On May 2, 2024, Fès witnessed a stride in environmental conservation with the successful inauguration of the first Living Lab Sebou at the Ibis Hotel. This pivotal event, hosted by Living Planet Morocco in collaboration with Tour du Valat, the Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency, and Mapping Technologies, marked a step forward in water resource management and the conservation of wetland ecosystems in the Sebou Basin.
The purpose of the first living lab workshop (M3.1) held on the 25th of April, 2024 in Konya city centre was to foster a mutual understanding regarding the vital problem of unsustainable surface water use in the Konya Closed Basin and conduct an initial analysis of proposed solutions to the problem by the relevant stakeholders. There were 25 stakeholders in the workshop representing State Hydraulic Works, Konya Plains Project Regional Development Administration, Agricultural Chambers, District Agriculture and Forestry Offices, irrigation unions, farmer associations, NGOs and universities.
The OurMED project recently organized in a series of educational workshops aimed at introducing children to the field of environmental science. These workshops, held last week, reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering an interest in science among young learners.
During these sessions, children had the opportunity to engage in hands-on experiments led by our dedicated researchers, including Dr.Seifeddine Jomaa. These interactive activities provided participants with insights into the basic principles of environmental science and research. This initiative is part of our dissemination efforts to broaden the impact of the OurMED project beyond academia, reaching out to younger audiences and igniting curiosity in future generations of scientists.
The Living Lab participatory workshop that was held in Arborea on April 5, 2024, marked a significant milestone in our collective efforts towards sustainable and integrated water management in the region.
The workshop witnessed active engagement from a diverse array of stakeholders, including water agencies, local authorities, farmers and fishermen cooperatives, and research institutions. At the core of the workshop was the aim to foster multi-stakeholder partnership and co-design actionable pathways to address nitrate pollution. This event, held in synergy with the PRIMA-funded NATMED project, exemplified our commitment to collective action and innovation.
On Friday, March 29, 2024, the 1st OurMED Living Lab was held at the "Limni Kafe" in Agyia, with 48 participant stakeholders, who had the opportunity to interact with each other, among them were farmers and individuals, water users active in the area of Agyia, local authorities, water management organizations, decision makers and policy makers, scientists, etc.
In a significant move to support environmental conservation in Algeria, the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory (MWO) is collaborating with the Algerian General Directorate of Forestry (DGF) to implement the 2016-2030 Action Plan of the National Wetlands Strategy. Anis Guelmami, the MWO coordinator and TdV representative, led a pivotal workshop with over 30 participants from Algeria's National Wetlands Committee. This workshop focused on evaluating the progress of the Action Plan's implementation and establishing a roadmap for upcoming priority actions.
