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
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
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
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
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.
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
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)
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
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
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH (2)
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
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
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH (3)
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
Step 1
Monitoring/Surveillance
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
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH (4)
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
Step 1
Monitoring/Surveillance
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
WP5Greek Pilot Study 4
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