BirdLife International, Greek Biotope / Wetland Centre, IUCN - The World Conservation Union, Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, Wetlands International, World Wide Fund for Nature International):

NOTES with satisfaction the participation in the meeting of a large majority of the Mediterranean countries, of the Palestinian Authority and of major international and non-govemmental organisations, which signifies a much wider involvement in the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in the region;

NOTING the absence of the representatives of Algeria and Egypt that had initially confirmed their participation, as well as the absence of a representative of the European Commission, and expressing the hope that they will be able to attend its second meeting;

EXPRESSES its gratitude for the generous support and hospitality of the Govemment of Greece, and especially of the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, who have hosted the meeting, as well as to the Greek Biotope / Wetland Centre, and especially to the MedWet Secretarial Unit it includes, on the excellent arrangements for the meeting.

The MedCom, after carefully reviewing the working documents prepared by the MedWet Coordination Team, listening to the presentation of the MedWet Coordinator, and debating the issues in plenary sessions and in two workshops:

NOTES with approval the first steps made in implementing the Mediterranean Wetland Strategy (endorsed by the Venice Conference in June 1996), consisting of:

• the completion of the MedWet 2 project in Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Morocco and Tunisia;
• the approval and imminent start of the MedWet 3 project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM);
• the establishment of a collaboration structure in the Mediterranean in the framework of the Convention on Wetlands, which includes MedCom and the MedWet Coordination Team.

RE-EMPHASIZES the principles of the Venice Declaration of June 1996, and reaffirms, in particular, the following:

• efforts for the conservation of biological diversity should take into account the needs of local populations, within the framework of sustainable use of wetland resources;
• the importance of the role of wetlands in regulating the water cycle in their catchment areas, as well as their dependence on water;
• a multi-sectoral management approach, involving all stakeholders, including the local populations, is the best means of conserving wetlands and managing their resources wisely;

CONSIDERS that the priorities of action for wetland conservation and wise use in the Mediterranean remain substantially as agreed at the Workshop held in Tour du Valat, Camargue, in November 1996, namely:

• making better known the functions and values of wetlands for people, both to the decision-makers and to the public;
• promoting the integrated management of significant sites;
• strengthening the institutions managing wetlands, especially through training;
• encouraging a holistic approach to wetlands, taking into account the interests of all stakeholders.

ADVISES that these priorities should be integrated in the following framework:

• on the Mediterranean level: strengthening of technical and financial collaboration and assistance, both bi-lateral and multi-lateral, in view of the economic disparities in the region;
• on the national level: development of national and sub-national/regional wetland policies (in accordance also with the Ramsar Strategic Plan), which would take into account the principles noted above;
• on the local level: establishment at major wetlands of locally-based management bodies, with broad constitution, charged with developing and implementing properly prepared management plans.

ENDORSES the specific proposaIs submitted for consideration by the MedWet Coordination Team, namely:

• strengthening the capacity of the MedWet network, through the efficient operation of the MedWet Secretariat, in order to provide support to its members;
• promoting the application of methodologies and tools provided by MedWet 1 and 2, and their evaluation at the pilot sites;
• launching a Mediterranean-wide communications campaign for the year 2000, on the theme "Wetlands and people";
• improving wetland-related training through existing institutuions, on the basis of work done under MedWet 1 and 2;
• strengthening the conservation of wetlands and promoting the sustainable use of their resources, including the provision of a framework for the development of national wetland policies;
• carrying out actions designed to improve knowledge concerning wetlands in the region;
• examining the establishment of a centre for wetlands in North Africa, in consultation with all interested countries, with a work programme focusing on socio-economic and cultural aspects of wetland conservation and sustainable use.

REQUESTS the MedWet Coordination Team to study the feasibility of these proposals and - if positive - to develop them into specific projects, taking into account the detailed recommendations of the two workshops (attached). Further to report to the MedCom at its next meeting, which is set provisionally for February 1999, on progress made concerning these proposals.

REQUESTS the MedWet Coordinator to undertake the necessary consultations to establish a firm date and venue for MedCom2, as well as develop a proposed programme of action for presentation to the meeting.

REQUESTS the Secretary General of Convention on Wetlands and the MedWet Coordinator to consult the development assistance community with a view to their participation at MedCom2.

Finally, taking into account the results of the technical session on wetland restoration and rehabilitation held on 16 March:

STRESSES the importance of wetland restoration, wherever this is feasible, and rehabilitation of wetland functions, in stopping and reversing the loss and degradation of Mediterranean wetlands;

COMMENDS the Government of Greece for its intention to restore Lake Carla, one of the major wetlands of the Mediterranean in the past, and advises the Ramsar Bureau to make available to the Hellenic Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works any international expertise and technical advice that may be required.

Ramsar Bureau's brief report on the meeting.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Bureau, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 24 March 1998, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.