Synthèse technique et scientifique des résultats du projet MEDROPLAN concernant la gestion de l'eau et de la sécheresse en zone méditerranéenne. Cette étude a été réalisée dans 6 pays (Chypre, Grèce, Italie, Maroc, Espagne, Tunisie), de manière à promouvoir leur coopération avec MEDROPLAN. ©Electre 2025

Natural rainfall variability is a recurrent characteristic of Mediterranean climate and intensive drought events have been more frequent in the last four decades with significant damages derived from water scarcity and low water quality at the local and national levels. In this context, Mediterranean countries have adapted to their climate and have extensive legislation, institutional capabilities, and technical resources to face drought. Nevertheless in most cases a proactive drought management based on anticipatory planning is not implemented. There is a need to formulate plans for drought management that shift from a reactive approach (crisis approach) to a proactive approach based on risk analysis, adapted to the current natural and social resources and taking into account the dynamics of the social and environmental pressures.

MEDROPLAN (www.iamz.ciheam.org/medroplan) is a Project funded by the European Commission within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional Programme for Local Water Management. The Project is coordinated by the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ/CIHEAM). The objectives of the MEDROPLAN Project are to provide Guidelines for Drought Preparedness Plans and the framework for the setting up of a Drought Preparedness Network for the Mediterranean countries. The Guidelines have been elaborated following a common methodology for the analysis of drought risk and drought management and have been specifically formulated to address the physical, socio-economic, and environmental issues of the Mediterranean countries. The Guidelines incorporate the scientific background and knowledge on droughts, the meteorological, agricultural and hydrological drought aspects, their onset and end, their frequency of occurrence, water resource availability and water demand in relation to the climate, the water shortage observed and the impacts of water shortage caused by droughts in the six Partner countries of the Project (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia).

The Technical Annex of the MEDROPLAN Drought Management Guidelines, that constitute the present document, compile the technical and scientific results of the MEDROPLAN Project. They are addressed to a specialized public, scientists and technicians interested in drought issues and in charge of dealing with drought problems in the water management and agricultural sectors. In the present publication, the reader can find in-depth information on the different components which constitute the drought planning methodology proposed by MEDROPLAN (the planning framework, the organizational, methodological, operational and public review components), and a compendium of examples of application in the six Partner countries of the Project.