Title: Promoting soil bioengineering in the Mediterranean ecoregion with new tools and approaches

Authors: George N. Zaimes; Guillermo Tardio; Martin C. Gimenez Suarez; Valasia Iakovoglou; José Luis García-Rodríguez

Addresses: Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology (EMaTTech), Drama, 66100, Greece ' Spanish Association of Landscape Engineering (AEIP), Technical University of Madrid, Avda. Niceto Alcala Zamora, Getafe 28905, Spain ' School of Forestry, Technical University of Madrid, Avda. de las Moreras, Madrid, 28040, Spain ' Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology (EMaTTech), Drama, 66100, Greece ' School of Forestry, Technical University of Madrid, Avda de las Moreras, Madrid, 28040, Spain

Abstract: The Mediterranean ecoregion is prone to soil loss and degradation; serious problems to the human well-being. The ECOMED project promotes eco-friendly methods to mitigate such problems by generating material and tools on soil bioengineering specific for the ecoregion. Specifically, the know-how transfer within the sector is being reinforced, existing soil bioengineering works are being evaluated, new interactional schemes are being generated and new designs and protocols for the ecoregion are being developed. The current curricula and work practices of the ecoregion have been reviewed, stakeholders have participated in an online questionnaire on soil bioengineering and three protocols and a template for the ecoregion have been developed. These activities provide the information to develop the educational syllabus for the Mediterranean to train the next generation of soil bioengineering specialists. Overall all the material and tools developed will enhance the knowledge and specialisation level and promote soil bioengineering in the Mediterranean.

Keywords: soil protection; climate change; sustainable management; eco-friendly methods.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2018.092412

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2018 Vol.4 No.1, pp.68 - 82

Received: 10 Dec 2017
Accepted: 18 Feb 2018
Published online: 17 Jun 2018 *

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