Wetland4Change

🎄 Season’s Greetings from #Wetland4Change! 🌿 As we celebrate this festive season, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with hope and progress! Looking ahead to 2025, let’s continue working together to strengthen the resilience of wetlands and their vital role in climate change adaptation 🌱 Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage University of Forestry, Sofia @EKBY Greek Biotope - Wetland Center | University of Valencia | MEDSEA / Mediterranean Sea and Coast foundation | Tour du Valat | ETC-UMA

🌿✨ We are in the news! 🌿✨ #Wetland4Change has been recently featured on Europapress! 🌍💧 The occasion was during the recent meeting in Valencia, hosted by the University of Valencia's Cavanilles Institute. The press had the opportunity to interview some of our experts, including Antonio Camacho, Director of the Limnology group of the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity Read: https://lnkd.in/dMrnZ8zy Video Interview to Antonio Camacho : https://lnkd.in/dAwDVVPU Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage University of Forestry, Sofia @EKBY Greek Biotope - Wetland Center | University of Valencia | MEDSEA / Mediterranean Sea and Coast foundation | Tour du Valat | ETC-UMA

During the #Wetland4Change meeting in #Valencia, held shortly after the devastating #floods caused by DANA, Carles Sanchis, President of the Management Council of the Albufera Natural Park, emphasized the crucial role of wetlands in mitigating the effects of climate change. Read the interview: https://lnkd.in/dMmfya_V He detailed the condition of the area’s wetlands over recent decades, highlighting the importance of maintaining them in good condition to ensure their resilience and effectiveness as natural solutions. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝟒𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞? Wetland4Change is an Interreg Euro-MED project actively testing two innovative solutions in 5 European Pilot Sites, included The Albufera Natural Park in Valencia, to enhance carbon sequestration and prevent flooding. ❗ Restoring degraded wetlands and keeping them in a optimal and healthy conditions enhances their natural water absorption and retention capacity, as well as their carbon storage potential to ensure resilience to climate change impacts ❗ Interreg Euro-MED Programme Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage University of Forestry, Sofia MEDSEA / Mediterranean Sea and Coast foundation Tour du Valat Universidad de Málaga ETC-UMA University of Valencia

The Natural Heritage Mission team has coordinated a joint communication meeting in which all the Governance projects and Thematic projects in this chapter of Interreg Euro-MED Programme have participated today. The main objective of the meeting has been to align communication strategies and actions to strengthen the community dimension during 2025. And together achieve greater impact on the public opinion of the Euro-Mediterranean countries on the need and importance of these projects, and their use by stakeholders, policy makers and society as a whole. Germ of Life congratulates the Natural Heritage Mission Communication team for their work. cc Artemis Interreg Euro-MED Carbon 4 Soil Quality Interreg Euro-MED FRED Project MedSeaRise Interreg Euro-MED project StrategyMedFor Interreg Euro-MED WE GO COOP LocAll4Flood Céline Lievre Henrieta Belegisanin Caterina Praticò Federica Rondino Oumayma MORAI Maïna Gautier Martin Fillot Giulia Rigoli Giulia Costa Domingo Emanuela Manca Fernando Pinillos Elsa Nunes Eva Sahores Darja Demšar Lucía Prieto Fustes Romina D'Ascanio Eleni Iordanidou Jasna Prskalo Kasumović Odysseas Sifounakis Juan Charneco Fernández Panagiota Saranti Francesca Frau Lea Mlekuš Arnaud Terrisse Flávia Duarte Andreia Bastos Konstantina (Nantia) Lantavou Elisa Avellini Giulia Eremita Nikola Lopac Meritxell Abril

📅 Yesterday, 10.12.2024, we hosted the 1st @Natural Heritage Mission Joint Communication meeting, bringing together representatives of the Mission's 13 Thematic and 2 Governance Projects. Our aim: to align our communication strategies and actions. 📈 This first meeting was an opportunity  to reflect on this year’s activities, highlighting the projects’ achievements, as well as the challenges faced! 🤝 The discussion also focused on what the ‘Mission’ can do for its Thematic Projects (TPs) and what the TPs can do for the ‘Mission’, fostering a spirit of full collaboration. 📝 Building on last year’s accomplishments, we are now planning together our communication strategy for next year. By joining forces, we will communicate our actions through newsletters and awareness campaigns, and reach our target stakeholders (i.e. public authorities, research institutions, private organisations, NGOs, etc.). Together, we will amplify our  common message for the protection, restoration and valorisation of the Mediterranean Natural Heritage! The Natural Heritage Mission’s communication meetings will be scheduled every 2 months! #NaturalHeritagemission #NatureRestoration #Mediterranean #Biodiversity #interregeuromed #InstitutionalDialogue Interreg Euro-MED Programme Artemis Interreg Euro-MED Wetland4Change Germ of Life MEDSEA / Mediterranean Sea and Coast foundation TREASURE | Testing novel environmental quality measures in and around Euro-MED ports Carbon 4 Soil Quality LocAll4Flood IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation CoNISMa National Technical University of Athens CREAF Marine Institute, Croatia MedCities / MedCités National Institute of Biology IrRADIARE Office français de la biodiversité Plan Bleu

