Decentralized Wetland-Aquaponics Addressing Environmental Degradation and Food Security Challenges in Disadvantaged Rural Areas: A Nature-Based Solution Driven by Mediterranean Living Labs

Fatima Yahya, Antoine El Samrani, Mohamad Khalil, Alaa El-Din Abdin, Rasha El-Kholy, Mohamed Embaby, Mohab Negm, Dirk De Ketelaere, Anna Spiteri, Eleanna Pana and Vasileios Takavakoglou ()
Additional contact information
Fatima Yahya: Azm Research Center, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon
Antoine El Samrani: Laboratory of Geoscience, Georesources and Environment-L2GE, Faculty of Science, Lebanese University, Campus Fanar EDST, Beirut P.O. Box 90656, Lebanon
Mohamad Khalil: Azm Research Center, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon
Alaa El-Din Abdin: National Water Research Center, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo 19346, Egypt
Rasha El-Kholy: National Water Research Center, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo 19346, Egypt
Mohamed Embaby: National Water Research Center, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo 19346, Egypt
Mohab Negm: National Water Research Center, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo 19346, Egypt
Dirk De Ketelaere: Integrated Resources Management Company, Ltd., 24 Pope Benedict XV Square, 1083 Senglea, Malta
Anna Spiteri: Integrated Resources Management Company, Ltd., 24 Pope Benedict XV Square, 1083 Senglea, Malta
Eleanna Pana: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, Soil and Water Resources Institute, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Vasileios Takavakoglou: Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, Soil and Water Resources Institute, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-16

Abstract: The Mediterranean region is highly vulnerable to climate change, soil and water resource degradation, and biodiversity loss. These challenges disproportionately affect disadvantaged rural areas, impacting both natural resources and the livelihoods of local agricultural societies. Urgent transformative measures are essential to address land and water management as well as food security challenges in these disadvantaged areas. Living labs are being called upon to play a key role in addressing these challenges through the development of Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) that are able to provide environmental and socioeconomic benefits towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this work is to provide insights on an open innovation ecosystem of Mediterranean Living Labs for the synergetic development and participatory assessment of decentralized wetland-aquaponics, as NbSs are able to address environmental and food security challenges in disadvantaged rural areas. The study addresses the knowledge gap of Living Labs contribution to the development of decentralized wetland-aquaponics and the limited research on small-scale aquaponics systems in rural Mediterranean settings, while revealing the role of public participation in ascertaining the solution and evaluating its feasibility and impacts in light of the local social values and interests in the mountainous area of Akkar al-Atika in Lebanon.

Keywords: living-labs; cross-border cooperation; participatory; aquaponics; constructed floating wetlands; food security; environmental management; impact assessment; Nature-based Solutions; pollution control; water resources; climate change; Mediterranean (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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