this new International Symposium aims to review the current situation of water and wetlands in the Mediterranean, identify new challenges and plan for the next 20 years. Important objectives are to highlight the changes occurring in the Mediterranean and their potential impact on wetlands, to identify ways in which wetland resources can be used sustainably, with a strong emphasis on water resources, and to provide ways for closer cooperation between experts and decision-makers in the Mediterranean involved in the water sector, wetlands, biodiversity and other related fields.