Implementing sustainable strategies through regional planning

Sustainable strategies are needed to facilitate humans to live within the Earth's carrying capacity. Ensuring global sustainability requires not only national but international concensus. Regional planning can be an important element in achieving this.

MedWet is an initiative of the Mediterranean countries. It was conceived as a long-term effort by governments and NGOs to strengthen the ecological and cultural unity of the Mediterranean region. Since its initiation, two major projects involving more than ten Mediterranean countries have been completed. The projects have helped to develop methodological tools for wetland conservation and management, to stimulate concrete actions at of pilot sites and to develop policy guidelines in cooperation with national NGOs and experts. The Ramsar Bureau played a key role in the projects. Two further projects started at 1998: MedWet3 and MedWet4 ("the Evian Project") that involve actions at about twenty wetland sites in ten countries. All projects are designed to implement the Mediterranean Wetland Strategy, which was prepared by the MedWet partners and endorsed by the Conference on Mediterranean Wetlands (Venice, June 1996). The Strategy "to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of Mediterranean wetlands as a contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development in the region". Its general objectives are: (1) to obtain the widest possible acceptance for the Mediterranean Wetland Strategy and commitments to its implementation; (2) to achieve the wise use of Mediterranean wetlands, including restoration or rehabilitation of lost and degraded wetlands; (3) to increase knowledge and raise awareness of wetland functions and values throughout the Mediterranean; (4) to reinforce the capacity of institutions and organizations in the Mediterranean to secure conservation and wise use of wetlands; (5) to ensure that all wetlands in the Mediterranean with a protected status are managed effectively; (6) to confer legal protection on the major Mediterranean wetlands and strengthen relevant legal frameworks; (7) to strengthen international cooperation for wetlands in the the Mediterranean, including technical and financial assistance; and (8) to strengthen collaboration among governmental, non-governmental organizations and the private sector for wetland conservation and wise use in the Mediterranean.