The programme has two research axes: a natural systems axis on the one hand, and a societal axis on the other hand.
The “natural systems” research axis is devoted to the changes in the water cycle, the water regime, water quality and aquatic ecosystems, due to climate change, modified land use and other anthropogenic activities. These points are essential when defining a sustainable management of water resources.
The “social systems” research axis deals with socio-economic changes and the cross-sector strategies for sustainable water management, with regard to exploitation as well as water safeguarding. The programme will strive for the development and the implementation of new appropriate management systems.
Within the NRP 61, the projects are organized in two partially overlapping clusters, which interact with each other: