{"id":3411,"date":"2021-11-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/news\/if-nexus-can-succeed-here-it-can-work-anywhere-the-rexus-project-is-tackling-nexus-challenges-in-ambitious-pilot-cases\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:36:17","slug":"if-nexus-can-succeed-here-it-can-work-anywhere-the-rexus-project-is-tackling-nexus-challenges-in-ambitious-pilot-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/news\/if-nexus-can-succeed-here-it-can-work-anywhere-the-rexus-project-is-tackling-nexus-challenges-in-ambitious-pilot-cases\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIf Nexus can succeed here, it can work anywhere\u201d: The REXUS project is tackling Nexus challenges in ambitious pilot cases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

REXUS is focusing <\/span>on <\/span>5 <\/span>p<\/span>ilot sites<\/span> in Europe and Latin America<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>where <\/span>top-down <\/span>analysis <\/span>and <\/span>bottom<\/span>–<\/span>up <\/span>stakeholder engagement<\/span> are being combined <\/span>to tackle complex natural resource challenges.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

PINIOS GREECE <\/span>\u2013 90% of water <\/span>resourced <\/span>used <\/span>(<\/span>and misused<\/span>)<\/span><\/strong> for agriculture.<\/strong> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Andreas Panagopoulos, from SWRI, Greece, highlighted that the <\/span>Greek pilot case<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>P<\/span>i<\/span>nios<\/span> <\/span>river basin, <\/span>encompasses all the challenges of the Nexus<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>The <\/span>Pinios<\/span> basin, in Greece, i<\/span>n the heartland of agricultural Greece, <\/span>faces <\/span>intense <\/span>pressures from <\/span>agriculture, which accounts for <\/span>90% of water <\/span>use<\/span>. Political debates on resource use have been raging for decades, <\/span>against a <\/span>backdrop of widespread ignorance about the Nexus, and a low awareness of <\/span>the <\/span>need to protect natural resources.  <\/span>Meanwhile, <\/span>Nexus conflicts<\/span> are <\/span>growing<\/span>, <\/span>as <\/span>hydropower gains ground<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>photovoltaic parks <\/span>tend to replace agricultural <\/span>land, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>energy <\/span>costs of <\/span>groundwater pumping<\/span> are rising<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Cracking the Nexus puzzle in this <\/span>challenging<\/span> pilot<\/span> <\/span>area, would provide the \u2018key\u2019 to unlocking Nexus solutions all over Greece.<\/span> <\/span><\/span>\u201cIf Nexus can succeed here, it can work anywhere\u201d<\/span> <\/span>stressed<\/span> Mr. Panagopoulos<\/span>, <\/span>raising the stakes for REXUS\u2019 efforts in<\/span> <\/span>`<\/span>this <\/span>ambitious <\/span>pilot<\/span> case<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

LOWER DANUBE: Intensive economic exploitation <\/span>causing environmental degradation<\/span><\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

The effects of ecosystem degradation are evident in the transboundary Lower Danube  <\/span>basin, <\/span>in <\/span>Romania\/Serbia<\/span> and<\/span> Romania\/Bulgaria<\/span>. <\/span>Taking part in the <\/span>REXUS plenary meeting from <\/span>the <\/span>field<\/span> in the Lower Danube basin<\/span>, Albert <\/span>Scrieciu<\/span> from <\/span>GeoEcoMar<\/span>, Romania, <\/span>described <\/span>the challenges of<\/span> <\/span>this transboundary REXUS <\/span>pilot. <\/span>Complex morphology<\/span> with <\/span>different types of<\/span> river<\/span>banks, with different sensitivity to floods<\/span>,<\/span> require <\/span>detailed <\/span>evidence<\/span>-based<\/span> <\/span>management<\/span>. Resource conflicts are complex, <\/span>not least <\/span>due to <\/span>the operation of <\/span>2 <\/span>large <\/span>dams for hydropower<\/span> which affect <\/span>water level, navigation<\/span> traffic<\/span>, agriculture, <\/span>and <\/span>even impact drinking water supply.  <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The issue in Lower Danube, stressed Mr. <\/span>Scrieciu<\/span>, is choosing between intensive exploitation of natural resources to <\/span>maximise<\/span> short-term economic benefit, versus opting for sustainable exploitation, with a lower degree of short-term financial benefits and a lower impact on natural resources. This is the dilemma that REXUS will help address, by providing analytical tools and evidence to evaluate detailed comprehensive long-term scenarios.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

