Mediterranean coastal areas at risk between conservation an development

The WADI project (INCO-CT2005-015226, 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission, 2005-2008) analysed a number of fresh and transitional water bodies in Mediterranean coastal areas suffering from scarcity and/or bad quality of water. Integrated multidisciplinary studies were made to highlight natural and human impacts on the ecological and socioeconomic systems depending on these water bodies. A study-site approach was adopted and the real contexts were analysed, in order to pay attention also to local details, thus not disregarding important elements of the systems. The ultimate goal of the project was to mitigate existing conflicts among stakeholders for water use, addressing the needs of the local people, particularly the weak or underrepresented part of the population. Efforts were made to facilitate communication among the various actors. The lessons learnt and difficulties encountered in the various contexts both in the northern and southern Mediterranean coasts are discussed in this introductory chapter. The challenge was faced by researchers of being at the same time ‘objective scientists’ and stakeholders.