Past and on-going projects
The review of the existing information on land degradation and their solutions in the island of Crete shows the following research projects, publications, and actions funded by European Commission or National funds:
Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use - MEDALUS I. The primary objectives of this project were: (a) to investigate the physical, biological and socio-economic processes leading to and continuing to cause desertification in the Mediterranean regions of Europe, (b) to model the processes with a view to projecting the impact of climatic changes and changes in socio-economic activities, especially Community policy on the landscape system of the Mediterranean, and (c) to identify possible mechanisms for mitigating these effects. This project include information on socio-economic dimensions of desertification in Crete, landscape dynamics in relation to desertification, temperature and precipitation long-term trends assessement. Source: MEDALUS I final report, contract number: EPOC-CT90-0014 (SMA).
Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use - MEDALUS II. The main objectives were: (a) to monitor parameters related to desertification at field site level, (b) to develop a new physically-based model designed to operate at river basin scale and to simulate landscape changes over long period, (c) to investigate methods for mitigating desertification, and (d) to conduct thematic research to a regional scale. This project includes information on field observations and measurements to provide an historical context for the physical and biological changes currently taking place in Crete. Source MEDALUS II, Project 3 final report, contract number: EV5V-CT92-0165.
The Future of Olive Plantation Systems on Sloping and Mountainous Land; Scenarios for Production and Natural Resources Conservation - OLIVERO. The main objectives of this project were: (a) to analyze the natural resources of olive groves, to design scenarios for the future development of sloping and mountainous olive plantations (SMOPS), and (b) to indicate the implication in terms of extension recommendations and socio-economic policies in Mediterranean Europe including the area of Chania - Crete. Source: OLIVERO final report, contract number: EU QLK5-CT2002-01841.
Ecological Basis of Livestock Grazing in Mediterranean Ecosystems, workshop proceedings, edited by V. P. Papanastasis and D. Peter, 1998. This publication includes many topics on grazing and vegetation, grazing nutrients and desertification, grazing planning and environmental implications, and policies and strategies on livestock grazing in Mediterranean ecosystems. Several of these topics include results of research conducted in Crete. Source: European Commission, Science, Research and Technology, publication number EUR 18308.
The Nature of Mediterranean Europe, an Ecological History. Grove, A.T., and Rackham Oliver. 2001. Yale University Press, New Haven and London. This publication trace the evolution of climate, vegetation, and landscape in southern Europe including Crete from prehistoric times to present. They investigate the nature and function of agricultural terraces, of fires, of Mediterranean savannas and of karsts, badlands and other desert-like landscapes.
Sustainable Use of Water Resources and Rural Development in Drought Affected Areas - IMAGE, 2008. The objectives of this project were: (a) to elaborate integrated strategies for the spatial development of protected zones through sustainable development, (b) to improve the demand-supply balance of water, particularly in zones facing the risk of drought, (c) to develop and apply economic tools for the management of water resources in zones suffering from drought, and (d) to promote transnational cooperation for the implementation of integrated strategies for managing water resources especially in zones threatened by drought or floods. This project has included Chania region as a study area. Source: EU Community Initiative Programme INTERREG III B ARCHIMED, project number A. 1.068.
A study of the soils of Messara valley in Crete, Greece, Yassoglou, N. 1972. This report includes a detailed study of soil resources of the broader area of Messara Valley. It can be used for defining sensitive of the area to land degradation and desertification. Source: Greek Nuclear Centre Democritus, Department of Earth Sciences.
The status of water resources in Minoan times - A preliminary study, Angelakis, A.N., and S.V. Spyridakis. 1996. In: Diachronic Climatic Impacts on Water Resources with Emphasis on Mediterranean Region (Angelakis, A.N. and A. Issar, Eds.). Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, pp. 161-191.
Atmospheric precipitation in the Island of Crete. PhD Thesis. School of Physics and Mathematics, Univ. of Athens, Athens. Markou-Iakovaki, M. 1979.
Daily rainfall-runoff water budget model for the desertification threatened Messara Valley of Crete ,Vardavas, L M., Kolovos, A. and Papamastorakis, A. 1996. University of Crete.
Greek National Action Plan for Combating Desertification, Greek National Committee for Combating Desertification, 2001. This report includes general guidelines for combating desertification defining separately for each sector such as agriculture, forests, pastures, water resources, policies and socio-economics. Source: www.GNCCD.com
Combating Desertification in Mediterranean Europe: Linking Science with Stakeholders - DESERTLINKS, 2006. The objectives of this project were: (a) To collaborate with local stake holders in desertification affected regions of Mediterranean region, (b) to maintain and expand working relationships with the UNCCD and the Desertification Focal Points for Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece and to collaborate on the specifications for a practical Desertification Indicator System for Mediterranean Europe, (c) To complete a Desertification Indicator System, DIS4ME system providing tools relating to Environmental Sensitivity to Desertification, desertification risk under different land uses, and the effects of management practices on desertification. Crete and more specifically Chania region was used for application of the developed desertification indicator system. Source: DESERTLINKS final report: contract number EVK2-CT-2001-00109. Source: www.kcl.ac.uk/projects/desertlinks/.
Towards Sustainable Use on Mediterranean Islands; Addressing conflicting demands and varying and hydrological, social, and economic conditions - MEDIS. The objectives of this project were to give assistance in solving problems on sustainable use of Mediterranean islands including Crete and finding solutions following a holistic, interdisciplinary approach, involving a major team of scientists, experts and stakeholders who know the Mediterranean problems and who partly live there. MEDIS takes into consideration and integrates altered hydrological conditions, agricultural practices and tourism, as the major water consumers, as well as socio-economic demands and conditions. The overall goal of the project is to define recommendations for equitable and sustainable water management on Mediterranean islands, that are not only based on scientific investigations (hydrological, agricultural and socio-economic data) but also on stakeholder demands and experience. Source: www.crete-region.gr.
Spatial and Environmental Observatory - DIAS. In DIAS project, a GIS-based tool is developed for the decision-making process in spatial planning and the promotion and protection of the natural and cultural environment. The system uses base-maps, aerial-photos and satellite pictures of the DIAS area. It allows efficient and rigorous environmental management for the registration and allocation of the available natural resources, to increase public awareness on environmentally sensitive issues towards an integrated planning strategy. The DIAS Observatory will permit an integral or partial access to the environmental components, thus giving an opportunity for correct evaluation, successful management and natural resource planning for the environmental protection and sustainable development. For the Region of Crete the DIAS project (Dikti, Idi, Asteroussia mountains) refers to the whole or parts of Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lassithi Prefectures to the southern part of Crete, and includes 16 Municipalities covering 1,783 kmē with 63,012 inhabitants. Source: www.crete-region.gr.
Integrated Management of Water Resources of Crete. Prefecture of Crete, Department of Planning and Development, Sector of Water Resources Management. The objectives of this projects are (a) to collect, classify, and evaluate data related to water resources management of Crete, and (b) to develop a decision support system allowing the local authorities of the island the sustainable management of the water resources in such a way minimizing social, economical and environmental conflicts. Source: www.crete-region.gr/.