🌿 Reflecting on the 2nd Natural Heritage Institutional Dialogue 🌊 On 28–29 November 2024, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation coordinated the second Natural Heritage Institutional Dialogue, a transformative event bringing together experts, policymakers, and organisations dedicated to nature protection in the Mediterranean. The first day set the stage with dynamic discussions on restoration policies and challenges, complemented by practical examples demonstrating the transition from policy to actionable strategies. Speakers like Vedran Nikolić from the European Commission and Jose Luis García Varas of WWF Spain shared their insights on the groundbreaking EU Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore 20% of ecosystems by 2030. As Nikolić reminded us, “This is not just a European effort—it’s a global call to action.” The afternoon of the first day featured a dedicated session on Spain’s marine restoration efforts by the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico. Panellists also highlighted projects restoring ecosystems like coastal lagoons, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows, showcasing innovative techniques that protect biodiversity and combat climate change. Discussions emphasised the importance of collaboration and science in meeting EU Nature Restoration Law goals and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Meanwhile, some participants were treated to a Climate and Biodiversity Tour of Málaga. Guided by Social Climate - Social innovation for climate action, the tour showcased how urban planning and natural ecosystems can work together to adapt to climate challenges while enhancing biodiversity. This walk through the city’s green and blue spaces was a refreshing reminder of the tangible benefits that restoration efforts can bring to local communities. The second day focused on bridging science and policy. A capacity-building session helped participants navigate the complexities of decision-making in conservation, while working groups explored innovative solutions for ecosystem resilience, climate adaptation, and the socio-economic value of biodiversity. The event wasn’t just about dialogue—it was about forging connections. The Marketplace featured thematic projects presenting their initiatives, sharing progress, and exploring synergies with participants from across the Mediterranean, fostering partnerships and envisioning future collaborations.   📖 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4gk5qAz  🎥 Missed it? Watch the recordings here: Day 1: https://bit.ly/3ZjkcRc  Day 2: https://bit.ly/3ViQgDG #NaturalHeritage #Restoration #Mediterranean #Biodiversity #InstitutionalDialogue Interreg Euro-MED Programme Artemis Interreg Euro-MED Wetland4Change Germ of Life MEDSEA / Mediterranean Sea and Coast foundation TREASURE | Testing novel environmental quality measures in and around Euro-MED ports Carbon 4 Soil Quality LocAll4Flood

🌿 Advancing Climate Resilience Through Wetlands 🌍 The #Wetland4Change Consortium Meeting in Valencia showcased how wetlands play a vital role in strengthening climate resilience. Here a recap of our Consortium Meeting last week! Read 🔗: https://lnkd.in/dJztki3S From carbon sequestration models to flood regulation strategies, wetlands like the Albufera Natural Park demonstrate their power to mitigate extreme weather events and support biodiversity. As Professor Antonio Camacho remarked: "Ecosystems, especially aquatic ones, provide ecosystem services without which human well-being would not be possible." 🌍 The fieldwork session was a pivotal moment to learn how to detect GHG emissions and CO₂ sequestration across different wetlands soil types. This hands-on experience allowed us to share models and techniques that are going to be implemented in our 5 pilot sites. 🤔 What are the best conditions for carbon sequestration in wetlands? ⚠️ What, on the other hand, exacerbates the release of these gases, so impactful on our climate? A crucial step towards nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change. 🌿 Read 🔗: https://lnkd.in/dJztki3S Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage University of Valencia Tour du Valat University of Forestry, Sofia ETC-UMA MEDSEA / Mediterranean Sea and Coast foundation

