Indicators for the Observatory of Mediterranean Wetlands

In the complex political, ecological, sociologic and economic Mediterranean context, water and coastal space for urbanisation and agriculture are critical issues. Thus, coastal wetlands are under dramatic pressures. The Observatory of Mediterranean Wetlands (OMW) was recently launched as a broad partnership. It aims to provide and communicate a general overview about the status and trends of wetlands in the Mediterranean as well as analyses to explain them and to specify their implications for natural heritage and human well-being. In order to reach these objectives, it has started designing a monitoring and assessment framework, including priority themes for each objective and associated priority indicators. The aim of this study is to present a review of the existing sets of indicators found in available environmental monitoring and assessment systems. Twenty-three conventions, legal instruments or programs dealing with biodiversity assessment, wetland conservation and sustainable development, with a special focus on Integrated Coastal Zone Management, were reviewed.