The first annual Meeting of WASSERMed, the FP7 European project that analyses ongoing and future climate induced changes in hydrological budgets and extremes, is taking place in Cagliari (January 31st – Febraury 3rd, 2011)

The conditions of increasing water stress faced in the Mediterranean regions of Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East already have an adverse effect on the development of the two main economic sectors in the area, agriculture and tourism, and wider environmental and social implications at both local and national scale.
WASSERMed (Water Availability and Security in Southern EuRope and the Mediterranean ) is the FP7 project that analyses in a multidisciplinary way this issues that are expected to exacerbate as a result of climate change. Emphasis is placed on the most significant and at-risk sectors, namely agriculture and tourism, in order to assess impacts and propose technological solutions and management practices towards their attenuation.
The WASSERMed Project, which is coordinated by Cmcc and involves twelve research institution from all over Europe and the Mediterranean basin (go to the consortium full list)  will build on current climate projections in order to address current and future uncertainties in hydrological budgets in the Mediterranean area.
Starting from the assessment of changes in mean flows, frequency and magnitude of extreme precipitation (intensity and duration), run-off, stream flows and ground water balance, the project will expand towards the recognition and quantification of social and economic factors that affect future threats to water security and increase the vulnerability of water systems. Through this framework, WASSERMed will contribute to:

1. the reduction of the uncertainty of climate change impacts on hydrology in identified regions;
2. an improved assessment of climate effects to water resources, water uses and expected security risks;
3. a better basis for achieving water security.

Moreover, the WASSERMed’s work program also includes steakeholder engagement processes and a Case-study approach in order to explore potential security threats, infrastructure requirements and integrated adaptation strategies in 5 areas of the Mediterranean, taking into account socioeconomic drivers of change and anticipated environmental and socioeconomic implications. The Case studies are Syros island (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), The Merguellil catchment (Kairouan, central Tunisia), The Jordan River Basin (Jordan), The Nile Basin (Egypt).

For further information

• visit the  WASSERMed Project web page at Cmcc;
• visit the WASSERMed Project website

Pitcure from the WASSERMed PROJECT website