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Written by Desertnet
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 The Project DESERTNET (2002-2004) was integrated and coordinated with the previous project "International Network of Multifunctional Environmental Laboratories" in the frame of the Interegg IIC-MED-OCC Program, both projects aiming to the study, monitoring and sustainable management of desertification risk areas in the Mediterranean basin. The DesertNet project has brought to the systemization and organization of the scientific information and experiences provided and elaborated for the areas at desertification risk identified by the Italian Regional and National Programs, so as to contribute to desertification processes control by means of building an homogeneous system for the exchange of information and data. The general objective of the project was to implement a platform as a common system of services to support National and European policies to combat desertification, according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and to promote sustainable management of natural resources (especially soil and water) by means of:
- a system of pilot areas/actions;
- a common geographic information system;
- a scientific supporting network to exchange and share of information and to spread them toward end users.
The specific objectives can be summarized as follows: - state of the art of the scientific knowledge on causes and effects of desertification processes in Mediterranean European Regions and on the measures to reduce it;
- a network of subjects and institutions involved with international, national and local actions aimed at exchanging, sharing, sensitizing people and disseminating information concerning both desertification and the project results;
- a system of thematic pilot actions to experience and test on the field technologies and methods for sustainable management and for prevention and monitoring of desertification processes;
- definition of common indicators and models to monitor desertification at different scales and testing of homogeneous indicator systems in chosen pilot areas/actions.
DesertNet partnership included scientific institutions of known international value and 10 Regions directly involved with the study of some environmental priorities recognized within the Italian Regional and National Action Programs (Delibera CIPE 229 del 21/12/1999). It contributed to strengthen the information and knowledge locally available, enriching and deepening them with the scientific resources provided by the partners. |
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