WATER HARVESTING AND MANAGEMENT VIA CULTURAL LANDSCAPES:ENHANCING SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING TO TACKLE WATER SCARCITY

Stefano Basso

Dry-stone walls

Man-madeIntegrated in the environment

In need of restoration

MEDITERRANEAN CULTURAL LANDSCAPES

Terraces

Buffer the effect of climate change and counteract water scarcity

WHAT ARE THEIR FUNCTIONS ?

Buffer the effect of climate change and counteract water scarcity

WHAT ARE THEIR FUNCTIONS ?

Buffer the effect of climate change and counteract water scarcity

WHAT ARE THEIR FUNCTIONS ?

WHAT ARE THEIR FUNCTIONS ?

A CALL TO HYDROLOGICAL RESEARCH

MICRO-SCALERESEARCH

Terracing Dry-stone walling

Effect on stocksof soil moisture

Dew harvesting,reducing evapotranspiration

A CALL TO HYDROLOGICAL RESEARCH

MACRO-SCALERESEARCH

Terracing Dry-stone walling

Effect on volatility ofriver flows / floods

Contribution towater budgets

A CALL TO HYDROLOGICAL RESEARCH

DESIGNINNOVATION

Terracing Dry-stone walling

Update their designto increase soil waterconservation anddampen river flow peaks

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO INFLUENCE POLICY

Resilience to floods and droughts(adaptation and mitigation)

Payments for landscape services:• Skilled jobs• Income complement

Economic value and social benefit

stefano.basso@ufz.de

www.catchwater.ch