Using Dry-Stone Walls as a Multi-purpose Climate Change Adaptation tool

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Climate change alters the hydrological cycle and affects the local environment. A general increment of heavy rainfalls has been registered in the Mediterranean area, with consequent floods and landslide risks. Exceptional events in this sense have already occurred in the study area, with flash floods hitting the towns of Monterosso and Vernazza during October 2011. The area of Manarola is also particularly at risk. On the other hand, longer periods of high temperatures and drought affect the driest regions, increasing the risk of forest fires and causing water scarcity. The European strategy on climate change adaptation of 2013 promotes actions in Member States to adapt to climate change through a range of guidelines, studies and tools. Measures have to be studied at local level to counteract the effects of climate change on the local economy and on the environment, and to avoid soil loss. According to previous studies (Colas et al., 2010; Camera et al., 2012), the use of drystone terraces has proven to be one of these measures, with different applications depending on regions and contexts, and with a special application as sustainable drainage systems.

OBJECTIVES

The project aims to demonstrate the viability of the use of a traditional agricultural technique, drystone terraces, as an adaptation measure to climate change. Abandoned drystone terraces will be restored at the site of Cinque Terre (Italy), making them more resilient using innovative techniques, and handing them over to local farmers for their maintenance. Well-maintained drystone walls have an excellent water drainage performance, and they can effectively minimise landslide risks, but innovative construction techniques have to be adopted to improve their performance in case of extreme events. A further application to counteract wild fires and forest fires will be experimented in Catalua (Spain).

In this way, the project will provide a contribution to the implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy and the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC). The project will also support the Rural Development Policy 2014-2020 (CAP 2nd pillar), improving the resilience of the agricultural sector: drought-resistant vineyards will be cultivated on the drystone terraces restored.

RESULTS

Expected results:

5 hectares of terraces and 4 000 square metres of drystone walls recovered and returned to long-term sustainable agricultural use with improved soil surfaces;

9.7 hectares benefitting from strongly-improved resilience to flooding;

up to 40 hectares of drystone wall terraces identified for replication interventions (in at least 3 new areas);

at least 9 techniques (4 construction, 2 soil consolidation, 3 farming), which are innovative for the territory and have a clear potential to increase resilience to climate change, tested and their impact monitored through at least 25 indicators;

40 people with a migratory background trained in drystone wall building techniques;

80 000 people involved in dissemination activities (among them 2 000 individuals from selected target groups - farmers, land owners, donors, etc.); and

12 jobs created during the project with a potential of a further 55 new job positions in the after-LIFE phase.