A EU-funded project will test 11 natural solutions for protecting Mediterranean agriculture and forests from drought and fires.

A European project has selected 11 nature-based solutions that will be tested to increase the resilience of farms, pastures, and Mediterranean forests in the face of drought, fires, soil degradation, and tree mortality.

In short, the 11 solutions are grouped into three categories: water management, soil improvement, and biodiversity protection. The measures include artificial ponds in Portugal, drainage ditches and water retention in Spain, biochar, real-time soil monitoring, adaptive grazing, and fire prevention. The project will also test the strategic planting of trees and shrubs, the creation of natural refuges for animals, and early detection of tree mortality. The solutions will be demonstrated in Andalusia, Extremadura, Alentejo, Sardinia, and Aetolia-Acarnania, and the most promising will be transferred to Castilla y León, Occitania, and Tuscany. The DRYAD project runs from September 2024 to August 2028, has a total cost of 8.62 million euros, and receives a European contribution of approximately 8.45 million euros.

The 11 measures were selected from an initial list of 40 solutions, first reduced to 13 and then to the options considered most suitable for local conditions in the participating regions. The process involved farmers, land managers, researchers, and regional authorities.

The solutions are intended for agro-silvo-pastoral systems, where agricultural crops, trees, and animals are managed together on the same land. Among the Mediterranean examples are dehesa in Spain, montado in Portugal, miriagos in Sardinia, and the oak forests of Valonia in Greece.

These landscapes support agriculture, livestock farming, forestry, and the economy of rural communities. Trees contribute to soil protection, water retention, carbon storage, and erosion reduction, while grazing and crops allow for the production of multiple products and sources of income from the same land.

Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, irregular precipitation, fires, and high tree mortality are putting increasing pressure on these systems. The DRYAD project aims to test solutions that use natural processes and local practices to reduce land vulnerability.

Two of the selected measures directly address water storage and management. In Extremadura, drainage ditches designed to control water flow and reduce losses caused by rapid surface runoff will be tested.

In Alentejo, artificial ponds dependent on groundwater will be used. These can create local water reserves, support animals and vegetation during dry periods, and form habitats for various species.

The experience gained in Portugal is expected to be used for the adaptation and reproduction of the solution in the Sardón area of Spain. The transfer does not imply an identical copying of the model, as the size, location, and functioning of the ponds must be adapted to the availability of water and the characteristics of each land.

Five solutions target soil and agricultural practices. One of these is real-time monitoring of soil moisture and other conditions in Extremadura.

The data can help farmers and managers decide when and where interventions are needed, observe drought stress earlier, and avoid unnecessary water use. The project includes the development of decision-support systems to transform the collected information into applicable local recommendations.

Adaptive grazing will be tested in Extremadura and Andalusia. This practice involves adjusting the number of animals, grazing periods, and rotation between plots based on the state of vegetation and resource availability.

Careful management can reduce overgrazing, allow vegetation recovery, and limit the continuous accumulation of dry plant matter. Improper application can produce opposite effects, which is why the intensity and timing must be established based on the conditions of each region.

Biochar will be used in Alentejo and Extremadura. The material is obtained by controlled heating of biomass in conditions with a reduced amount of oxygen and can be introduced into the soil to improve structure and water retention.

The project will test its effects under the specific conditions of Mediterranean lands. The benefits depend on the raw material used, soil characteristics, the amount applied, and how biochar is integrated into agricultural practices.

In Extremadura, pastures with a greater diversity of plants will be assembled. Species mixtures can provide different growth periods, varied root systems, and greater resistance to temperature and humidity changes.

A diversified pasture can support soil fertility, pollinators, microorganisms, and animal nutrition. The project will investigate whether such mixtures maintain performance under drought conditions and strong variations in precipitation.

Fire prevention measures will be tested in Alentejo, Extremadura, Sardinia, and Aetolia-Acarnania. These may include vegetation management, reducing combustible material, and adapting grazing and forestry interventions.

