From November 14 to 17, 2024, the island of Ios became a hub of collaboration as the CARDIMED project joined forces with two other projects –Med-RESET and NATALIE-, to enhance climate resilience through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). This initiative marks the start of a systematic partnership, aligning with the EU mission to adapt to climate change by fostering knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and coordinated efforts across Greek islands such as Ios, Sifnos, and Evia.
CARDIMED enhances climate resilience in the Mediterranean through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), including stone-built weirs on Sifnos Island to mitigate floods and recharge aquifers. Med-RESET revives traditional water management practices on Ios Island by constructing stone weirs in ephemeral streams, restoring ecosystems on Mediterranean islands. NATALIE implements NBS across six bio-geographical regions, addressing climate risks like floods, droughts, and sea level rise, with a pilot network of stone weirs in the Lelantine plain to reduce flood and wildfire risks and guide future large-scale, catchment-level NBS planning.
The collaboration took shape during a hands-on workshop under the Med-RESET project, which focused on reconstructing 50 traditional stone-built weirs (souvales) in the Mavroudi stream on Ios. Participants explored the practical and ecological benefits of this ancient Mediterranean technique, which reduces flood risks, enriches aquifers, revitalizes biodiversity, and supports local agriculture.
Key Networking Activities
- November 14, 2024: A networking event between Med-RESET, CARDIMED, and NATALIE was held during the experiential workshop, with representatives from MedINA, Boulouki, Save Ios and WWF Greece joining forces to explore shared objectives and outline a roadmap for collaboration.
- November 14–16, 2024: Systematic fieldwork networking sessions focused on creating a common monitoring plan to evaluate the ecological and hydrological benefits of stone-built weirs, such as improving biodiversity and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events.
A Shared Vision for Greek Islands
By combining traditional practices with modern approaches, the partnership emphasizes the ecological and cultural value of NBS. The collaboration aims to engage local communities and organizations to ensure the long-term sustainability of these interventions.
This initiative strengthens the resilience of Greek islands to climate change while offering a scalable model for regional and international collaboration. Through their shared vision, Med-RESET, CARDIMED, and NATALIE showcase the transformative potential of NBS in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.
The CARDIMED (Climate Adaptation and Resilience Demonstrated in the MEDiterranean region) project, with a total budget of 19,971,411.20 euros, is funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe 2021-2027. The lead partner is the School of Civil Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens and MedINA is one of the 53 implementing partners.
Featured image: The Med-RESET project in Ios © Anastasia Karadimitri/Sustainablecyclades.gr