Resilience hub 1
Skiathos
Greece
Addressing water scarcity, wildfire risk, and energy insecurity through integrated nature-based solutions.
About Skiathos
Skiathos is an island in the Northern Sporades archipelago with a dry Mediterranean climate, natural forests and small settlements. It suffers from severe water scarcity, especially during summer when population increases significantly.
Overpumping has led to seawater intrusion in the aquifer, freshwater streams remain unused due to lack of infrastructure, and climate change is intensifying droughts and extreme rainfall events. The island is also prone to wildfires and energy insecurity because electricity depends on mainland connections affected by extreme weather.
Climate Context
Key Challenges
Water Scarcity
Seasonal demand surges from tourism drive overpumping and saltwater intrusion into the freshwater aquifer.
Seawater Intrusion
Groundwater over-extraction has allowed seawater to contaminate the island's primary freshwater source.
Wildfire Risk
Dense forests and prolonged dry summers create high wildfire risk, intensifying with climate change.
Energy Insecurity
Electricity supply depends on mainland connections that are disrupted by extreme weather events.
Solutions
Water management & Wildfire prevention
NURISH implements constructed wetlands and bioswale systems to manage agricultural runoff, improve water quality, and reduce wildfire risk. Circular wastewater management and renewable energy linked to agriculture are also explored, while untapped freshwater streams are integrated into a resilient local water supply system.
- Water retention: Nature-based systems capturing rainfall to recharge the aquifer and reduce runoff.
- Water quality: Constructed wetlands filtering agricultural runoff and improving freshwater resources.
- Wildfire risk: New evidence and tools for NbS-informed wildfire risk management.
- Energy resilience: Renewable energy integration strengthening agricultural and community energy security.
Other Resilience Hubs
Explore the Pillars
See how these frameworks are applied through NURISH’s Pillars.