Greece
Socio-ecological Context
Crete faces increasing threats from climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity. Therefore, water retention poses a critical challenge for both natural health and rural livelihoods. Societal issues, including rural exodus and an ageing farming population, exacerbate these problems through land abandonment and loss of traditional ecological knowledge. This increases economic vulnerability to climate and market shifts, reducing community resilience and worsening public health risks.
Climate- and Water-related Challenges
Crete faces acute challenges, primarily stemming from competition for its scarce water resources, fueling social tensions, particularly during dry periods. Moreover, most fields remain bare throughout the summer, exposing soil to degradation. Meanwhile, the broader adoption of sustainable water management is impeded by several barriers, including a lack of awareness, insufficient financial incentives, and inadequate technical support, hindering the island's capacity to build water security and resilience.
Nature-based Solution
The approach centres on combining several NbS, including water-harvesting earthworks with permanent, stratified vegetation, biologically rich soils with stable structure, and targeted organic amendments. Currently, these NbS are mainly applied in isolation from each other. The integrated application creates a powerful cascade effect, in which each element reinforces and amplifies the others.
Impacts
The solutions utilise biodiversity enhancement, organic fertilisation, and earthworks to capture, slow, and infiltrate rainwater. This conquers surface runoff, erosion, and water scarcity, providing resilience against both drought and extreme precipitation. Moreover, cultivating living soils helps support drought resistance, water infiltration, erosion prevention, and enhanced oxygenation, leading to a stronger ecosystem.
Acknowledgement of EU funding
Funded by the PRIMA Foundation (co-funded by the European Union and the Participating States). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the PRIMA Foundation. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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