Stories of Drought: Local implications of extreme climate phenomena, how they are perceived and the will of actors to participate

‘Stories of Drought’ is a multidisciplinary project which combines both natural and social sciences (anthropology, sociology, landscape ecology, bioclimatology and geography). Its aim is to map and identify how Czech society reacts to environmental changes which result from drought. On the basis of analysis, suitable tools are to be constructed in order to increase the number of ordinary citizens, landscape stakeholders and public policymakers in the process of creating a common policy against drought and its consequences.

The research and applied parts of the project are realised mostly in the Kyjov region and localities around Nové Mlýny Reservoirs Cascade.

Aims of the Project

• facilitation of communication between interested parties in the studied localities (citizens, entrepreneurs, farmers, public policymakers and representatives, scientists, environmentalists, etc.)

• education concerning the issue of drought in Czechia and in the studied localities

• reinforcement of citizen motivation for a sustainable water policy

Outcomes

As a result of the ethnographic research, media analysis and archive materials analysis, as well as land mapping and a bioclimate analysis, the following items are to be regarded as outcomes of the project:

• workshops for experts—communication of knowledge

• workshops for policymakers—deliberative and participant methods

• workshops for EE coordinators and pedagogues

• discussions and meetings with citizens

• maps tracking the development of landscape structures, highlighting elements which are the result of drought

• scenario maps anticipating the future development of the landscape

• bioclimate description of the landscape

• multimedia interactive applications

Multimedia application

Thanks to the cooperation of social scientists, geographers and bioclimatologists, different scenarios for landscape change in the studied localities will be created on a fifty-year timeline,. Those models would be then made visual in the form of a publicly available online application. The application will offer a view of the landscape in specific localities using timeframes of the past, present and expected future in regard to contemporary trends of global warming. The application is for information and educational purposes.