After a tightly scheduled round of multi-stakeholder meetings organised across all Wetland4Change pilot areas this autumn, the Sardinian pilot site concluded the series by hosting the last local event. In total, partners in five countries convened local actors to foster an inclusive dialogue on the importance of wetlands in climate mitigation and on the actions needed to strengthen these vital ecosystems.
In Italy, the meeting took place in the Municipality of Terralba, bringing together representatives from local authorities, cooperatives, and the fisheries sector. They joined the Wetland4Change exchange facilitated by the local project partner, the MEDSEA Foundation.
The Sardinian stakeholders had already been introduced to the project during a previous local meeting one year ago, and many also took part in the project’s first Living Lab held last May. That event gathered all project partners and representatives from other pilot sites, offering participants a first-hand experience of how Wetland4Change strengthens wetlands through nature-based solutions. Stakeholders witnessed live demonstrations of carbon sampling and calculation within the Marceddì and San Giovanni lagoons, gaining insight into how these processes support climate mitigation efforts.
During last week’s meeting, the MEDSEA team presented the results from the pilot restoration areas and explained how these findings help to understand water dynamics, ecosystem responses, and the carbon absorption potential of the lagoons.
The discussion generated an active exchange of concerns and observations, as stakeholders described the climate impacts they are increasingly witnessing in the lagoons areas where fishers traditionally navigate, as well as the challenges faced during flood seasons. Moreover, together with the fishermen, we discussed how to translate the scientific insights gained through the Wetland4Change project into concrete actions that sustain the health of the lagoons and strengthen both their ecological and economic value.
Next steps with local stakeholders in Sardinia
In the next local meeting scheduled in spring, project partner is planning to involve local farmers in these upscaling dialogues in order to include their voices for the benefits of the Marceddì and San Giovanni lagoons as it has been noticed that they are suffering from recurring damages caused by floods.
