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European Lakes Under Environmental Stressors (Supporting lake governance to mitigate the impact of climate change) (EULAKES)
Start date: Mar 31, 2010, End date: Mar 30, 2013 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Most of the Central European Lakes have become more and more valuable natural resources deeply linked with the regional scale sustainable development. Change in water temperature, region water shortage, or the uneven temporal distribution of freshwater sources caused by climate change, are giving some initial future warning signs. The project EULAKES aims to promote a new integrated approach in order to improve the sustainable management of Central European lakes. EULAKES is combination of vulnerability and risk assessment, monitoring and environmental governance. The aim of EULAKES is enhance participative planning and management of Lakes basin to respond to climate change and other environmental stressors. Thanks to the active cooperation coming from a strong transnational partnership four Central European lakes with different characteristics have been selected to test this innovative approach. Lake Garda, IT, Lake Balaton, HU, Lake Neusiedl, AT and Lake Charzykowskie PL are so-called multipurpose lake. They are serving as potential habitats for indigenous wildlife, drinking water sources and have high recreational capacity. In the last 10 years these important and different ecosystems are showing significant increasing vulnerability in their functionality.The impacts of climate change is generating new scenarios that EULAKES project intend to investigate in order to support the local governance to take future sustainable decision for the future of basin areas development. Achievements: EuLakes project supports sustainable management of 4 CE lakes through an integrated approach between research centers and local communities.To respond to climate change and other environmental stressors the project aims at identifying a governance model that combines environmental monitoring,risk and fragility assessment and a system of participatory planning.With the scientific activities almost completed,the project moves towards his end.The description of secular ecological evolution of the lakes by palaeoecological investigations of bottom sediments represents a powerful tool for the reconstruction ecological lake evolution at secular scale in relation to changing climate and human impacts. The 4 lakes Shore Zone Functionality Index analysis characterizes their ecological functioning and vulnerability and describes the shore status.An application of remote sensing technique for monitoring purpose was applied for the study of Garda's macrophyte distribution,polish partner based thetechnique on the use of side scan sonar.Starting from the climate change scenarios up to 2100 (regionalized presentations of parameters temperature,precipitation,drought,heat,wind),identification of lakes vulnerabilities and impacts on hydrology and water quality,a catalouge of possible adaptation measures to reduced the potential impacts on receptors in the lakes basins is available.All the potential measures have been assessed concerning their ecological,economical and social feasibility.Finally,for each lake the suggestions of with which adaptative management options the most climate change impacts on lakes can be mitigates are presented. Thanks to pilot study the Neusiedl area benefits of an agricultural and environmental management plan based on the conservation of target species.The polish analysis of sludge permeables and heavy metals were progressed.Lake Balaton improved the knowledges about the ecological impact of 2 selected alien fish species giving important answers to the best management practices of these non-indigenous invasive species.Lake Garda benefits of a survey on toxic cyanobacteria providing information for the risk assessment and mitigation measures in order to avoid risks for human and ecosystem health.Analysis made also on the fish's meat of commercial value didn't reveal any measurable toxins.All these important results supported the activities of local Environmental Agencies and improved the citizens and decision makers awareness.Dissemination of results was done at scientific and common level by meetings with local authorities and stakeholders.Schools and citizens were contacted with educational and informative campaigns using also e_channels.Transnational and local strategies against climate change,international and local agreements among decision makers are still in preparatory phase.Info are available on www.eulakes.eu and outputs on www.eulakes-model.eu
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  • 78.8%   2 291 771,00
  • 2007 - 2013 Central Europe
  • Project on KEEP Platform
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8 Partners Participants