• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     Mediterranean Day
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 16 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2021 Regional Integration
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Inclusive Development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
      • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
    • UfM in the Media

      6 March 2023 – Alghad.com – المؤتمر الدولي لمصادر المياه بعمان: تحديد للفرص القابلة للتنفيذ
      View article
      27 February 2023 – Huffington Post – “Nel Mediterraneo è sfida per l’energia, 250 progetti per portarla da Sud a Nord”
      View article
      18 February 2023 – The Jordan Times – Regional Transport Action Plan to propel shift towards sustainability — UfM official
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

World Water Day: UfM supports the preservation of the Mediterranean “biological supermarkets”

Water Environment & Blue Economy
  • Groundwater resources are the main source of the water supply in many Mediterranean countries and are subjected to pressures resulting from unequal distribution, accessibility, and quality issues. Groundwater-intensive exploitation contributed to the decrease, deterioration, and disappearance of over 50% of wetlands during the past century. 
  • Wetlands’ ecosystem services are among the most productive habitats in the world. They can be considered as “biological supermarkets”, since they provide great volumes of food for many species, including humans. Yet, wetlands cover only between 1.7% to 2.4% of the total area of the Mediterranean coast.
  • With a view to protecting Mediterranean wetlands, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) supports the “Wetlands-based Solutions” project, which seeks to save, restore, and manage outstanding nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean coast.

19 March 2022. In the Mediterranean region, wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems, providing critical services for half a billion people. Coastal fisheries and sustainable agriculture rely on healthy coastal wetland ecosystems, providing important low-carbon sources of nutrition for our growing population. The largest areas of wetlands are in Egypt, France, Türkiye and Algeria, together making up about two-thirds of the Mediterranean Wetlands area.

The climate crisis, including droughts, is hitting the Mediterranean 20% harder than the rest of the world, but coastal wetlands play a vital role in mitigating future temperature increase. They currently store up to 40% of the world’s carbon and do it at a rate 10-20 times greater than temperate or boreal forests. Yet, besides providing natural solutions to many environmental problems, wetlands’ ecosystem services are among the most productive habitats in the world, and they can be considered as “biological supermarkets”. On top of that, in the Mediterranean region wetlands are providing critical services for half a billion people. Coastal fisheries and sustainable agriculture rely on healthy coastal wetland ecosystems, providing important low-carbon sources of nutrition for our growing population.

With a view to fostering a more effective conservation of these crucial habitats, the UfM supports the “Wetland-Based Solutions project”, promoted by MedWet. Through the protection and restoration of key wetlands, the project proposes coastal wetlands as key assets for nature-based solutions’ implementation to counteract anthropogenic impacts, and in particular, climate change. The Wetland-Based Solutions is a collaboration between 30 wetland expert partners from 10 countries, with the funding and support of the MAVA Foundation. They have come together and built a ground-breaking initiative to save, restore and manage outstanding nature-based Solutions in the Mediterranean coast, for the benefits of people, their wellbeing, and wildlife, where one third of the Mediterranean populations live. 

The concept “Nature-based Solutions” consist in promoting the use of natural ecosystems through conservation or restoration interventions to address global societal challenges, such as climate change, natural disasters risk reduction (floods, avalanches, or fires), food and water supply, energy security, or even the issues of urban growth. They are real-world applications that demonstrate the benefits of nature and healthy ecosystems, providing a tangible return on investment and making a substantial contribution to human wellbeing. 

More information

  • “Mediterranean wetland restoration: an urgent priority” Restoring Mediterranean wetlands: the urgent and essential Nature-based Solution to the region’s most pressing challenges. Despite the vital roles they play, 48% of Mediterranean wetlands have been lost since 1970. 
    • Policy Paper
    • Policy Paper summary
  • The project “Wetlands-Based Solutions”
Share this:

Latest news

On the road to the UfM Ministerial Conference on Higher Education (Fez, November 2023): UfM Higher Education Stakeholders’ Meeting
23 / 03 / 2023
World Water Day 2023: The UfM urges governments, organisations and individuals to accelerate change to solve the water and sanitation crisis
22 / 03 / 2023
See more

Agenda

First Ad Hoc Working Group on RoadMap for implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society
28 / 03 / 2023
UfM Conference on Regional Integration and Value Chain Transition
27 / 04 / 2023
See more

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-financé par l'Union européenne  -  Cookie Privacy  |  Privacy Privacy  |  Legal notice
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */

 

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.


3rd Party Cookies

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Cookies Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Read more

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!