A traditional technique with deep historical roots is now becoming a tool for a sustainable future. At the initiative of MedINA, and within the framework of the European project CARDIMED, the construction of a network of 120 dry-stone check dams was completed in Sifnos, actively contributing to enhancing the island’s resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis.
The project was implemented during May and June 2025 across the Taxiarchis Skafis and the Chonis streams – two important tributaries that feed into the main stream of Sifnos, which flows into the port of Kamares. The locations for the check dams construction were selected based on field research, participatory processes with the local community, and a combined use of scientific literature and modern technologies.
This low-impact intervention is a traditional water management practice used on arid islands. Based on the well-known dry-stone walling technique – deeply connected to our cultural heritage, it now re-emerges as a Nature-based Solution. The dry-stone check dams are built along ephemeral streams, “terracing” the streambed, slowing water flow, and helping recharge the aquifer, reduce flood and drought risk, and enhance biodiversity, without altering the landscape.
In Sifnos, the project was implemented by Boulouki, through a three-week professional apprenticeship program, in which 10 young craftsmen and craftswomen were trained in dry-stone construction.
Moments from the building process and the training program can be seen in the related video (English subtitles are available).
The project’s completion was celebrated on June 2nd at the Sifnos Cultural Center “Marianthi Simou”. During the event, the project and its educational component were presented, while the discussion that followed highlighted the importance of local community involvement in the maintenance of the dry-stone check dams, as well as the potential for similar interventions on other islands.
The assessment and evaluation of the project’s impact is ongoing, with a network of water-level sensors in operation to monitor water levels and hydrological conditions.
With tradition as its foundation and nature as its guide, Sifnos is becoming a model for how innovation can be “built” with stone and collective knowledge. The dry-stone check dam network is not just a technical intervention—it is a call for sustainable solutions rooted in local heritage for the future of Greek islands.
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.