Across The Waters’ Schools

Mediterranean training courses

Since its first Mediterranean School in 1995, WWF has developed a wide range of thematic, hands-on, regionally-focused training courses. Between 1995 and 2003, 214 professionals from 17 Mediterranean countries have been trained.

Participants are staff or active members of NGOs and other institutions involved in Mediterranean conservation. The maximum number of participants in a training is 15. Training courses last 5 to 12 days, and are structured to allow both learners and trainers to share experiences and to look for practical solutions to specific issues. All courses combine lectures, fieldwork and participatory workshops. An evaluation is conducted at the end of each course to monitor and adapt course contents and modus operandi.

Training Schools

The Blue School on the conservation and management of marine and coastal ecosystems includes biology and ecology of the Mediterranean Sea , management of coastal and marine ecosystems outside and inside protected areas, economic activities, such as fisheries, in the Mediterranean Sea and coast, environmental education and environmental education tailored to marine and coastal areas.

The Silva School on the conservation and management of Mediterranean forests and woodlands includes explanations on the ecosystem, socio-economic dynamics and the evolution of Mediterranean forest landscapes, forest restoration, tree nurseries and eco-forestry techniques, conservation and sustainable management of Mediterranean forests and environmental education techniques related to them. Read more...

The Wet School on the wetlands and freshwater in the Mediterranean deals with the current status and the future of water resources in the region, their conservation and sustainable management, water consumption and strategies to save water, and environmental education techniques related to water and wetlands. 

The Wild School on protected area management in the Mediterranean is conducted in several protected areas managed by WWF in Italy . Issues covered include scientific research, wildlife management and monitoring of ecosystems; creation of employment opportunities, sustainable use of natural and cultural resources within and outside protected areas; working with local communities; and environmental education, tourism and visitor management.

The Sun School on environmental education applied to the Mediterranean focuses on theory and methods relevant to the main ecosystems in the region, and planning and implementing education and awareness projects.

ITACA on tourism in the Mediterranean tackles the impact of mass tourism on biodiversity and natural resources in the region, initiatives for a more responsible tourism, best practices and management of responsible tourism projects.