Report on the Side Event « Animation of the European Regional Ramsar Initiatives Network » at COP14 of the Ramsar Convention

During the 14th Session of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention (Geneva, Switzerland, 5-13 November 2022), the MedWet Initiative organized a side event on the animation of the European Regional Ramsar Initiatives Network.

The side event gathered representatives of Contracting Parties and Ramsar Regional Initiatives. The latter are conceived as « operational means to provide effective support for better implementation of the Ramsar Convention’s objectives and its Strategic Plan, as well as to increase the visibility of the Convention in specific geographical regions, through international cooperation on wetland issues of common interest, involving all relevant national and regional stakeholders ».

The meeting was opened by Flore Lafaye de Micheaux, from the Ministry of Ecological Transition (France), who expressed the full support of France for this network.

Alessio Satta, the MedWet Coordinator, presented the members, the objectives and the funding of the ‘European Coalition for Wetlands’. The coalition aims to strengthen the impact of the Ramsar Convention at the European level, in particular in national, regional and international policies by helping policy-makers, managers and other members of civil society to develop inclusive and resilient solutions to the environmental and climate crisis.

The main objective of the coalition is the creation of a unique partnership based on the capacities, ideas and relationships of each European Ramsar Regional Initiative for a broader and more differentiated understanding and knowledge of European wetlands in order to better address global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change.

Şerif Hizli, from the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, presented the BlackSeaWet Initiative, its mission and its milestones. He stressed that the Regional Initiatives are the main actors in implementing the Ramsar Convention.

BlackSeaWet works to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of Black and Azov Seas coastal wetlands and their biodiversity, and to catalyze the wise use of wetlands through regional and international cooperation in the context of sustainable development.

Alessio Satta, presented the MedWet Initiative, the first Regional Initiative of the Ramsar Convention, its galaxy, mission, and activities. Through its large network of countries, managers and non-governmental organizations, MedWet is working to ensure and support the effective conservation of the functions and values of Mediterranean wetlands and the sustainable use of their resources and services.

Ján Kadlečík, from the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, presented the Carpathian Wetland Initiative (CWI), its mission, members, partners and activities. Established in February 2004, CWI’s mission is to ensure and support the effective conservation and wise use of wetlands in the Carpathian region and beyond, through local, national, regional and international activities.

Georg Frank, from DANUBEPARKS, the Network of Protected Areas along the Danube River, presented the network, its history and partners. DANUBEPARKS consists of 16 Protected Areas from nine Danube countries working together since 2009.

The main fields of DANUBEPARKS work include the restoration of dynamic river habitats, floodplain forest and meadow management, protection and monitoring of rare species, and nature tourism.

The Side event concluded with the intervention of Maria Jose VIÑALS, member of the Spanish delegation, Chair of MedWet, who expressed the full support of Spain to the establishment of the European Coalition for Wetlands.

The discussions that took place during and after the side event were very fruitful as each Regional Initiative presented the work they have done, their activities, and their engagement in wetland conservation in their regions. The Initiatives found an appropriate space to express their points of view and their suggestions to establish a strong European Coalition for Wetlands.

With the support of its member countries, MedWet greatly endorses and pushes for the creation of this Coalition, and believes that it can play a pivotal role in the coordination of the conservation and restoration efforts, and in raising awareness of wetlands at the European level.

Photos: © MedWet