Evaluating challenges and priorities of a trans-regional river basin in Greece by using a hybrid SWOT scheme and a stakeholders' competency overview

Abstract

The present paper introduces a hybrid SWOT analysis to estimate strong and vulnerable elements of a trans-regional river basin in Greece, aiming at an overall assessment of the status quo. An analysis of all involved stakeholders in the management of the basin is also conducted, showing that the integrated water resources management of the basin is challenging. The Alfeios River Basin in Peloponnisos (Southern Greece) was selected as a case study due to its significance as a natural resource and ecosystem, since the river satisfies a great variety of uses (domestic supply, irrigation, energy, recreation, etc.) and mostly due to the fact that the Alfeios River Basin, being a trans-regional area, confronts management malfunctions under the parallel supervision of two competent authorities. Variety of factors are ranked by using SWOT analysis combined with two ranking methods (A'WOT technique and a proposed method inspired by levelling networks). The present paper suggests that the foundation and operation of a River Basin Council, as an alternative administrative and coordinative centre, could act as a solution for effective decision-making within the study area.

Keywords:

• Integrated water resources management
• SWOT
• AHP
• A'WOT technique
• least squares method
• River Basin Council

Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges Greek State Scholarship Foundation for doing research leading to a PhD. The present work was partly conducted by personal communication with members of the University Network ‘HYDROCRITES’ (http://www.hydrocrites.upatras.gr/). Contributions of the anonymous reviewer that greatly improved the manuscript for the paper are highly appreciated.

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