HOLRIVERMED

Environmental River Management: An Innovative Holistic Approach for Mediterranean Streams

Coordinatore	UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA    more  Organization address address: CAMINO DE VERA SN EDIFICIO 3A city: VALENCIA postcode: 46022 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Jose Antonio Cognome: Perez Garcia Email: send email Telefono: +34 963877409 Fax: +34 963877949
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Spain [ES]
Totale costo	166˙565 €
EC contributo	166˙565 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
Funding Scheme	MC-IEF
Anno di inizio	2011
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2011-09-01   -   2013-08-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA  Organization address address: CAMINO DE VERA SN EDIFICIO 3A city: VALENCIA postcode: 46022 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Jose Antonio Cognome: Perez Garcia Email: send email Telefono: +34 963877409 Fax: +34 963877949	ES (VALENCIA)	coordinator	166˙565.60

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Within the Mediterranean area water abstractions strongly affect water-related organisms, increasing the duration and magnitude of droughts and impairing the capacity of streams to support the ecosystem. This alteration of the natural flow regime act on biota through an hydro-morphologic template. Consequently, the development of models and methods able to relate stream flow alterations and the ecological responses of aquatic and riparian species (such as vegetation, macroinvertebrates and fish) is a fundamental issue for water resources management, including the maintenance of water quality and quantity for wildlife conservation.

In response to the lack of available information and to the present scientific criticisms, this project aims to devise improvements for the environmental management of Mediterranean streams (i) for a comprehensive analysis of the various taxonomic and functional groups composing the riverine ecosystem, (ii) to represent rivers at large spatial and temporal scales and (iii) to provide knowledge and the ecological understanding of temporary and intermittent watercourses. Furthermore, flexible tools will be developed for the efficient implementation of the obtained methodologies and the applications within different Mediterranean river basins will contribute to the development of a sustainable water resources management at European level.

The project also represents a strong possibility for the fellow researcher to boost his competences in several disciplines (such as hydraulics, hydrology and ecology) and to foster multidisciplinary collaborations, in order to reach professional maturity, bring forth high-level research and establish long-term, high quality activities and education in Europe.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers have developed models of rivers and streams that will improve the management and conservation of riverine ecosystems in the Mediterranean.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Careful water management is key to the survival of humans, animals and plants in populated areas such as the Mediterranean. To manage seasonal streams and small rivers effectively, there is a need for more reliable models or rivers and the ecosystems they support.

The EU-funded 'Environmental river management: An innovative holistic approach for Mediterranean streams' (HOLRIVERMED) project aimed to provide models and methods to manage Mediterranean streams and rivers more sustainably.

Project work was divided into two parts: data collection and modelling. Data was collected from case studies in Greece, Spain and Italy, and used for building and testing models.

Several different models were constructed to predict the effects of changes in rivers on species and groups of species living in and around riverine habitats.

The team chose Mesohabitat models as the most appropriate scale for environmental planning and management. These models helped researchers choose the best restoration measures for threatened species and limiting the negative effects of dams and power plants on the ecosystem.

Researchers then used habitat time series analysis to identify events that are harmless or stressful to the fauna. This technique was also used to evaluate the best way to release water from a dam to enhance riverine ecosystems.

HOLRIVERMED developed models for river and stream management in the highly populated Mediterranean area. The project has shown how rivers can provide ecosystem services while conserving the plants and animals that rely on them.