BeWater project is featured in IMPACT magazine as part of the broad project dissemination.

The article includes interviews with the project coordinator and Case Study leaders, as well as an overview on the project and its main achievements.

Download the article

The wider public were targeted in Pedieos river basin by a publicity campaign, which took place between September 2016 and March 2017. The campaign shared the results of the BeWater project in the basin and raised public awareness on the issues of managing the basin.

The Cyprus Institute research team presented the Pedieos River Basin Adaptation Plan to the Environment Committee of the Cyprus Parliament, on 15 February 2017. The Committee Members acknowledged the importance of scientific research in adapting to climate change, highlighting the eminent need for implementing the prioritised adaptation options and expressed their willingness to cooperate in finding viable solutions.

World Water Day event, Nicosia: Photo: Christos Zoumides, CyI

A Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Pedieos River Basin

The water researchers of the Cyprus Institute presented a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Pedieos River Basin to the Environment Committee of the Cyprus Parliament, on 15 February 2017. Modelling studies conducted by The Cyprus Institute show how Cyprus is becoming warmer and drier, whereas more flood events can also be expected. Societies need to become aware how to adapt to these changes. 

The Adaptation Plan for the Pedieos River Basin was developed as part of BeWater, an EU-funded science and society research project. Similar plans were developed in Spain, Slovenia and Tunisia, with support from European and international research organizations, consultancies and experts in stakeholder engagement. Dr Adamos Adamou, chairman of the Committee on Environment, stressed the importance for Cyprus to participate in such European research cooperation projects.

Collaboration between science and society has led to the publication of a handbook documenting the participatory approach used in developing adaptive management plans for river basins.

The handbook, a product of three years' collaborative work during the EU-funded BeWater Project, describes the BeWater approach, which brought together experts, practitioners, policy makers and citizens to plan for adaptation to global change in four Mediterranean river basins.

The step-by-step guide facilitates replication and modification of the approach by other basins that wish to undertake a scientific participatory process to increase river basin resilience. The handbook is also intended to support environmental decision-making processes in other fields and sectors.

“Citizen participation at work: Experiences from the BeWater project” is a new article by Dr. Annelies Broekman and Ms. Anabel Sánchez reflecting on the BeWater approach to involve society in river basin adaptation planning in four river basins.

The article reflects on the experiences gained within the project on how citizens from around the Mediterranean have participated in adaptation planning for the management of their local river basin in response to global change. The article highlights that the approach was met with enthusiasm by local stakeholders and enhanced mutual learning between science and society.

The article is available for download.

The Pedieos River has for centuries been closely linked with the flourishing of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. Researchers at The Cyprus Institute just published two scientific research papers on studies carried out on the Pedieos River in the context of the BeWater project.

The first study examined the historical flooding of Nicosia caused by the Pedieos River and the mitigation measures adopted throughout the city’s history. Historical records showed prayers and other religious rituals as means to manage floods in the 14th century, while technical measures such as stormwater drainage networks and dam construction prevailed in the 20th and 21st century. The study concludes that as flooding issues still persist and become more complex with the rapid development of the city, integrated planning and informed policy implementation that makes good use of the lessons of history can be of critical importance.

Citizens from around the Mediterranean have participated in adaptation planning for the management of their local river basin in the light of global change. Based on a novel approach developed over the course of the EU-funded BeWater project, stakeholders from four Case Study River Basins were engaged in a collaborative process with experts and policy makers.

The process has culminated in the drafting of four River Basin Adaptation Plans, aimed at fostering adaptation to climate change within the basins. The innovative participatory approach is not only replicable in other Mediterranean river basins, but could be used in other environmental decision-making processes or scaled up to develop guidelines of national and international relevance.

With future climate change projections for the Euro-Mediterranean region estimating an increase in water scarcity and droughts, substantial socioeconomic losses and environmental impacts are expected to significantly affect river basin dwellers. Sustainable water management strategies are needed urgently. To maximise their effectiveness, local communities must engage with such strategies and play an active role in their development.

Climate change is affecting our environment and our water resources. Research and dialogue are needed to identify how to adapt to longer droughts, higher temperatures and more intense rain events. A participatory workshop at the Cyprus Institute on March 18th engaged representatives of governmental and local authorities, including the Departments of Water Development, Agriculture and Town Planning and Housing, as well as Municipalities and Community Councils to develop an adaptation plan for the Pedieos river basin.

