0.55 indicating Dry Sub-Humid Climate

Aridity Index (AI)  is a measure used to assess the dryness of a region by comparing the amount of precipitation (rainfall) to potential evapotranspiration (the water loss from soil and plants).

Aridity Index is calculated as the ratio of annual precipitation to potential evapotranspiration.

Lower values indicate drier conditions, with very low values representing arid or desert-like environments.

The aridity index is essential in climate studies, water management, and agriculture, as it helps classify climates and assess water availability.

In Asterousia, the main LDD drivers are:

• land use intensification (primarily overgrazing),
• land abandonment due to wildfires,
• soil erosion, and
• the impacts of drought and climate change.

LDD drivers

Land degradation and desertification drivers are factors that lead to land deterioration and loss of productivity.

LDD drivers include natural causes, drought, and human activities, such as deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming. These drivers reduce soil fertility, increase erosion, and harm vegetation, making land more prone to degradation.

Ecological Restoration Practices

Examples: Reforestation and Afforestation, Erosion Control Measures, Habitat Restoration, Soil Rehabilitation, etc.

Conservation Agriculture Practices in Olive Orchards

Examples: No-Till Farming, Cover Crops, Water Conservation Technicues, etc. 

Precision Water Management

Examples: Drip Irrigation Systems, Soil Moisture Sensors, Rainwater Harvesting, etc.

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)

Nature-based solutions use natural processes and ecosystems to address challenges like climate change and land degradation.

Examples include reforestation and cover cropping, which improve environmental resilience and provide benefits like water filtration and habitat preservation.

High-Tech Solutions

High-tech solutions use advanced technologies, such as sensors and AI, to tackle environmental issues. In land management, they may include precision irrigation and remote sensing, offering high accuracy and real-time data for decision-making.

Co-Design (CoD)

Co-design involves stakeholders working together to plan and create solutions, ensuring that local needs, knowledge, and values shape the outcome. This fosters community ownership and relevance of the solution.

Co-Implementation (CoI)

Co-implementation is the shared execution of a plan by stakeholders, with each actively participating in putting the solution into action. This approach builds capacity and strengthens commitment to the project’s success.

Co-Assessment (CoA)

Co-assessment is the joint evaluation of project outcomes by stakeholders to measure effectiveness and identify improvements. It encourages adaptive management and maintains accountability and transparency.

Region of Crete’s Directorate of Environment & Spatial Planning

Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia

Municipality of Faistos

Inspectorate of Forests Policy Implementation of Crete

Livestock Association of Asterousia

Farmers’ Cooperatives of Asterousia

Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (Crete’s Branch)

General Public of Asterousia Mountains’ area