With the construction of 50 stone-built weirs in the Mavroudi stream, the Med-RESET project completes its cycle of activities on the island of Ios, leaving a substantial legacy for the sustainable and effective management of water resources and the strengthening of landscape resilience, as a means of mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis.
Stone-built weirs, constructed in ephemeral streams, contribute to groundwater recharge, reduce the risk of flooding and drought, and enhance biodiversity. This is a traditional technique dating back to the Minoan era, which is being reintroduced today as a modern “Nature-based Solution.” Nature-based solutions are interventions designed to address some of the most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges by making optimal use of natural processes. This intervention is a tangible example of how a traditional practice can offer sustainable solutions to contemporary environmental challenges.
The Med-RESET project, coordinated by MedINA with partners Boulouki, Save Ios, and WWF Greece, was launched in 2023 with the aim of strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean island ecosystems against the impacts of climate change. This is achieved through the revival of the traditional practice of constructing stone-built weirs in ephemeral streams on arid Mediterranean islands. The island of Ios was selected for the pilot implementation. Med-RESET focused both on the pilot application of interventions and on scientific monitoring, education, and the active participation of the local community of Ios, aiming to create a model that can be replicated in other Mediterranean regions.
Positive results in Ios & the State’s commitment to the institutional recognition of stone-built weirs
During the project, 50 stone-built weirs were constructed in the Mavroudi stream in Ios through a training program, alongside an assessment of their impacts on biodiversity and water resources.The results are highly positive: an increase in groundwater levels was recorded in two boreholes, while water flow during rainfall became more gradual, as water is retained and released progressively, reducing abrupt runoff. In addition, a significant increase in biodiversity was recorded, with 77 new plant species observed (256 from 179) in the catchment area of Mavroudi stream, five of which were recorded for the first time on the island.
At the same time, within the framework of the project, a technical study was carried out and permits were obtained for the construction of 120 additional stone-built weirs in the wider catchment area of Kampos in Ios. Proposals were also formulated to reduce flood and drought risk, while education and active community engagement actions were implemented. Following the project, an additional 20 weirs were constructed in the Bouri stream through a training program for the technical staff of the Municipality of Ios.
As a result of these positive outcomes, and in the context of a related event held on March 9, 2026, by MedINA in collaboration with the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy, with the participation of national-level stakeholders, the intention to establish an institutional framework was announced. This framework aims to pave the way for the wider implementation of the practice of stone-built weirs. The commitment to sign a memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry and civil society organizations constitutes the first important step toward this institutional recognition.
At the project’s closing event, held in Ios, the documentary film “SOUVALES” was presented for the first time. It was created by students of Valeteio High School of Ios under the guidance of filmmaker Joachim Jung. After attending documentary filmmaking workshops, students of the school’s environmental group visited the Mavroudi stream during the construction of the stone-built weirs, interacted with the craftsmen, conducted interviews, and documented the process through their point of view. Watch the trailer (available in Greek):
The completion of the Med-RESET project demonstrates that linking traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches can provide both immediate and long-term benefits for the environment and local communities. It also highlights a type of intervention that is low-cost and highly effective – which can be scaled up and adapted to other regions facing similar challenges, thereby enhancing the overall resilience of Mediterranean landscapes.
The project leaves behind a meaningful legacy, both in terms of on-the-ground interventions and knowledge dissemination. As stated by Miranda Vatikioti, Project Manager and Community engagement expert at MedINA, “the project significantly contributed to the expansion of the network of weirs in Ios, while also highlighting the importance of education, transferring knowledge to the wider public through the eyes of youth”.
Grigoris Koutropoulos, founding member of the non-profit organization Boulouki, emphasized: “The Med-RESET project was a celebration of cooperation, participation, and inclusion. Both the process and the outcome already constitute a good practice for meaningful change in island landscapes and beyond”.
As noted by Michael Fischer, member of the association Save Ios, “the completion of Med-RESET marks the beginning of a new cycle for Ios, with the restoration of stone-built weirsacross all streams, substantially contributing to water retention and its gradual distribution”.
Giannis Alexiou, Nature-based Solutions Associate at WWF Greece, pointed out that “Ios, like many Aegean islands, is facing increasingly intense flood and drought events, exacerbated by climate change and landscape degradation. The restoration of stone-built weirs, streams, and wetlands, combined with rational water resource management, is a key prerequisite for strengthening the island’s resilience to climate risks”.
In closing, the Mayor of Ios, Gkikas Gkikas, stated: “Projects like this make me particularly proud as Mayor. Strong foundations have been laid, but the effort continues. Our goal was to revive and modernize practices that had been successfully applied by previous generations”.
The project “Mediterranean REsilient inSular Ephemeral sTreams (Med-RESET)” was implemented with the support of the DIMFE – Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems and co-funded by the Municipality of Ios. The project was coordinated by MedINA and implemented in collaboration with partners Boulouki, Save Ios, and WWF Hellas.