The 20 Measures proposed by the “REXUS” program for the Pinios watershed

The scientifically documented measures resulting from the participatory process of the “REXUS” Project for the effective management of the Water-Energy-Agriculture-Environment System and the adaptation to Climate Change in the Pinios basin were presented today in the context of the 3rd Technical Meeting of the European Project was carried out at the branch of Central Greece, of GEOTEE, in Larissa.

All of the high-priority technical measures qualified by the Project have been adopted and included in the 2nd Revision of the Pinios Basin Management Plan, as stated by the Research Director of the Soil and Water Resources Institute of the ELGO “DIMITRA”, Mr. Andreas Panagopoulos, speaking to ERT Larissa.

Mr. Panagopoulos noted that “these measures are the result of a two-year participatory process with the active involvement of representatives of all sectors and the application of pioneering scientific methods and criteria. The adoption and implementation of, among others, low-cost, non-intrusive pro-environmental measures will lead to a significant reduction in water consumption and protection of soil resources, without affecting agricultural production, even under unfavorable climate change scenarios. This was shown by the mathematical simulations performed by the research team, which includes 19 scientific partners from 7 European countries”.

In the context of the innovative scientific approach of the Project, the participants analyzed the challenges facing the Pinios basin, co-constructed quantified objectives and jointly arrived at a series of realistic measures aimed at addressing the environmental and economic challenges of the region and concern:

Ø in the management and optimization of the use of water resources (Water sector)

Ø to optimize energy efficiency (Energy sector)

Ø to the sustainability of agriculture through agro-ecological methods (Agri-Food sector)

Ø in flood protection through pro-environmental measures (Environment sector).

THE MEASURES PROPOSED

In more detail, the measures proposed through the specific program include in particular:

1. Improvement of water transport and distribution systems (closed irrigation networks, undergrounding of networks, detection-repair of faults)

2. Development of riparian forests

3. Implementation of modern (high efficiency) irrigation systems (eg subsurface irrigation, drip, micro-sprinkling, etc.)

4. Energy production (thermal/electrical) from the treatment of urban waste and biomass of agricultural origin

5. Arrangement, regular cleaning or restoration of watercourses

6. Mountain hydrology projects and rainwater collection systems (strengthening underground water potential-flood protection)

7. Utilization of surface runoff through small-scale construction of new and maintenance of existing surface storage projects (dams, reservoirs, reservoirs)

8. Development of a system for monitoring water conditions and consumption control (monitoring the quality and quantity of surface and underground water, monitoring consumption, telemetric management of water withdrawals, monitoring consumption, prepayment of irrigation water, satellite monitoring of irrigation water use, network leaks and unauthorized withdrawals).

9. Completion of large-scale unfinished/abandoned single/multi-purpose projects (storage/power generation/diversion) – “ripening” and/or updating studies

10. Reforestation projects

11. Rational use of agrochemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) – Transition to agroecological/sustainable weed and biomass management practices and selection of sustainable production methods – Biological pest control

12. Construction of dual-purpose reservoirs (water storage-electricity generation)

13. Establishment of groups of producers and cooperatives for the single use of machinery on suitable-sized plots of land, verticalization of production with limitation of intermediaries

14. Rational Irrigation Management – ​​Application of irrigation scheduling (including deficit)

15. Development and adoption of new technologies in the use of RES for greater efficiency

16. Irrigation water pricing, Establishing financial disincentives for overconsumption (e.g. tiered charging)

17. Creation and maintenance of neutral zones (buffer zones) around water receivers (avoid soil leaching, leakage of inputs)

18. Systematic information, guidance and training of farmers/public and agencies

19. Preparation of land use suitability maps for crops

20. Upgrading and maintenance of energy distribution and transmission networks.

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