The Region of Sterea Ellada is strategically positioned at the centre of Greece and borders Greece’s most important growth pole, Attica. Its landscape is mainly mountainous and semi-mountainous, and lowland represents only 20.8% of its total land area. It has 547,390 inhabitants (2011, Census).  

RSE comprises the regional units of Viotia, Euboea, Evrytania, Phocis and Phthiotis. Its headquarters are located in Lamia. It is a self-contained administrative unit of the regional government with jurisdictions and competences regarding the design, programming, coordination and implementation of policies for the economic, social, environmental and cultural development of the Region. Its competences also include the elaboration, programming and management of regional development and environmental protection strategies, including those co-funded by the structural funds as articulated within its Regional Operational Programme.

Climate change is expected to add pressure on irrigation and drinking water supply sectors of the Region. In particular, rainfall is projected to decrease approx. 15% by 2100 across the Region, while the length of dry spells is projected to increase approx. 30 to 80 days. In addition, short-duration intense rainfall events are projected to become more frequent, both increasing the risk of severe flash flooding and threatening water availability.

Within LIFE-IP AdaptInGR, the Region of Sterea Ellada will design and implement pilot projects in water management and flood risk management sectors, which are both very vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.  RSEs’ pilot projects include:

• flood risk management in the lowland area of Sarantaporos beach (stream bed management) in Amarynthos beach in Euboea island,
• flood control in Drimatorema in the Lianokladi area in the regional unit of Phthiotis;
• and the cleaning of the draining system in former Lake Xynias.

Climate risks will be integrated into the design of pilot projects, while “green infrastructure” and “nature-based solutions” will be prioritized.

Website: https://pste.gov.gr

Contact persons for LIFE-IP AdaptInGR:

Antonis Terzis

Head, Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning, Region of Sterea Ellada

E-mail: a.terzis@fth.pste.gov.gr

Kostas Meletis

Head, Environment Department, Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning, Region of Sterea Ellada

E-mail: k.meletis@fth.pste.gov.gr  

Nikos Xarizopoulos

Officer, Environment Department, Directorate of Environment and Spatial Planning, Region of Sterea Ellada

E-mail: n.xarizopoulos@fthiotida.pste.gov.gr