Proceedings of the Second Mediterranean Symposium on Marine

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND MEDITERRANEAN SYMPOSIUM ON MARINE VEGETATION (ATHENS, 12-13 DECEMBER 2003)
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• Biology, ecology and inventory <strong>of</strong> plant species and assemblages
• Mapping <strong>the</strong> marine vegetation and its distribution
• Anthropic impacts on <strong>Mediterranean</strong> marine vegetation.
The three sessions were in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong> oral presentations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> each participant,
backed by articles prepared according to <strong>the</strong> instructions given by <strong>the</strong> organisers.
Participants’ posters were displayed during <strong>the</strong> entire period <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> and
backed by summaries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work done.
Three introductory lectures by Pr<strong>of</strong>. Boudouresque and Pr<strong>of</strong>. Giaccone started <strong>of</strong>f each <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> three sessions.
Working groups and round tables were planned to discuss <strong>the</strong> various subjects tackled
at <strong>the</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>.
4. Recommendations and conclusions
The discussions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> meetings <strong>of</strong> working groups and round tables, and those that
followed each session, led to <strong>the</strong> following recommendations and conclusions:
• Standardisation <strong>of</strong> mapping methods
- Make effective maps that are easy to use, fairly cheap, and reliable by setting up a
Reliability Index.
- As far as possible, add quantitative and also qualitative data that will enable <strong>the</strong> state
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plant assemblages to be assessed for optimum use <strong>of</strong> mapping.
- Develop mapping <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r plant assemblages, particularly those listed in <strong>the</strong> Action Plan
for <strong>the</strong> Conservation <strong>of</strong> Marine Vegetation in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mediterranean</strong>.
- As far as possible, standardise methods <strong>of</strong> mapping.
- Integrate <strong>the</strong> entirety <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mapping data in a georeferential database that is
standardised around <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mediterranean</strong> basin. This system <strong>of</strong> geographic information
will be an indispensable tool for <strong>the</strong> integrated management <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coastal area.
- Set up working groups by subject (standardisation <strong>of</strong> mapping methods and
descriptors, formatting and circulation <strong>of</strong> information) and form a Scientific and
Technical Committee to advise <strong>the</strong> various countries in making <strong>the</strong>ir national maps.
• Elaboration <strong>of</strong> tools for <strong>the</strong> taxonomy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> marine vegetation
- Elaborate an inventory <strong>of</strong> specialists through a directory <strong>of</strong> specialists in marine
vegetation that is already available on <strong>the</strong> website.
- Translate and circulate <strong>the</strong> guide already produced by Pr<strong>of</strong>. Giaccone and available at
RAC/SPA.
- Make an inventory <strong>of</strong> national needs.
- Process via an observatory <strong>the</strong> information already acquired by RAC/SPA and make it
available.