Description: Knowledge about possibilities for improving the quality of groundwater and surface water is fragmented. Many options only exist on paper and the effectiveness and costs are generally unknown. The Water Framework Directive and the Nitrate Directive impose obligations on all EU countries to improve the quality of groundwater and surface water. Exchange of knowledge in this field is therefore important.
Research objectives: The exchange of knowledge at European level relating to options for reducing agricultural emissions of N and P to groundwater and surface water, or for reducing existing concentrations of N and P in groundwater and surface water. This has become increasingly important due to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. A knowledge network involving 28 countries ((Europe, Israel, New Zealand) has been built around this theme (see website www.cost869.alterra.nl for a list of participating countries, institutes and people). The Netherlands played a central role in the creation of the network and became president of the COST campaign and provided the leader of the mitigation options working group. Furthermore, a website is maintained from the Netherlands containing a database with fact sheets about mitigation options, with references to relevant literature. In 2008, 5 scientific meetings were organised and attended by representatives from the Netherlands. In 2009, 5 meetings will be organised, 2 of which will be held in the Netherlands. The activities are continually reported on the website and through progress reports . Abstracts and presentations (both pdf) will appear on the website. Scientific publications arising from the meetings will be initiated. New developments within Europe relating to mitigation options will be highlighted and incorporated into current projects in this field in the Netherlands
Results and products:
- website with database; - overview of existing experience within Europe with mitigation options; - contribute to meetings, co-organisation of meetings in 2009 and 2010; - continual progress reports .
During 2009, four meetings of the various working groups in the COST campaign will be organised. Furthermore, a mid-term evaluation will be performed by the Management Committee, which will be prepared by the leaders of the working groups. In the Netherlands, a meeting will be organised to share experiences relating to the River Basin Management Programme in the 28 participating countries. It is expected that at least 3 presentations will be held in 2008. |