Warema; water; management; Italy; Hungary; Greece; Czech Republic

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 watershed planning procedures based on stakeholder networks to contribute in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60. New strategies tailored to watersheds, including large protected areas (e.g. Ramsar Sites, Biosphere Reserves) are developed and tested in four pilot projects. The tools that will be used are private ? public partnerships, context analysis, reports, action plans, spatial planning concepts, extensive discussion and information. The parties involved will gain a common vision on the priorities for nature and landscape protection, cultural heritage preservation, socio -economic development and water resource management. The ultimate aim of the project is to achieve a genuinely sustainable regional development based on preservation, enhancement and efficient use of local resources. The four Pilot Project Sites are the Upper Tagliamento Watershed in Italy, Lake Velence Watershed in Hungary, Messolonghi Lagoon Watershed in Greece and Poodri Protected Landscape Area in the Czech Republic.