Case study:INTERREG MED WETNET – Memorandum of Cooperation towards a Wetland Contract for the Island of Gozo

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Location: 36° 2' 39.48" N, 14° 15' 4.40" E

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://wetnet.interreg-med.eu/
Themes	Economic aspects, Environmental flows and water resources, Habitat and biodiversity, Land use management - agriculture, Monitoring, Social benefits, Water quality
Country	Malta
Main contact forename	George
Main contact surname	Refalo
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Gozo Regional Committee - GRC
Contact organisation web site	http://www.mcesd.org.mt/content.aspx?id=103088
Partner organisations
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

Interreg Med Wetnet

Project summary

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The Gozo Regional Committee held, within the Interreg Med Wetnet project, a series of participatory events for stakeholders in aspects affecting, or being a result of, the island's wetland context, with the aim of paving the way towards a Wetland Contract for the island of Gozo. The process led to the definition and prioritisation of a list of actions that relate to the pilot areas, directly or indirectly. This was done through a concerted approach where all actors contributed, and constructive discussions were held in relation to potential barriers that could be faced if the actions were to be implemented. Some of the actions overlapped with the Eco-Gozo vision. In such cases, progress of implementation was discussed with the relevant entity, and fine-tuned to avoid overlap. For instance, Eco-Gozo already included the establishment of the “Made in Gozo” label, which was very similar to an action to brand local agricultural produce, however the entity had faced several legal barriers when trying to establish the label, but agreed that it may be worthwhile to re-investigate what the possibilities are. Hence, the action was reworded to fit. A similar approach was taken with other overlaps, and in some cases actions were toned down or broadened for entities to be comfortable in committing to sign the agreement. This was due to concern expressed by some entities. While the signed document is positive, and is evidence that the relevant entities are willing to collaborate and take it forward, further follow-up will be necessary after the end of the project in order to actually activate or continue collaborations, since the agreement does not involve time-frames or the assignment of resources. The Memorandum of Collaboration is the first step, of many necessary, towards a Wetlands Contract for the island of Gozo. The Memorandum is signed by 5 local actors and it will be open to be signed by other actors by the end of the 2019.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Lessons learnt

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A Memorandum of Collaboration is being signed rather than a Wetland Contract, in view of the current local situation where entities have shown that they are not in a position to commit further resources (man-power and finances) to additional tasks. This is mainly due to the fact that the relevant entities are already committed to execute actions that are currently taking up all their resources and running on very tight budget lines. In order to be able to assign budget, a formal request would need to be put forward by the relevant entities, and approved by central Government for upcoming financial years. Such requests need to be made well in advance. Despite this, stakeholders proved willing to commit to a lower level, via a different form document similar to a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby they express agreement on further collaboration on an agreed list of priorities/actions.

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district Gozo River basin Gozo Subcatchment River name Gozo Area category Less than 10 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category Maximum altitude (m) Dominant geology Ecoregion Dominant land cover Waterbody ID Site Edit site Name Gozo Island wetlands (Wied tal-Lunzjata, Il-Qattara, Ghadira ta’ Sarraflu) WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body No National/international site designation EU - Special Area of Conservation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Yes Invasive species present Yes Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started 2016/11/01 Works started Works completed Project completed 2019/10/31 Total cost category Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Landscape enhancement Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Plant new trees characteristic of the targeted habitats; Intense removal of Gambusia Affinis Planform / Channel pattern Eradication of Rana Bedriagae Other Restoration of rubble walls Non-structural measures Management interventions Preserve and store more water, and ensure more efficient use; Appoint a management committee for each site including stakeholders active/present in the area; Promote agricultural practices to limit nutrient and pesticide inputs; Push for the creation of synergies between the farming enterprises, land owners, government, local councils, and the touristic accommodation sector (agro-tourism). Social measures (incl. engagement) Hold information meetings, set up interpretation panels on site, use social media as an educational tool; Awareness raising: Educate the Public on the adverse impacts of releasing alien species in the environment; Further training of farmers to ensure they understand the implications of rules (Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive 2009/128/EC, Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC) and the problems that will result if they are not followed. Other Frequent monitoring detecting n3ew alien species to be dealt with immediately; Local site-specific chemical monitoring is ongoing and that it is effective; Set up a monitoring plan is for each site; Government, Local Authorities and Stakeholders identify and implement strategies to attract quality tourism to the sites rather than mass tourism, thus obtaining better business through smaller numbers; Reinvestigate how barriers can be overcome for branding and certification of local agricultural products from the areas (viniculture and eco-gastronomy). Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information