SALAM - MED

07/05/2026

🇬🇧 Italian forests are changing fast. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44185-026-00126-9 A new Nature study shows that droughts, heatwaves and climate change are reducing understory biodiversity, especially in alpine and temperate forests. 🌲 A clear warning sign of the climate crisis already affecting ecosystems across Europe.
🇮🇹 Le foreste italiane stanno cambiando rapidamente.
Secondo un nuovo studio pubblicato dal gruppo Nature, siccità, ondate di calore e cambiamenti climatici stanno impoverendo il sottobosco, soprattutto nelle foreste alpine e temperate. 🌲 Un segnale concreto della crisi climatica già in corso nei nostri ecosistemi.
NRD Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione Università di Sassari
Universitat Politècnica de València UPV
Dipartimento di Agraria

Forest plant diversity is threatened by global change, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring to disentangle short-term fluctuations from directional changes of communities. We investigate changes in understory vascular plant communities over 25 years (1999–2023) in 31 Italian permane...

17/04/2026

Is the hype around the health benefits of ancient grains justified? Scientists say its not as clear-cut as you might think.

13/03/2026

We are happy to share the latest newsletter from our partners at the Environmental Observatory (https://www.facebook.com/share/1CJVdbJ6Pi/).
The issue highlights recent research, field activities and international collaborations, and concludes with key discussions held in Athens within the SALAM-MED project on the future of Mediterranean land and water sustainability.
PrimaProgram
NRD Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione Università di Sassari
Water Harvesting Lab - UNIFI
CIHEAMBari
@مركز بحوث الصحراء
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologies Agrolimentàries - IRTA
Universitat Politècnica de València UPV
Desertnet
مركز التنمية المستدامة لموارد مطروح - التابع لمركز بحوث الصحراء
Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech
Institut des Régions Arides IRA Médenine
Dipartimento di Agraria

04/03/2026

There are over 1 200 olive varieties worldwide, yet only 5 % are used commercially. As disease and genetic erosion threaten the olive sector, tapping into this rich diversity is more important than ever.

The Gen4Olive project characterised more than 500 olive varieties, conserved wild populations and developed user-friendly tools to support sustainable olive cultivation. 🌿🫒
Long live our olives!
👉 https://link.europa.eu/rYDkwN

04/03/2026

🐑 What if sheep could manage their own grazing boundaries?

At the latest Technical Meeting in Morocco, the Università degli Studi di Firenze presented innovative trials using technology and accelerometers to monitor sheep behaviour.

🐏 Smart collars were tested to guide grazing patterns, track activity, and enhance , comparing virtual fencing systems with traditional physical fences.

📊 The results highlight how can support more efficient, data-driven, and — empowering farmers to practice while protecting both animals and pastures. 🌿

🔗 Read more: https://tinyurl.com/2n2nuzsy

07/01/2026

📢 **New Research Published!**
We’re pleased to share a new article published on Journal of Hydrology reporting results from field experiments carried out within the **Làcani Living Lab of the SALAM-MED project**. The study explores 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 in Mediterranean grassland–woodland ecosystems, providing valuable insights into soil–plant–water interactions and land management.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169426000193
PrimaProgram
NRD Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione Università di Sassari
CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Water Harvesting Lab - UNIFI
CIHEAMBari
مركز بحوث الصحراء - الصفحه الرسمية
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologies Agrolimentàries - IRTA
Universitat Politècnica de València UPV
Desertnet international
Navarino Environmental Observatory
مركز التنمية المستدامة لموارد مطروح - التابع لمركز بحوث الصحراء
Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech
Institut des Régions Arides IRA Médenine
Dipartimento di Agraria

15/12/2025

Our thoughts are with all those affected by the floods caused by torrential rains in Morocco’s Atlantic coastal province of Safi. We express our solidarity with the impacted communities and extend our heartfelt support to our partners in the Salam-MED Project, our colleagues from the Plant Biotechnology and Physiology team at the University of Cadi Ayyad (UCA), as they face these difficult circumstances. We stand with you in resilience and support.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/15/dozens-dead-after-flash-floods-hit-moroccan-city-of-safi
PrimaProgram
NRD Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione Università di Sassari
CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Water Harvesting Lab - UNIFI
CIHEAMBari
مركز بحوث الصحراء
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologies Agrolimentàries - IRTA
Universitat Politècnica de València UPV
Navarino Environmental Observatory
مركز التنمية المستدامة لموارد مطروح - التابع لمركز بحوث الصحراء
Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech
Institut des Régions Arides IRA Médenine
Dipartimento di Agraria

Just one hour of heavy rain left houses and shops flooded in old city; more heavy rain predicted for Tuesday.

15/12/2025

Thanks to Surepastor Project!!!!

👉 In November 2025, SUREPASTOR representatives were invited by the PrimaProgram SALAM - MED Project to participate to the Science–policy conference for the next generation “Rethinking the Futures of Mediterranean Land and Water” which was held at the Academy of Athens.

📃During this event, PrimaProgram, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNCCD, NextGen4MED and representatives of PRIMA-funded projects signed a Joint Declaration outlining the future priorities for Mediterranean land and water management.

🔍The declaration calls for stronger science–policy–practice collaboration, integrated approaches to land and water, and greater support for adoption and community-led innovation.

🐑SUREPASTOR is proud to contribute to these shared ambitions by supporting sustainable pastoral systems, co-creation with local communities, and resilience across Mediterranean landscapes.

Learn more: https://surepastor.unifi.it/news/surepastor-contributes-to-shaping-the-future-of-mediterranean-land-and-water-management/

13/12/2025

🎉 New open-access paper published!
📘 Enhancing groundwater resources through managed aquifer recharge
🔬 Using the SWAT model, this study shows how traditional water harvesting techniques and recharge wells significantly improve groundwater recharge in arid southeastern Tunisia.
💧 Evidence-based solutions for water-scarce regions.
👉 Read more: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.103027

PrimaProgram
NRD Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione Università di Sassari
CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Water Harvesting Lab - UNIFI
CIHEAMBari
مركز بحوث الصحراء
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologies Agrolimentàries - IRTA
Universitat Politècnica de València UPV
Desertnet international
Navarino Environmental Observatory
مركز التنمية المستدامة لموارد مطروح - التابع لمركز بحوث الصحراء
Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech
Institut des Régions Arides IRA Médenine

28/11/2025

The final event of the project (funded by the 2014–2020 Sardinia Region PSR – Submeasure 16) took place today in Dipartimento di Agraria - Sassari. is a partner of several Salam-MED initiatives, demonstrating the importance of sharing the goals and results of different projects. Thank you to everyone (in person and online) for your participation and enthusiasm.
PrimaProgram
NRD Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione Università di Sassari
CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Water Harvesting Lab - UNIFI
CIHEAMBari
مركز بحوث الصحراء - الصفحه الرسمية
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologies Agrolimentàries - IRTA
Universitat Politècnica de València UPV
Desertnet international