GlobWetland II

The overall objective of the Ramsar convention is the conservation and wise use of wetlands by national actions and international cooperation as a means to achieving sustainable development.

This complex and challenging task requires national, local and international bodies involved in the implementation of the convention to rely on suitable geo-information in order to better understand wetland areas, complete national inventories, perform monitoring activities, carry out assessments and put in practice suitable management plans based on up to date and reliable information.

The GlobWetland II project will contribute to the establishment of a Global Wetlands Observing System (G-WOS) in accordance with the Strategic Plan 2009-2015 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands adopted as the last Conference of the Parties. The GlobWetland II project aims principally at developing a G-WOS pilot information system for the production of a number of wetland related geo-information maps and indicators, over 200 wetland sites and surrounding areas, selected over the coastal catchment areas of the Southern and Eastern part of the Mediterranean basin, from Morocco to Turkey.

The GlobWetland II project builds on the findings and achievements of its precursor, the GlobWetland I project, which has ran from 2003 until 2008 and has demonstrated how satellite Earth Observation technology can be a cost-effective and productive tool for the Ramsar Convention and for the conservation and management of wetlands in overall.

Tel: +39 06-941.80563
Fax: +39 06-941.80552
Email: marc.paganini@esa.int