Collaborative governance through the Mediterranean. Framing a Community of Practice for Wetland Contracts

Abstract

Wetlands are vital ecosystems, hosting 40% of global biodiversity and providing services such as flood regulation, carbon storage, and water purification. Despite their importance, wetlands face severe threats, with over 35% lost globally in the past 50 years due to urbanization, agriculture, and pollution. The Mediterranean region is particularly affected, requiring urgent action to ensure wetland preservation and sustainable management. This paper aims to explore the potential of Wetland Contracts as participatory governance tools for wetland conservation. It focuses on the WE GO COOP project, which scales Wetland Contracts through a Mediterranean Community of Practice (CoP) and adapts them to new contexts. The paper also highlights the role of a virtual collaborative platform in fostering stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange, showcasing its effectiveness in addressing wetland challenges through innovative governance.