Kick-off Meeting of WETWISE Project Held in Malta

The WETWISE project (WETland ecosystem restoration through WISE strategic adaptation across borders) was officially launched in Malta with a kick-off meeting hosted at the Hotel Marriot, St Julian’s.

The project is financed by the INTERREG Italia-Malta programme. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from Italy and Malta to address the urgent need for the restoration and sustainable management of coastal wetlands.

The meeting opened with institutional greetings from Hon. Dr Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Minister for European Funds and Implementation of the Electoral Programme, and H.E. Dr Valentina Setta, Ambassador of Italy to Malta.

Prof. Sandro Lanfranco and Prof. Sebastiano D’Amico, both from the University of Malta, served as the coordinators of the event. They welcomed participants and set the stage for a day of scientific presentations, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative discussions.

During the sessions, experts shared research and case studies highlighting the challenges faced by wetlands in Sicily and Malta, which are increasingly under pressure from climate change and human activity. Presentations addressed topics ranging from the transplantation of Posidonia oceanica in the Stagnone di Marsala, to the use of geophysics and autonomous underwater vehicles for water quality monitoring, as well as hydrodynamic modeling and the integration of satellite and in-situ monitoring systems.

The WETWISE initiative aims to demonstrate, with concrete data and actions, the effectiveness of large-scale wetland restoration across pilot sites in Sicily and Malta.

By combining real-time monitoring with innovative digital twin models, the project seeks to co-design and implement sustainable restoration actions. The long-term objective is to develop a shared cross-border roadmap and action plan that will strengthen biodiversity, mitigate climate risks, and foster transnational cooperation between Italy and Malta.

The event concluded with a stakeholder survey and poster session, underlining the project’s emphasis on collaboration and the importance of integrating scientific research with policy and community involvement.

The WETWISE project is coordinated by the University of Catania and the other partners are University of Palermo, University of Enna "Kore", Comune di Marsala and Westrade.