This is the final event organised by the MEDCOASTLAND Thematic Network funded by the European Commission (EC), within the 5th Framework Programme for the International Cooperation with Mediterranean countries (INCO-MED). The Network is aiming at the Mediterranean coordination and dissemination of Soil conservation management with special emphasis at the coastal areas.

There are 13 countries (from southern Europe, North Africa, Middle and Near East) participating in the Network making a total of 32 partners, of whom 17 are research and educational institutions, 7 represent policy/decision makers and the remaining 8 partners are farmers associations and/or non governmental organisations (NGOs). The InternationalCentre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) through the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (IAM-B), in Italy is coordinating the project.

Five workshops were organised since 2002 when the project started. They were held in Adana, Turkey in June 2003, Marrakech, Morocco, in February 2004, Alexandria, Egypt in October 2004, Bari, Italy, in September 2005 and Malta in January 2006. They dealt with a large spectrum of issues including the physical and socio-economic factors of the Land degradation process, the participatory management of the farming system and overall rural development. The fourth workshop held in Bari, Italy, in September 2005 dealt specifically with policies and guidelines and their impact on the management of natural resources.

Finally in Malta a Memorandum of Understanding was thoroughly discussed and agreed upon. This basic document summarises the conclusions of the project and creates a platform for continued collaboration not only among the participating institutions of MEDCOASTLAND but also with all the other countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
This Memorandum will be officially endorsed and signed during this last event.

Contacts:
Dr. Talal Darwish
CNRS
Soil Science, National Center for Remote Sensing
P.O. Box 11/8281
Riad El Solh
1107 2260 Beirut, Lebanon
e-mail:
Tel: 961 4 409 845/6
Fax: 961 4 409 847