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Mediterranean Ecosystem session , Monday 19/03 - 16h30
Managing and restoring Mediterranean ecoystems for water services and biodiversity
Monday 19 March 16h30-18h00 - Room 8
Agenda
INTRODUCTION – Eric MINO, Director of EMWIS Technical Unit
CASE STUDIES presentations :
- Lake Manzala Engineered Wetland a Successful Model for the Mediterranean Sea Protection, Prof. Ashraf Elsayed, NWRC Egypt
- Gafsa oasis: a resilient ecosystem for irrigation management, Mrs. Latifa Dhaouadi, Regional Research Center for Oasis Agriculture, Tunisia
- Ecological flows in Sebou river basin, Mrs Samira El Houat, Director of Sebou River Basin Agency (ABHS), Morocco
- Albufera de Valencia: semi-urban wetland under ecological recovering process, Mr. Teodoro Estrela, Director, Jucar River Basin Authority, Spain
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (15 mins)
PANEL DISCUSSION (30 mins) around the 3 key questions:
- How can we enforce an allocation of water for the ecosystems?
- Are Natural Based Solutions an alternative to traditional, grey infrastructure solutions?
- How to assess the value of ecosystems restoration measures?
- Mrs Samira El Houat, Director of Sebou River Basin Agency (ABHS)
- Mrs. Latifa Dhaouadi, Regional Research Center for Oasis Agriculture
- Prof. Ashraf Elsayed, NWRC
- Dr. Amir Givati, Israeli Water Authority
CONCLUSIONS (5 mins)
Additional contributions taken into account:
- Wastewater reuse project in the municipality of Granollers: urban sanitation supported by wetlands (Spain)
- Water treatment as a basis for environmental recovery, Segura river (Spain)
RECOMMANTATIONS
Water ecosystems (surface and ground water) are of great value for sustaining the water cycle, providing goods, and the fight against climate change, their management and restoration is essential to achieve SDG6 but also for the wellbeing of local communities. They require adequate financing (“polluter pays” principle) and shared management by all stakeholders to ensure sufficient water is allocated to natural ecosystems.
KEY MESSAGES
- Ecosystems know no boundaries: they require cooperation and solidarity.
The particular nature of water ecosystems and its linkage with the water cycle makes them a very relevant example of how the effects of actions of any sign taken at any place can be found across borders and both at local, regional and even continental scales.
- Integrate ecosystem deterioration into pricing of water services
In accordance with the “polluter pays” principle, the cost of deterioration of water ecosystems and its services should be integrated into the pricing policies for every water use sector, in order to collect funding for restoration projects and to discourage unsustainable use policies.
- Ecosystems are of great value for the fight against climate change
The ecosystem services of climate regulation, flood protection and carbon sequestration are only a few of the examples that illustrate how healthy water ecosystems can be a cornerstone in the fight against climate change.
- Maintainting essential productions requires maintaining ecosystem services
Multiple links have been found between sectors that sustain society in a strict survival sense, such as food production or water supply, and ecosystem services provided by wetlands. Maintaining these ecosystems in good working order is essential to ensure the sustainability of our very means of subsistance.
- There will be no achieving the SDGs if we turn our back on the water ecosystems
Water-related SDGs will be achieved while protecting and enhancing wetland ecosystems and the services they provide, or otherwise they will not be achieved at all.
Mr.Eric MINO, UT-SEMIDE Director
Ms. Milagros Couchoud Gregori, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IME
Mrs. Samira El Houat, Director of Sebou River Basin Agency Morocco
Prof. Ashraf Elsayed, NWRC Egypt
Mrs. Latifa Dhaouadi, Regional Research Center for Oasis Agriculture Tunisia
Mr. Eric Mino, Satellite data for monitoring wetland ecosystems developed by SWOS project
© Photos Oieau
