Water resources management in protected areas

- Due to changes in climate, land use and regional policies, new spatial and water resource integrated management strategies are needed. The aim of WAREMA is to develop participatory river basin planning procedures based on stakeholder networks to contribute to implementation of the Water Framework Directive. New strategies tailored to river basins including large protected areas (e.g. Ramsar sites, Biosphere Reserves) will be addressed in 4 pilot projects. By means of private-public partnerships, context analyses, action plans and spatial planning concepts, the involved parties will gain a common vision on the priorities for nature and landscape protection, cultural heritage preservation, socio-economic development and water resource management – all of them seen in an integrated perspective – with the ultimate aim to achieve genuinely sustainable regional development based on preservation, enhancement and efficient use of the local resources.