The project does not present a single identical method for all regions. The fire risk depends on the type of vegetation, tree density, agricultural practices, topography, access to water, and local intervention capacity.

Another four solutions are focused on biodiversity and ecosystem health. In Andalusia, strategic planting of trees and shrubs is planned in open agricultural lands and in grazing areas without woody vegetation.

Trees can create shade for animals, reduce surface soil temperature, limit erosion, and improve connectivity between habitats. The choice of species and their placement will need to be adapted to water availability and agricultural use of the land.

In Alentejo and Sardinia, natural islands will be created or protected that can function as refuges for animals and other organisms. These areas can allow species to find food, shelter, and breeding spaces in landscapes used for agriculture and grazing.

In Aetolia-Acarnania, protection measures for trees and shrubs will be tested. These aim to limit losses and support vegetation regeneration in areas exposed to grazing, drought, or other pressures.

The last solution concerns the early detection of tree mortality and will be applied in Aetolia-Acarnania, Alentejo, Andalusia, Extremadura, and Sardinia. Early identification of decline can allow for interventions before degradation spreads.

The project includes technological monitoring and modeling tools, and associated research indicates the possibility of using satellite imagery to observe extensive areas. The data can be used to detect changes in tree crowns, water stress, fires, and the evolution of vegetation cover.

A scientific analysis conducted within several European projects, including DRYAD, evaluated 35 articles on the use of satellites for monitoring cork oak forests. Landsat was the most frequently used source, and the NDVI vegetation index appeared in 60% of the analyzed studies.

Some methods achieved high results for specific tasks. One study identified dead trees in a grazing landscape with a classification accuracy of 98%, using very high-resolution satellite images.

This performance cannot be generalized to all forests and all forms of degradation. Detecting diseases at different severity levels has proven more difficult, and accuracy dropped to about 51% in one of the analyzed models.

The review also shows that current methods are difficult to compare, as studies use different satellites, indicators, algorithms, and validation systems. Monitoring biodiversity, resilience, and ecosystem services is less developed than detecting changes in vegetation or tree mortality.

Cork oak forests extend over approximately 2.2 million hectares in Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, and France. They provide habitats for birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles and are associated with rural activities practiced for centuries.

Cork is one of the most valuable non-timber forest products. Portugal supplies about 46% of global production, and Spain 33%, with the two countries concentrating most of the economic activity in this sector.

Climate change, fires, pests, land abandonment, intensified agriculture, and excessive grazing have contributed to the decline of these ecosystems. The analyzed studies indicate a reduction in areas covered by cork oak, fragmentation of landscapes, and decreased regeneration in several regions.

The DRYAD project is not limited to cork oak forests and includes various forms of agro-silvo-pastoral landscapes. The solutions will be developed and evaluated through living laboratories, where authorities, researchers, landowners, companies, and residents participate in design and testing.

"Nature-based solutions are not isolated actions, but part of a broader strategy. By combining nature, innovation, and local knowledge, DRYAD contributes to building more resilient Mediterranean landscapes capable of supporting both people and nature in a changing climate," the project states.

The effectiveness of the 11 solutions has not yet been demonstrated in all targeted regions. The selection represents the beginning of the implementation and testing phase, and the results will need to be evaluated in relation to their impact on water, soil, biodiversity, productivity, and local communities.

The solutions considered most promising will be transferred to Castilla y León, Occitania, and Tuscany. The project aims to produce tools and guidelines that can be adapted in other regions, without assuming that the same intervention will work identically across the entire Mediterranean basin.

DRYAD is funded through the Horizon Europe program and contributes to the EU Mission for Climate Change Adaptation. The project is coordinated by the University of A Coruña and brings together 23 participants and three partners.

Activities began on September 1, 2024, and are scheduled to conclude on August 31, 2028. The total cost is 8,622,807.50 euros, of which the European Union's contribution amounts to 8,448,545 euros.