🌿 Yesterday, professor Bernabe Aldeguer Cerdá and I had the pleasure to present the Horizon- BlueGreen Governance project and the case study "A connected network of wetlands in the Valencian Community". Many thanks to Wetland4Change for inviting us to this event. Research groups specializing in biodiversity and climate from five European countries, within the Wetland4Change project, an Euro-MED initiative, advocated yesterday at the Biological Station of the Albufera Natural Park for the conservation and restoration of wetlands to address extreme events favored by global warming, such as the recent DANA in Valencia. 📅 The event's agenda included presentations on the impacts of severe weather events in the Albufera Natural Park, flood regulation, and communication strategies and stakeholder engagement, among other relevant topics. #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #Wetlands #Sustainability #Valencia ___ 🌿 Ahir, el professor Bernabe Aldeguer Cerdá jo vam tindre el plaer de presentar el projecte Horizon- BlueGreen Governance i el cas d'estudi "A connected network of wetlands in the Valencian Community". Moltes gràcies a Wetland4Change per convidar-nos a aquest esdeveniment. Diversos grups d'investigació experts en biodiversitat i clima de cinc països europeus, dins del projecte Wetland4Change, una iniciativa Euro-MED, van reivindicar ahir a l'Estació Biològica del Parc Natural de l'Albufera la conservació i restauració de les zones humides per fer front als episodis extrems afavorits pel canvi climàtic, com per exemple la recent DANA de València. 📅 L'agenda de l'esdeveniment va incloure presentacions sobre els impactes dels esdeveniments meteorològics severs en el Parc Natural de l'Albufera, la regulació de les inundacions, i les estratègies de comunicació i implicació dels stakeholders, entre altres temes rellevants. #Biodiversitat #ZonesHumides #València #Sostenibilitat #Aiguamolls

🌊 𝐄𝐜𝐜𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐡é 𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐨 ''𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚'' 𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨! 🌍 Leggi: https://lnkd.in/ds5SGePz Quali sono gli ''hotspot'' climatici nel Mediterraneo, ovvero le aree piu' vulnerabili al #cambiamentoclimatico? 𝑵𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒂 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒕𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕 𝑴𝒂𝒑" 𝒅𝒊 𝑴𝑬𝑫𝑺𝑬𝑨 𝒄𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒍 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 🎙️ Il punto di vista di Manuela Puddu, ingegnere ambientale e responsabile MEDSEA per le Zone Umide. Leggi: https://lnkd.in/ds5SGePz /// 🌊 Here’s Why We're All at "Valencia" Risk in the Mediterranean! 🌍 Read more:https://lnkd.in/dR7v2Gc3 What are the climate "hotspots" in the Mediterranean—the areas most vulnerable to #climatechange? 📍 Pictured: The "Mediterranean Climate Hotspot Map" by MEDSEA with the Risk Coast Index, highlighting climate hotspots and coastal wetlands essential for biodiversity and climate adaptation. 🎙️ Insights from Manuela Puddu, environmental engineer and MEDSEA’s Wetland Area Manager. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dR7v2Gc3 #MEDSEA #ClimateChange #Mediterranean #Biodiversity #Wetlands #Sustainability #ClimateAdaptation #ValenciaFlood Wetland4Change TransformAr

Questa settimana il team MEDSEA con la nostra responsabile del team Communication Oumayma Morai e Giuseppe Dodaro, Socio Fondatore MEDEA ed esperto in pianificazione e gestione delle Aree Protette, ha partecipato al Forum Italiano Interreg Euro-MED Programme a Firenze! Un'occasione per incontrare i referenti di tutti gli altri progetti tematici che sono divisi in 4 grandi temi per il nostro futuro: 📈 Rafforzare una economia innovativa e sostenibile 🌿 Proteggere e ripristinare il patrimonio naturale 🏙️ Promuovere le aree verdi vivibili 🌍 Incentivare il turismo sostenibile MEDSEA si occupa di gestire la sperimentazione nei siti pilota in Sardegna e la comunicazione di due importnti progetti dell' Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage (🌿 Proteggere e ripristinare il patrimonio naturale): Artemis Interreg Euro-MED e Wetland4Change 🌊 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐒 mira ad accelerare il ripristino delle praterie di Posidonia nel Mediterraneo attraverso soluzioni innovative basate sui servizi ecosistemici, con l'obiettivo di conservare e recuperare questi habitat marini fondamentali Scopri: https://lnkd.in/dZRXXaQz 🌿 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝟒𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 promuove le zone umide come soluzioni naturali per mitigare gli effetti del cambiamento climatico, testando soluzioni innovative in 5 siti pilota europei Scopri: https://lnkd.in/dJEWegic Durante la giornata abbiamo avuto modo di rappresentare #ARTEMIS assieme al Comune di Monfalcone con Antonio Pavanello e #Wetland4Change per lavorare sui key message essenziali per migliorare la comunicazione sulle tematiche comuni quali il ripristino degli ecosistemi naturali e i benefici dei servizi ecosistemici. Nei prossimi giorni cercheremo di mettere in pratica quanto appreso!