aquaknow   Extranet   Newsletter      

Gathering people’s opinions on water management options for climate change adaptation in the Pedieos River Park

Wednesday, 16 December 2015 Posted in News, BeWater News, Pedieos Society, Cyprus

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.

Over the past two years The Cyprus Institute and colleagues from the BeWater Project have organised a number of stakeholder meetings and events to identify options to adapt the Pedieos River Basin to climate change. Ten water management options were selected to protect the downstream urban against flooding. These ten options were explained on two large BeWater banners.

Even though the river wasn't flowing, many visitors remembered last year's storm event, which flooded parts of the cycling path. Most people were happy to be given the opportunity to review and score the ten water management options. A total of 84 questionnaires were filled out, both by women (56%) and by men (44%).

Restoration and maintenance of the riverbed is the most important water management option, according to the park visitors. Improvement of land zonation to prevent construction near the river and the protection of the upstream forest against fires received the next highest scores. The construction of flood protection works was the least popular option. Nevertheless, the average score of all ten options ranged between "important" and "very important" for the sustainable management of the river basin.

The BeWater banners and 1-page survey provided an attractive way to capture the attention and interest of the park visitors. The Cyprus Institute’s researchers also enjoyed their evening in the park and the opportunity to talk to so many people about climate change adaptation.

Photo credits: CyI

23/10/2015 Pedieos stakeholder workshop