Sustainable Management of Mediterranean Wetland Landscapes

S11 6

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Abstract

Mediterranean landscapes have been under the influence of humans for millennia. Wetlands, in particular, have always been an important element of these landscapes. Mediterranean people have been inextricably and diachronically linked to these wetlands, but it is questionable whether these links are still growing strong and/or if they remain pertinent. In other words, this human-nature relationship has created rich landscape features, but it has also degraded many wetlands due to unsustainable practices and the lack of co-ordinated management techniques. The sustainable management of Mediterranean wetland landscapes is a complicated process that involves many entities and requires the resolving of many theoretical and practical matters. The situation becomes more complex when trans-boundary and trans-disciplinary issues come to the surface, where substantial environmental concerns, economic conflicts and socio-cultural dissimilarities can be observed. An integrated approach to wetland landscapes management may provide the necessary platform for a better appreciation of their functions and values. Yet, such an approach needs to be accessible, participatory, interactive and temporal in order to improve communication and cooperation, effectively allocate responsibilities and contribute to the sharing of experience between all involved actors. This paper presents some of the main concerns related to Mediterranean wetland landscapes and aims to examine why the need for integration is so imminent.