MEDROPLAN - Mediterranean Drought Preparedness and Mitigation Planning (http://www.iamz.ciheam.org/medroplan)
Starting date: 2003-06-15 - Duration (months): 48

 
Short description:
Water resources in the semi-arid countries and particularly in the Mediterranean region are limited, scarce, and difficult to predict from year to year. With limited and scarce water resources and demand rising due to population growth and improving standard of living, water management problems are tremendous even without drought events, due to the imbalance between availability and demand. Drought, being a normal recurrent feature of every climate, combined with water scarcity, has dramatic effects on the economy and the environment of the Mediterranean countries, on the people themselves and the population’s well being. Unfortunately, most Mediterranean countries react to a drought when it is upon us, by responding to immediate needs, by providing what are often more costly remedies attending to balance competing interests in a charged atmosphere. In these countries there aren’t permanent structures and plans to cope proactively with drought, as in other countries such as U.S. or Australia.
The main final objective of the Project is to provide Guidelines for Drought Preparedness Plans. It is expected that the Guidelines will provide partner countries with an integrated approach to minimize the impacts of drought in their people and resources, and to change the way of facing droughts from the present "Crisis Management" to a proactive "Risk Management". The guidelines will be adapted to the physical and socio-economic environment of the Mediterranean countries and their elaboration will follow a common methodology.
Another important objective of the project is to provide the framework for the setting up of a Drought Preparedness Network for the Mediterranean countries.
The main expected result from this project are the Guidelines for Drought Preparedness Plans. Other expected results are a better understanding of drought, its causes, its effects and impacts on the economy, the environment and the social conditions, transfer of know-how, technology, exchange of information and expertise, strengthening institutional capabilities and raising awareness, mobilization and promotion of commitment of the population.
The work will include: 1) Map organizations and institutions working on meteorological data, hydrological data and those working on water resources management and drought mitigation, 2) Collection, review, study and analysis of existing information on drought and drought mitigation plans in the Mediterranean countries and in the World, 3) Carry out Drought Risk Analysis in six Partner countries, carry out Drought Identification Studies, and collect, analyse and list Best Practices on drought mitigation in the partner countries and in other countries, 4) Produce Guidelines for Drought Preparedness Plans, 5) Verify and test Drought Guidelines on six projects in the member countries, 6) Prepare and propose a Framework for the setting up of a Drought Preparedness Network for the Mediterranean countries, 7) Disseminate guidelines and model plan to Mediterranean countries for formulating their own plans.
The members of the implementation consortium are from 3 EU countries and 3 MEDA countries. This consortium groups different key stakeholders such as Water Basin Authorities, Local Water Authorities, Water Suppliers, Meteorological and Hydrographic Institutions, Ministries of Agriculture, Research, Training and Development Institutions and International Organizations.

Themes covered:
III. Prevention and mitigation of the negative effects of drought and equitable management of water scarcity

Projects documents available for MEDROPLAN

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