To address the challenges of climate change and other pressures on the Pedieos river basin, the workshop explored how water management measures identified in previous workshops can be combined and whether there are potential synergies and conflicts between them, as well as their implementation in practise. The thirteen participants of the workshop identified and discussed potential synergies and conflicts between 30 individual measures. Participants identified the implementation timeline of the measures based on their effectiveness over time and their preferences. They also highlighted the effectiveness of implementing bundles of measures compared to implementing individual options. Participants identified the lack of environmental awareness among society, limited political interest and the absence of a mechanism for coordination between different authorities as potential obstacles in the implementation of climate change adaptation measures.

Climate change is affecting the environment and water resources in the Pedieos River Basin. Plans are needed on how to adapt the management of the river basin and its water resources to changing future conditions.

Scientists from the The Cyprus Institute are involved in the BeWater project and have organised several workshops to discuss water management in the context of global change for the Pedieos river basin. In a first workshop, the participants identified challenges related to water management and discussed options to deal with these challenges. In a second workshop, no less than 30 options were refined and evaluated. Preferred options were the restoration and maintenance of the river bed, the implementation of good agricultural practices, and the dynamic management of the water of the Tamassos dam.

Friday evening 23 October 2015 was a special evening for the people who walk and cycle in the linear park along the Pedieos River in Nicosia. The Cyprus Institute's researchers had turned one of the small plazas along the path into a climate change info point with their colorful BeWater banners. The Cyprus Institute's researchers were at hand to explain the potential impacts of climate change and the need for adaptation.

The Pedieos River is an ephemeral river that only flows during prolonged wet periods and high rainfall events. The river creates a unique green environment in the busy urban area of Nicosia and the Pedieos walking and cycling path has become a popular attraction. A dam in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains protect the downstream areas from excessive floods. However, the combined effects of the ever increasing urbanisation and more intense rainfall events resulting from climate change are rendering the river vulnerable to flooding.

This article in English

Η κλιματική αλλαγή επηρεάζει το περιβάλλον μας και τους υδάτινους πόρους. Η προσαρμογή σε μεγαλύτερες περιόδους ξηρασίας, υψηλότερες θερμοκρασίες και ακραία φαινόμενα βροχοπτώσεων προϋποθέτει περαιτέρω έρευνα και διάλογο. Λειτουργοί από το Τμήμα Γεωργίας και το Τμήμα Αναπτύξεως Υδάτων, δασολόγοι, περιβαλλοντολόγοι, υδρολόγοι, διαχειριστές τοπίου, οικονομολόγοι και εκπαιδευτικοί συμμετείχαν σε μια συμμετοχική ημερίδα στο Ινστιτούτο Κύπρου με σκοπό την ενίσχυση της συνεργασίας και του διαλόγου.

Το δάσος στις πλαγιές του Τροόδους, ο ποταμός και η φυσική του βλάστηση, καθώς και η απορροή στις αστικές περιοχές της Λευκωσίας αναγνωρίστηκαν από τους συμμετέχοντες ως βασικοί παράγοντες για την προσαρμογή στην κλιματική αλλαγή. Ο κ. Γεώργιος Δημητρίου από το Συμβούλιο Υδατοπρομήθειας Λευκωσίας επισήμανε τον σημαντικό ρόλο της «υδατικής συνείδησης» για την προσαρμογή στην κλιματική αλλαγή.

Evaluation of Water Management Options through key Stakeholder participation

Wednesday 1 July 2015
Pedieos, Cyprus

The second major round of BeWater Stakeholder Workshops will take place in each of the Case Study River Basins between May and July 2015. Key River Basin Stakeholders will take part in the day-long Workshops in order to contribute to the evaluation of the Water Management Options developed over the last months through the participative process launched last year.

The Cyprus Institute presented their BeWater experiences at this year's European Geosciences Union (EGU) Assembly in Vienna (12-17 April).

Hakan Djuma delivered the BeWater oral and poster presentation in the session: "Hydrology & Society: Transdisciplinary approaches to hydrology and water resources management."

The abstract of the presentation "Adapting to Climate Change or to Stakeholders?" is available. Following the presentations, the Hydrology & Society session hosted a lively debate about the importance of stakeholders.

On the occasion of the World Water Day, celebrated on March 22nd, the Water Supply Department of Cyprus organized the event “Water: drops of life”. The event was part of a water consciousness campaign, aiming to raise awareness about water related issues in Cyprus among society. 

Adapting to climate change or to stakeholders?

Find out from the Cyprus Institute's researchers at the EGU Assembly in Vienna.

14 April 2015

Vienna, Austria