Water Heritage in European Rural Mediterranean. Re(dis)covering water heritage systems to face climate challenges learning from our past

Paola Nella Branduini (Principal Investigator)

WatHer revives centuries-old Water Heritage Systems (WHS) as culture/nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and drought mitigation in rural areas of Mediterranean European countries. The research-action project focuses on the recovery and conservation of irrigation canals, hydraulic artifacts, and ponds which, although long neglected, have contributed for centuries to the sustainable preservation and management of water resources.

In the selected pilot sites, WHS are mapped, restored, and monitored through a combination of field-based knowledge and modern tools such as GIS and environmental sensors. Action plans are co-designed with local communities, integrating ancestral know-how with current ecological standards.

The international partnership spans from Portugal to Cyprus, covering the Mediterranean basin within Europe, and extends into North Africa (Algeria) thanks to the contribution of the project’s Associate Partners.

To ensure the uptake of the model, the project delivers training guidelines, engages local stakeholders through seminars and consultations, and develops a joint strategy for the recovery and reuse of WHS. Through transnational cooperation – within the Global Network of Water Museums – these methods will be shared across borders, turning field-tested heritage practices into a common Mediterranean resource.

The main project outcomes include:

Shared Solutions: tools and indicators for assessing and monitoring the hydrological, cultural, and environmental benefits of WHS.

Strategies / Action Plans: training guidelines for stakeholders regarding WHS restoration, community engagement, and long-term management.

Cross-border Cooperation: strengthened transnational collaboration and integration within the Global Network of Water Museums.

Contribution to SDG: 6,11, 13, 15