Brno University of Technology

www.vutbr.cz

Bioforsk

EKOTOXA

Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information

T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute

Comprehensive multidisciplinary project aimed at eliminating the negative impacts of climate change in the South Moravian Region (SMR). Based on historical climate data and expected climate scenarios it can be considered as the most affected region (particularly due to drought) in the whole country. High extent of arable land in SMR and excessive water erosion (over 60% of arable land) also causes enormous long-term damage to agricultural land through loss of topsoil and reducing the productive capacity of the soil. This accumulation of negative factors requires a fundamental solution. The project addresses the adaptation to anticipated climate change scenarios according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Geneva, especially extreme phenomena impact of climate change i.e. drought and local downpours. The main focus of the project is directed to the agriculture and forestry sector, which covers 90% of SMR and where climate change is expected to cause reduction in the natural production capacity of the soil and consequently reduction of crop yields or increment of forest trees. On the contrary, successful implementation of adaptation can help agriculture and forestry sector to achieve the best effects. As part of the solution there will be a model interconnection of different spatial planning agendas i.e. landscaping, zoning, planning documents, river basin management plans, regional plans of forest development, etc. The South Moravia Region will update its Water Master Plan of 2007. A fundamental benefit of the project is the implementation of integrated approaches without which the adaptation to climate change will never be as efficient as it could be. The project will also be based on the integrated approach with strongly interlinked data, analyses, models and geographic interpretation of climatological, hydrological, pedological and production data. In terms of spatial extent the project is divided into the following tasks: a) Monitoring, evaluation, analysis, calculations, proposed measures and strategies implemented across the board for the entire region b) Demonstration projects, measurement and type of measures implemented only in selected locations where there will be developed and partially implemented model draft measures for selected sites in the South Moravia Region to serve as a practical guide to dealing with the impact of agricultural and forestry management modes. All project outputs will be linked to different types of system tools (planning, monitoring, information and education) in order to develop strategies and comprehensive facilities for implementing effective adaptation measures to eliminate or reduce the negative impacts of climate change. On the principle of complementarity the project involves: 5 top Brno specialist departments in the fields of hydrology, soil science, agriculture, forestry, climatology, landscaping, space planning, geoinformatics, the Norwegian partner and as a major user of water also two key state organizations - Moravia River Basin Authority (Povodí Moravy s.p.) and Czech Forests Authority (Lesy ČR s.p.). State Agricultural Intervention Fund and State Land Office have already shown interest in the outputs. Support for the project and cooperation in the dissemination of project outcomes have been promised by the Brno Regional Chamber of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic.

Approximately 853 873 EUR