WETWISE

Strategy or action plan, pilot actions, solutions

C1-2.3-69

LP: Università degli Studi di Catania  - Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental 

Sciences - CUP: E63C25000590002

PP2: University of Malta – Department of Biology

CUP: G13C25000240006

PP3: Università degli Studi di Palermo - Dipartimento di Ingegneria - CUP: B73C25000190002

PP4: Università degli Studi di Enna “Kore” - Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura

CUP: J73C25000130002

PP5 Comune di Marsala -   Ufficio Speciale per l’attuazione del PNRR, Agenda Urbana e FUA   

CUP: B81G25000040001

PP6: Wes Trade Ltd - R&D Department – CUP: 

G13C25000250006

Foundation Pro Biodiversity (FPB); Dipartimento Regionale Sviluppo Rurale e Territoriale - Servizio 16 - Riserva Naturale Orientata Oasi faunistica di 

Vendicari (RNV); Libero Consorzio Comunale di Siracusa (LCS); Autorità di Bacino del Distretto Idrografico della Sicilia (AdB); Nature Trust Malta

Coastal wetlands in Sicily and Malta are facing unprecedented degradation due to climate and human pressures. These ecosystems are highly interconnected, sharing habitats, migratory routes, and vulnerability to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, and sea-level rise. WETWISE aims to prove, through data and pilot actions on three sites, the effectiveness of large-scale wetland restoration. By involving site managers and an interdisciplinary research team, the project will apply real-time monitoring and “digital twins” to co-design sustainable restoration strategies. The goal is to produce a roadmap and a joint action plan between Italy and Malta for long-term coastal wetland restoration in the programme area and beyond.

• 1 joint strategy: Strategic action plan for climate-resilient restoration of coastal wetlands across Sicily and Malta.
• 2 pilot actions: On-site restoration interventions in two coastal wetland areas and a Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadow.
• 2 jointly developed solutions: Integrated monitoring network for Sicilian and Maltese coastal wetlands; Digital twin of the Sicily-Malta cross-border wetland system.
• 2 solutions adopted by site managers (monitoring network and digital twin).
• 1 joint strategic action plan adopted by organisations from both territories.

• Restoration of 3 pilot coastal wetlands between Sicily and Malta.
• Enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services (e.g. carbon sequestration, climate regulation).
• Development of an integrated environmental monitoring network for coastal wetlands.
• Creation of digital twins of wetland systems to simulate and plan effective restoration.
• Implementation of 2 active restoration pilot actions, including Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows.
• Adoption of a joint climate-resilient restoration strategy between Italy and Malta.
• Strengthening of cross-border cooperation and local technical capacity.
• Delivery of a replicable roadmap to inform future National Nature Restoration Plans.

Prof. Rosaria Ester Musumeci 

📧 rosaria.musumeci@unict.it
📞 +39 0957382727