10.11.2005
Scientists from the University of Brighton are to take part in a multi-million-euro project which seeks to improve water quality and water management across Europe.
The 'Lakepromo-operation' is part-financed by the European Union and involves eight European countries, which represent a variety of different regions in Europe. The EU Water Framework Directive states that all European surface water should be in good ecological and chemical state by 2015. This poses a tremendous challenge for EU countries and calls for regional, national and international co-operation.
In Denmark and Finland water quality is affected by agriculture, while in Germany the urban lakes are pressurized by urban planning. In Spain the main problems are related to tourism and in UK it is the disappearance of wetland areas. Hungary and Estonia as new members of EU are facing new challenges on how to meet the aims of EU-directives.
Steve Mitchell, Lecturer in the School of the Environment at the University of Brighton said: "The 'Lakepromo' project aims to develop new 'tools' for managing the use of water and improving water quality as well as promoting regional and national co-operation in the field of water management. One of the most important aims is also to increase public awareness regarding water management and restoration."
This operation will be implemented over three years. The first stage aims to gather standardized information from each country, and then the partners will look at specific problems such as maintaining and managing lakes, wetland areas, coastal areas in each partner country. In the UK the focus of the study will be the management of the Pevensey Levels. The experiences from this stage will be compiled in a joint manual.
Open seminars will be held in each of the participating countries. Water resources managers and wetland restoration experts from different European countries will bring their knowledge and experience to the seminar which will focus on identifying areas of best practice in wetland management.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton,
01273 643022