ISONZO<\/span>\/<\/span>SOCA<\/span>, Italy\/Slovenia<\/span>: Nexus challenges compounded by the transboundary dimension<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

All <\/span>REXUS <\/span>pilots are <\/span>relying on active <\/span>bottom-up <\/span>engag<\/span>ement <\/span>from stakeholders <\/span>to provide <\/span>their first-hand knowledge of the <\/span>areas\u2019 <\/span>pertinent Nexus <\/span>challenges<\/span>.<\/span> This is nowhere more evident than in the Isonzo River basin, where on<\/span>e<\/span> of the <\/span>basin\u2019s key stakeholders<\/span>, the <\/span>Italian <\/span>River Basin authority<\/span> <\/span>(<\/span><\/span>AUTORITA’ DI BACINO DISTRETTUALE DELLE ALPI ORIENTALI<\/span> – AAWA<\/span>)<\/span><\/span>, is a partner in the REXUS project. <\/span>Francesca Lombardo, <\/span>from <\/span>AAWA, <\/span>analysed<\/span> the Nexus challenges in the <\/span>Isonzo <\/span>basin, <\/span>which are compounded by the transboundary nature of the area. The <\/span>Italian part <\/span>of the basin is <\/span>totally dependent on Slovenian water management, <\/span>due to the existence of a large <\/span>dam for hydropower production<\/span>, which also has <\/span>a <\/span>large <\/span>impact on flood<\/span> management<\/span>. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The <\/span>Isonso<\/span>\/Soca pilot highlights the <\/span>urgent <\/span>need for a <\/span>complete <\/span>management <\/span>vision for the basin, <\/span>based on <\/span>synerg<\/span>ies<\/span> between the two countries.<\/span> <\/span>Through extensive data gathering and use of modeling tools, <\/span>REXUS aims to provide the <\/span>common <\/span>framework that will enable this holistic analysis.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

NIMA river basin<\/span>, Colombia<\/span>: Ecosystems threatened by intensive agricultural use and climate change<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Shaping<\/span> <\/span>a<\/span> sustainable <\/span>management<\/span> vision <\/span>through a Nexus lens <\/span>is precisely the aim of the NIMA river basin pilot in Colombia, where pristine Andean ecosystems with  <\/span>endemic <\/span>species <\/span>of fauna and flora<\/span> are being pressured by intensive water use for extensive sugar cane plantations<\/span>. Nexus challenge<\/span>s<\/span> are intense, given also the presence of hydropower plants, and the need to supply freshwater for more than <\/span>300<\/span>,000 <\/span>inhabitants<\/span> in the region.<\/span> Climate change <\/span>in particular is<\/span> expected to have a strong impact on the region, which displays a \u2018<\/span>very high<\/span>\u2019<\/span> <\/span>hydric <\/span>vulnerability index<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In NIMA, REXUS is focusing efforts on <\/span>influenc<\/span>ing<\/span> and assist<\/span>ing<\/span> the development of the <\/span>territorial and land use planning of Palmira municipality<\/span> (<\/span>POT <\/span>in Spanish). REXUS <\/span>will assist <\/span>both in the territorial<\/span> participatory diagnosis<\/span>, as well as the territorial prospective, the future planning of the territory development. <\/span>The key question <\/span>that REXUS will help address <\/span>is<\/span>:<\/span> <\/span>\u201cW<\/span>hat do stakeholders <\/span>desire <\/span>for the area <\/span>in the future<\/span>, given <\/span>the <\/span>growth of <\/span>needs <\/span>in different sectors<\/span> and<\/span> against <\/span>a <\/span>backdrop of <\/span>climate change<\/span> impacts<\/span>?<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

