A Participatory Approach for Adapting River Basins to Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change is expected to reduce water availability in the Mediterranean region and water management needs to adapt to future conditions. The aims of this study were (1) to develop a participatory approach for identifying and evaluating management options for river basin climate adaptation and (2) to apply and evaluate the approach in four case-study river basins across the Mediterranean. As part of the approach, a diverse group of stakeholders joined a series of workshops and consultations in four river basins located in Cyprus, Slovenia, Spain and Tunisia. In each river basin, stakeholders expressed their views on challenges in their river basins, as well as options to tackle these challenges. We used the information on challenges, as well as the factors contributing to these challenges to develop a fuzzy cognitive map for each basin. These maps were converted into mathematical models and were used to assess the impact of a total of 102 suggested management options for the four river basins. We linked the options and their estimated impacts with a multi-criteria analysis to identify the most preferred options. The approach was positively evaluated by the participating stakeholders and allowed the link of stakeholders' knowledge and perceptions about their river basin with their preferences for options to adapt the management of their river basins to future conditions.

Analytical Framework to Assess the Incorporation of Climate Change Adaptation in Water Management: Application to the Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan

“…In particular, the Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan (TRBAP) was developed within the framework of the European Commission Framework Program 7 Science in Society (EC FP7-SiS) BeWater project as one of four case study river basins applying a joint methodology. The TRBAP was co-created in a participatory manner involving stakeholders of the basins' main economic sectors as well as the responsible administrations from the local to regional level [47]. Together with the Plan, a handbook of lessons learned was published explaining this innovative participatory methodology [49].…”

“…This area typically encompasses Mediterranean climate related impacts and vulnerabilities, together with high human induced pressures on water and associated ecosystems. During the last 10 years, the Tordera basin has been part of several national and European projects to identify and address these vulnerabilities by creating adaptation plans at the river basin level through the collaboration between scientists and local society [47][48]. In particular, the Tordera River Basin Adaptation Plan (TRBAP) was developed within the framework of the European Commission Framework Program 7 Science in Society (EC FP7-SiS) BeWater project as one of four case study river basins applying a joint methodology.…”

“…Moreover, the TRBAP integrated this information with perspectives of local stakeholders through different participatory activities and methodologies. Participants built a cognitive map for the basin [47], in which climate change was a driver whose influence reflected on the dynamics of the map. It is interesting to highlight that the climate projections are not the latest available [1] and that only two future scenarios have been used.…”

“…In a quite innovative way, the TRBAP uses a combination of impact and vulnerability assessments of different nature (quantitative through modelling and qualitative through participatory exercises). By integrating different types of knowledge the TRBAP aims at increasing the understanding of both natural and social systems and their future evolution [47].…”

“…Different pre-defined descriptors allowed for assessing the level of coherence of the measures with the framework of adaptation to climate change. A simplified estimation of costs for the measures was performed, as well as an impact analysis of single measures and a participatory evaluation through a multi-criteria analysis [47]. An assessment of synergies and conflicts between measures was also performed to consider possible benefits of implementing measures together.…”