Side event details

Overseas dialogue between the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean - Building skills and knowledge to address climate change through wetland-based solutions

NOTICE: If you intend to join this side event, please register here (catering provided): 
 

Linked to: Resolution XIV.17 The protection, conservation, restoration, sustainable use and management of wetland ecosystems in addressing climate change

Objective: In this event, we will illustrate key pressures on wetlands in three different regions - the Caribbean, the European Union and the Mediterranean, highlighting shared challenges and solutions for conserving and restoring wetlands in the face of climate change.

Wetlands’ outstanding ability to mitigate climate change - from storing carbon and GHG emissions to preventing floods and conserving biodiversity - continues to be overlooked by influential societal actors around the globe. And yet, achieving healthier wetlands requires the collaboration and involvement of stakeholders from various domains and levels, from local to national and regional.

By promoting interregional dialogue, the event will reflect on the multiple barriers, drivers and enablers of wetland restoration, including examples of policies and governance mechanisms, tools for supporting decision-making and identifying priority sites.

Three different projects - Horizon RESTORE4Cs’ in Europe, ‘RESCOM’ in the Mediterranean and ‘Wise Use of Caribbean Wetlands for Climate Change Mitigation & Conservation of their Ecosystem Services in the Caribbean - will present their strategies for mobilising and building the capacities of key players through regional initiatives, including the development of capacity building programmes, joint monitoring schemes and the establishment of a Community of Practice for Wetland Restoration. 

Organisers: 
 
IUCN ORMACC in cooperation with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat:
- Wise Use of Caribbean Wetlands for Climate Change Mitigation & Conservation of their Ecosystem Services (IKI, International Climate Initiative)
 
MedWet:
- Horizon RESTORE4Cs project (Horizon Europe Climate programme)
- RESCOM project (FFEM, Mava Foundation, AFD)
 
Moderator: Marianne Courouble (MedWet, Mediterranean Biodiversity Consortium)
Confirmed speakers: Melesha Gunning-Bahnhan (IUCN), Anis Guelmami (Tour du Valat, Horizon RESTORE4Cs project, Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory), Santiago Suarez-Solan (MedWet, Horizon RESTORE4Cs project, online), 

Overview

• Introduction – Wetland-based Solutions for climate action (5’)
• Illustrating threats and pressures on wetlands through case studies from three regions around the world: (15’)
  * Europe: Marjal del Moro (Valencia, Spain)
  * Mediterranean: Divjaka-Karavasta National Park (Albania)
  * Caribbean: Codrington Lagoon (Barbuda), Levera Pond (Grenada)

• Common pathways for building skills and knowledge for restoring and conserving wetlands: (25')
  * Tools for policy and decision-making
  * Communities of Practice, stakeholder engagement and partnership building
  * Capacity building and advocacy
  * Monitoring & Evaluation

• Reflecting on the lessons learned to deliver common conclusions - Q&A and closing remarks (10’)