PENINSULAR SPAIN<\/span> and Jucar River basin<\/span>: Using <\/span>the <\/span>Nexus to break down administrative barriers <\/span><\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Breaking down <\/span>not only sectoral, but also geographical and administrative <\/span>barriers <\/span>to efficient natural resource management is the aim of the Peninsular Spain pilot, which is also focusing on the Jucar River basin as a sub-pilot. <\/span>Peninsular Spain contains <\/span>13 river basins <\/span>but is divided in 17 autonomous regions<\/span>, creating a very complex reality <\/span>in terms of <\/span>river basin <\/span>administration<\/span>, with s<\/span>hared and overlapping competencies on environmental and water resources<\/span>. <\/span>Anna <\/span>Osann<\/span> from <\/span>Agrisat<\/span>, highlighted the overall REXUS aim to help develop a <\/span>common approach in managing <\/span>N<\/span>exus issues at <\/span>the <\/span>basin level<\/span>. <\/span>Laura Tanco of the <\/span>Confederaci\u00f3n<\/span> <\/span>Hidrogr\u00e1fica<\/span> del J\u00facar<\/span>, a key REXUS stakeholder in the Jucar basin,<\/span> <\/span>analysed<\/span> the challenges specific to the basin<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Weaving the <\/span>Nexus <\/span>strands together<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Meanwhile, the different research strands of the project are advancing and coming together<\/span> to form powerful analytical tools<\/span> to be applied in the 5 pilot areas<\/span>:<\/span> climate projections and climate risk assessments, energy, carbon and water accounting and footprints, land-use mapping and <\/span>E<\/span>arth <\/span>O<\/span>bservation based indicators are being <\/span>combined <\/span>to help <\/span>analyse<\/span> <\/span>different dimensions of <\/span>the <\/span>local integrated Nexus system<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>The potential of Nature based solutions to resolve conflicts<\/span> <\/span>and address challenges is being systematically explored<\/span>, while <\/span>Systems Dynamic Modelling and <\/span>c<\/span>oupled <\/span>r<\/span>esource flow analysis <\/span>are being deployed to <\/span>analyse<\/span> the <\/span>co-evolution of sectors <\/span>over time<\/span>, <\/span>shedding light on <\/span>the <\/span>underlying<\/span>, but often hidden, <\/span>drivers that <\/span>crucial<\/span>ly affect all Nexus sectors<\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 \u201c<\/span>Taking <\/span>The First Step\u201d: <\/span>Facing the Nexus Challenge<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

How to <\/span>summarise<\/span> the overall aim of the REXUS project? <\/span>Referring to the case of <\/span>Pinios<\/span>, <\/span>Greece, <\/span>Andreas Panagopoulos <\/span>hinted at the overall challenge that the pilot<\/span>s<\/span>, and <\/span>REXUS as a whole, <\/span>should<\/span> <\/span>rise to:<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 \u201cWe often ask officials how to manage <\/span>resources<\/span> but we don\u2019t give them a plan<\/span>. W<\/span>e ask civilians to protect resources, but we don\u2019t show them how or why to do it. We understand that we need to co-exist<\/span>,<\/span> but nobody really takes the first step in this direction<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span>This is challenge that the <\/span>REXUS project has taken on.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GWP-Med is leading the \u201cPathways to Impact\u201d Work Package in the Horizon 2020 REXUS project, coordinating communication and dissemination activities. The 1st plenary meeting, which took place on 21 and 27 October 2021, brought together more than 60 participants from over 20 institutions, sharing advances on various pieces of the REXUS \u2018jigsaw puzzle\u2019 which is coming together to create new blueprint for applying the Water-Energy-Food-Climate Nexus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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is leading the \u201cPathways to Impact\u201d Work Package in the Horizon 2020 REXUS project, coordinating communication and dissemination activities. The 1st plenary meeting, which took place on 21 and 27 October 2021, brought together more than 60 participants from over 20 institutions, sharing advances on various pieces of the REXUS \u2018jigsaw puzzle\u2019 which is…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3411"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5740,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3411\/revisions\/5740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}