Francesca Giannoni

The Value of the Italian Civil Protection System in Integrated Water Management For The Mediterranean Environment

In the Mediterranean environment, specific aspects related to integrated water management are emphasized: water scarcity (droughts) or water excess (floods). Water-induced disasters are increasing in number and severity and international institutional frameworks to reduce disasters are being strengthened under the United Nations oversight. Italy, as well as many other Mediterranean countries, invested a large sum of money in water-related risk mitigation. In this paper, flood mitigation actions focusing on different aspects of the problem (urban planning and warning, floods management) and on different levels (scientific, technical, political, social) are presented. Their possible transfer into a broader integrated water management (IWM) scheme is discussed. Techniques for environmental data gathering from different sources (multi-sensor retrieved data), models for hydrologic cycle simulation and systems for social awareness improvement are described. These experiences where supported by different expertises that can be highly beneficial to other aspects of IWM levels from local to regional level.