Each representative was here to represent his or her aquatic ecosystem. This representation was illustrated by the creation of a diplomatic bag, with each person bringing a bottle of water from their ecosystem. All the waters were symbolically brought together.
A symbolic departure was organised from Brussels with the team of French ecologist MEP Marie Toussaint, who is particularly keen to defend the rights of nature in Parliament. In front of the Parliament, a text calling for the union of water bodies in Europe was read out, heralding the start of the Water Bodies Conference. Although aquatic ecosystems are not their own centre, it was important to make their voice heard in the European Parliament of the species that is most at risk.
On the first day, we opened the diplomatic bag for a presentation and time to listen to the difficulties encountered in protecting the ecosystems to which we belong (dams, intensive agriculture, drought, etc.). It was interesting to see the different contexts and the different similarities across Europe, an important moment to work together towards effective protection of aquatic ecosystems.
The second day was dedicated to the Mar Menor, where we cycled for forty kilometres around the lagoon to learn about the various threats it faces and the initiatives being taken to protect it. The local associations gave us a very warm welcome.
On the third day, the confluence of the Water Bodies was celebrated at a ceremony in the Mar Menor, with activists representing each body of water at one with the Mar Menor – a sign of continuity between all the Earth’s bodies of water and of solidarity in the fight for their health and that of the ecosystems they shelter and irrigate.
