SOUVALES | Landscape futures and resilient practises for water management on the mediterranean islands
completed project
location: Ios, Cyclades
date: 04/11/2024 - 22/11/2024
partners: (MedINA, lead partner), WWF Hellas, Save Ios
Support: Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE), Municipality of Ios
photography/ drawings: Grigoris Koutropoulos (BLK)
Apprenticeship and Hands-on Workshop on the traditional practice of water management with micro-dams (souvales) in Mavroudi stream, in Kampos of Ios Island.
In places where water was a scarce commune, communities used a variety of practices to address the problem of water scarcity. One of the traditional water management practices that is lost over time is the small-scale dams along the periodic flow streams.
The purpose of these small low-height dams was initially to reduce the slope of the stream bed and to collect small amounts of water for irrigation. However, in front of the challenges of climate change and the anthropogenic pressures, small dams perform three additional functions for the nature and human environment:
- By reducing the flow rate of water and keeping part of it, a better penetration into the ground is achieved, enriching in this way the underground aquifer.
- During periods of heavy rainfall, they retain significant amounts of water and sediments, reducing in this way the risk of flooding in the settlements that are usually located in the coastal area, at the mouth of the streams.
- They are places of biodiversity: the created shallow water reservoirs are small oases for arid island ecosystems, being suitable habitats for many species of flora and fauna, especially during periods of drought.
The project Med-RESET aims to re-introduce the traditional practice of constructing stone-built weirs on ephemeral streams in arid Mediterranean islands and includes, among others, the construction of a network of 50 small-scale stone-built weirs (souvales) through a participatory project in the Mavroudi stream in Kampos of Ios.
The project Med-RESET benefits from the support of the Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE). The project is co-funded by the Municipality of Ios and implemented under the coordination of MedINA in collaboration with Boulouki, Save Ios and WWF Hellas.Το έργο “Mediterranean REsilient inSular Ephemeral sTreams (Med-RESET)”
Participatory project
(Α) Apprenticeship for young craftspeople: 4-22 Νovember 2024
The 3-week apprenticeship program is addressed to four (4) young professional craftspeople, who will work under the guidance of experienced craftsmen-trainers. During the apprenticeship, 50 stone-built weirs will be restored and reconstructed along the Mavroudi stream in Kampos of Ios, near the archaeological site of Skarkos.
The apprentices will be provided with accommodation and receive a wage of EUR 50/day, as well as relevant insurance.
The criteria on which the selection will be based can be described as follows:
Age: The call is open to candidates up to 45 years old.
Experience & motivation to participate: Working experience with timber and traditional crafts will be positively considered.
Locality: The call is addressed to craftspeople from all over Greece, however priority will be given to applicants from Ios and Cyclades.
The program includes:
15 days of paid work (8 hours Monday to Friday) on a landscape restoration project.
Participation in the workshop training activities described below.
Important information and dates
Available positions: 4.
Application deadline: 20 October 2024
Notification of acceptance: by 23 October 2024
Apprenticeship duration: 4 - 22 November 2024
Location: Ios, Cyclades, Greece
Wage and benefits
50 EUR/day + insurance and accommodation.
(Β) 5-day hands-on workshop: 12-16 Νοvember 2024
The hands-on workshop is addressed to a large group of people and has 15 placements for participants mainly for students and young professionals from the fields of applied arts, engineering, heritage management, environmental sciences and other related fields.
The duration of the workshop is 5 days (12-16 November 2024) and includes the field work of construction of the dry-stone micro-dams in Mavroudi, near the archaeological site of Skarkos, as well as parallel educational activities and guided tours on the island.
The field work will be carried out under the guidance of three experienced craftsmen-trainers and will include all stages of construction, from the collection of raw materials to the foundation and the completion of the micro-dams. At the same time, we will discuss technical, statutory, cultural and environmental issues that arise through the project and its various extensions such as the proper management of natural resources and the use of local raw materials in technical projects.
Important information and dates
Available positions: 15
Application deadline: 20 October 2024
Notification of acceptance: by 23 October 2024
Workshop dates: 12 - 16 November 2024
Location: Ios, Cyclades, Greece
Participation fees
200 EUR for accommodation in hotel rooms, with breakfast included.
50 EUR for permanent residents of Ios Island (accommodation not included).
Το cost includes the participation fee, the accomodation in Ios in twin-bedded rooms (11/11/2024 - 17/11/2024), materials and protective equipment and tools, a snack/day during the field work, a meal/day, liability insurance during the fieldwork and transport within the programme. Travel expenses to and from Ios and other personal expenses are covered by the participants.
SUMMARY:
Apprenticeship for young craftspeople
4 - 22 November 2024
4 positions
Work days Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:00
Accommodation provided
Wage 50 euros / day + insurance
Participation in the educational activities of the workshop
Application deadline 20 October 2024
Apply here for the apprenticeship
5-day hands-on workshop
12 - 16 November 2024
15 positions
Participation fees
200 EUR for accommodation in hotel rooms, with breakfast included.
50 EUR for permanent residents of Ios (accommodation not included).
Application deadline 20 October 2024
Information
email: workshop@boulouki.org
ph: 211 1828348