European Drought Centre
The European Drought Centre is a virtual knowledge centre with the aim to coordinate drought related activities in Europe to better mitigate the environmental, social and economic impact of droughts. The EDC promotes collaboration and capacity building between scientists and the user community and thereby increase preparedness and resilience of society to drought. The EDC will in particular:
- Work towards a better understanding of the drought phenomenon
- Act as a platform to initiate and discuss scientific progress on drought research within the academic society, but as important be a meeting place between multi-disciplinary experts in drought research, policy and operational management
- Act as a forum for discussion on policy issues related to sustainable water resources management in a pan-European context, e.g. implications of the Water Framework Directive on low flow and drought management
- Liase with international organisations and programs (e.g. UNESCO, WMO-HWRP, IAHS), EU framework programs, international river commissions and regional drought centers
- Work towards establishing a European Drought Watch System, focusing on drought forecasting and monitoring at the pan-European level
- Support the developing of national drought mitigation plans based on best practice guidelines