pilot study4 effects of climate change on wetland...

A structured network for integration of climate knowledge into policy and territorial planning

WP 5: Drought, Water and Coasts

Pilot Study 4

“Effects of climate change on wetland ecosystems of Attica Region of Greece”

Kick – off meeting,

17 – 18 September

Szentendre, HU

Yannis Kalogeras

Attica Region

PARTNERS

WP5Greek Pilot Study 4 Attica Region is established as territorially self-governed Public

Legal Entity of second level of local government.

It is the authority responsible by law, among other things, for:

� The specification of the environmental strategic outlines for thegeographic area of Attica.

� The management of the metropolitan Parks and green areas.

� The planning of management and supervision of the mountainareas in Attica excluding National Parks.

� The coordination of actions for monitoring and protection of theenvironment,.

� Inspections for environmental control about pollution issues and

fine imposition.

PARTNERS

WP5Greek Pilot Study 4

The Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre’s mission is to promote the

sustainable management of renewable natural resources in Greece

and other areas of the Mediterranean basin and Europe.

It works on:

� the European Directives (habitats, birds, water)

� Wetlands inventory, monitoring and assessment

� Climate Change adaptation

� National biodiversity strategies and action plans

� Vocational training and advisory support to public services, local

authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders.

PARTNERS


The Centre for Technological Research of Crete mainly

focuses on the study of the Earth's surface, in terms of

investigation of the main physical processes and related

phenomena.

It has a great expertise in:

� applied hydrogeology,

� management of water basins,

� applied geophysics / hydro-geophysics,

� geochemistry and groundwater modelling.

RATIONALE

Wetlands are critically important ecosystems that:

� provide globally significant social, economic and

environmental benefits, and

� potentially play an important role in adapting to climate

change.

� being transient, under climate change pressure are likely

� to lose volume (Alcamo et al. 2007) ,and

� may altogether disappear (Alvarez Cobelas et al 2005)

� being regulators of water regimes can play a mitigation role


Values:

water storage and

supply,

biodiversity support,

protection of coastal

erosion,

tourism etc

Threats:

Demographical

increase,

economic growth and

uncontrolled tourism.

OBJECTIVE

The Greek Pilot Study aims:

� to assess the vulnerability of wetlands in Attica Region

under projections of climate change, and

� to support the territorial planning and policydevelopment in the Region of Atticain regard to the effects of climate change on wetland ecosystems.


Wetlands of Attica Region

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

LEGEND

Wetlands of Attica

Prefectures

Attica Region features

Surface: 3.8 Km2

Population: 4.5 m

Wetlands of Attica Region

13 Wetlands sites have

been identified during a

recent bird census.

NO data available on

wetland coverage and

changes.

WP5Greek

Pilot Study 4

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH (1)


Step 1

Monitoring/Surveillance

Step 2

Adaptation NeedAssessment

Step 3

PolicyPlanning

Indicator:

“Vulnerability of wetland ecosystems and freshwater

biodiversity to increased drying / transformation”

(listed amongst the priority issues, though not yet been operational)

Variables forming the Indicator:

� Drought indices

� Changes in wetland area and land cover/ uses

� Geophysical and geochemical parameters



Step 1

Monitoring/

Surveillance

Step 2

Adaptation Need Assessment

Step 3

PolicyPlanning

Step 1: Monitoring & Surveillance

The selected variables will be monitored for apprx. a 30 year time

period (backwards from the year 2012). In particularly, the following

will be surveyed:

� Meteorological data for the territory of Region of Attica.

� Wetland area and land cover/uses in their surrounding area

through Earth Observation for all wetlands.

� Geophysical and geochemical data for two of the wetlands.

Step 2: Adaptation Need Assessment

� Temporal and spatial correlation of

� Drought events, and

� changes in wetland area and land cover/uses over a period of

30 years;

� Deduction of environmental and geological conditions for 2

selected wetland sites (based on geophysical, geochemical and soil data).

� Assessment of vulnerability of each wetland



Step 1


Step 2

Adaptation Need

Assessment

Step 3

PolicyPlanning

� Downscaling scenario for the territory of Attica Region (with the

assistance of CMCC)

Step 3: Policy Planning – Inputs to STRATEGY:

� Determination of priority actions and measures.

� Policy formation including appropriate planning processes for the

determined priority actions and measures



Step 1


Step 2

Adaptation NeedAssessment

Step 3

Policy

Planning

The “STRATEGY” aims to communicate:

� the impacts of climate change,

� the vulnerability of wetlands, and

� the consequences from their degradation or loss.

to all competent departments, scientific community and the public.

ROLE OF PARTNERS

� ATTICA REGIONbeing the pertinent authority, among others, for the coordination of actions

for monitoring and protecting environment, acts as the Lead Partner and

will coordinate the implementation of the pilot study and promote and

disseminate the findings and initiate their adoption in territorial

planning.

� EKBYwill undertake the responsibility for the monitoring of the wetland area

and land cover/user changes, the estimation of the meteorological

drought indices, the vulnerability assessment and in will assist Region

of Attica to draft the priority strategic actions.

� CTRCwill undertake technical work focusing in two selected wetlands (lakes).

Geophysical measurements combined with geo-environmental data

and soil erosion estimations will help to understand in depth the

underground hydrological features. Moreover the depiction of areas prone

to severe erosion will enrich the vulverability assessment.

WP5Greek

Pilot Study 4

EXPECTED OUTPUTS – MAJOR RESULTS


OUTPUTS Reports on:

-Meteorological drought indices;

-Changes in wetland area and land

cover/use;

-Environmental conditions extracted by

geophysical measurements and soil data.

Period

04

MAJOR

RESULTS

-Vulnerability assessment of Attica

wetlands and priority actions.

-Regional/local policies and instruments improved or developed (STRATEGY).

- Staff members with increased capacity

(awareness / knowledge / skills).

Period

04 - 06

WP5Greek

Pilot Study 4

CONTACT INFORMATION

Attica Region: Maria Ioannidou, [email protected]

EKBY: Eleni Fitoka, [email protected]

CTRC: Filipos Vallianatos [email protected]

Thank youOH no. 7

pilot study4 effects of climate change on wetland...

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