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Asterousia Hybrid University explores water management as a catalyst for sustainable development
Human-made pressures, such as intensive agriculture, population growth, coastal urbanisation, tourism and the unsustainable misuse of water are putting increasing pressure on environmental ecosystems. Unprecedented droughts and storms, caused by climate change, coupled with erosion, desertification and groundwater overexploitation increase the vulnerability of natural systems, making the need for better water management urgent at all levels.
Fostering dialogue and encouraging large-scale collaboration are crucial steps to reach SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. Building human and institutional capacity is fundamental to achieving sustainable water resource management and service delivery, to operating and maintaining related technology, creating jobs, and monitoring performance - including at community level.
Co-organised by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE), the Asterousia Hybrid University, ongoing since 2014, seeks to educate and build capacity on water resource management in biosphere reserves and other sites. It targets postgraduate students, educators, young scientists and managers, particularly from South-East European and Mediterranean countries, who are studying or working in existing or potential biosphere reserves, Natura 2000 sites and other key areas.
The overall aim of the Hybrid University is to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and methodological tools that could inspire them to turn biosphere reserves or protected areas into living labs for sustainability. This year鈥檚 programme focuses on 鈥淲ater Management in Biosphere Reserves of the Mediterranean and beyond鈥.
The 2023-2024 edition elaborates on state-of-the-art integrated approaches to water management without neglecting water-related cultural aspects, throughout Phase A (in person) and Phase B (online), bringing together actors involved in freshwater and marine water management in and around the Asterousia Biosphere Reserve as well as regional water and biosphere reserve actors.
Asterousia, spanning 367 km2, including the coastal and marine areas of the South Cretan Sea, represents a valuable ecosystem and community that must be preserved in order for both to coexist harmoniously.
Asterousia Hybrid University Phase A
The island of Crete, home to the , is rich in archaeological heritage and natural areas of high ecological value, hosting more than 55% of the island鈥檚 animal and plant species and many local villages still rely on freshwater springs running from the Asterousia Mountains.
The 26 selected participants from 10 South-East European and Mediterranean countries (13 international and 11 national) participated in a weeklong series of presentations and activities.
On the first day, Francesca Bampa, Project Officer, Science unit, gave a talk about UNESCO鈥檚 Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) and activities conducted by the UNESCO Regional Bureau. This was followed by a presentation from Theano Vrentzou, President of the Local Management Committee of Asterousia Biosphere Reserve, and lectures on Integrated Management from Heraklion Development Agency.
Michael Scoullos, UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean, GWP-Med and MIO-ECSDE Chairperson and MEdIES Coordinator, lectured on 鈥淲ater in our days with emphasis on integrated Water Management in Biosphere Reserves鈥.
In the following days, participants met local wine and bread producers, visited a women鈥檚 agricultural cooperative, learnt about water in culture, explored the landscape via a boat tour in the South Cretan Sea, visited the Monasteries and did a beach litter-picking activity. The final day was dedicated to workshops and group-work sessions; participants reached conclusions following the discussions, lectures and especially after the synthetic group work, based on the case studies shared by participants.
Feedback collected from participants showed that the many experiential and outdoor activities in the rich and varied programme were fruitful. The opportunity was given to network with experts from Greece and other countries and, at the same time, interact with the local population living in the heart of the Asterousia Biosphere Reserve.
The Asterousia Hybrid University is a very valuable innovative learning programme, supporting young practitioners of our wider region and beyond. It combines practical, down-to-earth field work, state-of-the-art concepts and practices, and active bottom-up interaction with local communities on the complex issues of sustainable management of natural, cultural and human resources in biosphere reserves and other designated areas.
Asterousia Hybrid University Phase B
The online Phase B of the Astrousia Hybrid University is scheduled for December 2023-February 2024. Learning opportunities will be given to a wider international audience, building on previous e-courses, enriched with this year鈥檚 topics and input from Phase A. The learning will include asynchronous content - from video lectures to existing online videos, toolkits, presentations and recorded material from Phase A - with synchronous activities - live sessions with experts.
In addition to the UNESCO Regional Bureau, the 2023-2024 edition of the Hybrid University is supported by: the Region of Crete, Heraklion Development Agency, Association for the Protection of Asterousia, UNESCO Chair and Network on Sustainable Development Management and Education at the University of Athens (UoA), Greek National Committee of the MAB/UNESCO Programme, and MEdIES initiative and Global Water Partnership 鈥 Mediterranean (GWP-Med).
