Support system for Mediterranean watersheds
The EC-funded project MEDACTION 4 is part of a programme of integrated, multidisciplinary research focused on finding solutions to the strategic problem of desertification. In order to address this and sustainable development, land use policies and management strategies were created at various scales addressing land management concerns, scenario-generation and policy formulation. At the local level, four target areas were investigated in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece. Following this, a decision support system was created featuring an integrated model which represents the main processes which result in, and are impacted by, desertification. Some of these processes include climate scenarios, soil, erosion, plant growth, transitions in natural vegetation types, water management, crop selection and urban land uses. The system will allow the evaluation of autonomous dynamics effects, policy measures and external scenarios for approximately thirty years. Tremendous progress has been achieved in associating the socio-economic and physical processes representative of Mediterranean watersheds. In this way, the system can analyse the physical as well as the socio-economic factors causing land degradation and desertification in a dynamic and spatial manner. Potential users include research organisations, engineering and consulting companies. The system is socially relevant because it integrates the assessment of policies with planning actions aimed at preventing, mitigating or reversing problems created by desertification in Mediterranean watersheds. Interested parties can request a demonstration license free of charge for one year.
