MAMA Project and its implementation in Syria

• Amir Ibrahim et. al.
• High Institute of Marine Research, Lattakia – Syria P.O. Box 1492.
  Email: tu-himr@scs-net.org
• The Regional Workshop on Marine Sciences & Natural Resources, HIMR, Tishreen Univ., Syria, 25-26 May 2004.

Abstract

MAMA is a thematic network funded under the EC Programme on Environment & Sustainable Development, with participation of Med. Countries, represented by the major Marine Institutions & organizations. Participating countries work in 4 subgroups linked to IMC (International Marine Center) in Italy: Syria works jointly with Lebanon, Turkey and Palestine in one group. MAMA is an ongoing 3-year project (started 2001), Funded by the 5th EU Framework Programme. MAMA is implemented through the following work packages:

• WP1 MAMA NOW - Assessment of current national operational oceanographic activities, infrastructures and resources in the Mediterranean.
• WP2 MAMA OBSERVING SYSTEM - Design of the real-time coastal data acquisition systems, fully integrated to the basin scale observing system.
• WP3 MAMA CAPACITY BUILDING - Enhance the basic technical and scientific expertise required to participate in MedGOOS.
• WP4 MAMA MODEL - Transfer of know-how and modelling experiences to partners.
• WP5 MAMA-NET -for the exchange of data and information. Provide guidelines for a regional marine data and information system.
• WP6 MAMA WWW - Establish the MAMA WWW as a reference point and showcase for operational oceanography in the Mediterranean.
• WP7 MAMA AWARENESS - Undertake an awareness campaign to the benefit of MedGOOS.
• WP8 MAMA DISSEMINATION & PRODUCTS - Promote the use of added-value applications of routine data for the management of marine resources.

The main MAMA activities at regional level have been initiated and represented by several key activities:

1. Assessing the present situation: at the level of infrastructures, programmes, human resources, and funding for pre-operational oceanography. This was achieved by:
2. The MeDir directory consisting of an online searchable database of marine scientists and professionals working in the Mediterranean region www.ioc2.unesco.org/medir has already been established.
3. National Awareness Meetings: serve as a catalyst to establish national commitments in favour of MedGOOS, possibly through the creation of National GOOS Planning Committees.
4. The MAMA WWW - The first version of the MAMA website http://www.ifremer.fr/mama has been developed.
5. Capacity building activities - conducted by many means.
6. Designing the initial observing system - A report on "Monitoring Strategies" for the three bio-geographical areas: the open ocean, the coastal ocean and inshore areas has been prepared.

A specific programme addressing this task has been initiated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission www.ioc.unesco.org/benthicindicators. Important attributes of such an indicator are: MAMA-Net to support exchange of operational data/meta-data between agencies, and provide access to operational prototype products for MAMA partners. This includes the development of software tools for pre-processing of data and transformation to GTS format. MAMA demonstrators - MAMA has also established open and constructive links with the end-user community to prove the usefulness of operational oceanography.