Campaigners bid to save Mediterranean wetlands Around half of the wetlands across the Mediterranean basin have been lost over the past century, say environmental campaigners. Recently, some 350 specialists converged on the city of Agadir in Morocco for a regional wetlands conference. Campaigners warn that ponds, marshes and mangroves are under threat from urbanisation, tourism, agriculture, industry and pollution. Experts say only urgent co-ordinated government action can stem the crisis.