MEDACC : Innovative Methodologies for adaptation to climate change in the Mediterranean area

MEDACC is a European LIFE project which tests innovative solutions geared towards adapting Mediterranean agroforestry and urban systems to the impacts of climate change. It contributes to the design and development of adaptation strategies and policies being implemented regionally and nationally in the Euro-Mediterranean area. In Catalonia, the project has been a highly valuable tool relative to implementation of the Catalan Climate Change Strategy (ESCACC 2013-2020). In that regard, a series of experimental adaptation measures in the agriculture, forest management and water management sectors have been launched after being designed and evaluated in a process involving the participation of various local stakeholders. There have been two meetings of the working groups for each basin involved in the project and a series of demonstration agriculture and forestry actions on pilot sites in all three basins. -Implementation of two irrigation systems to enable water saving without reducing agricultural production of corn and apples- Surveys to validate farmer compliance with efficient irrigation recommendations.- Use of mulching techniques in vineyards as well as trials at altitude-Evaluating the effectiveness of forestry actions to reduce fire risk and encouraging forest growth by reducing competitiveness-Evaluating the effectiveness of different actions to improve tree health and to anticipate drought-induced mortality-Evaluating the effectiveness of actions to reduce fire risk by reducing forest density and favouring mature structures with older trees as well as ceasing the use of combustible material in the stand