Application of NBS to Ease Agricultural Impact on Water Resources in the Face of Climate Change

ongoing

The LIFE RIVEREASE project supports the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) by adapting agricultural lands to climate change through nature-based solutions (NBS). The main challenges tackled are drought, agricultural pollution, and biodiversity loss. By deploying NBS, the project will enhance water retention, reduce nutrient transfer (phosphorus and nitrogen), and strengthen river and agricultural ecosystems. A key element of the project is the development of two innovative IT tools – RIVEREASE OPEN and RIVEREASE REAL TIME. RIVEREASE OPEN will support the planning and implementation of NBS by integrating spatial and hydrological data, while RIVEREASE REAL TIME will provide tools for real-time monitoring and management of water resources, enabling immediate responses to changing climatic conditions, such as droughts and floods. These tools will be user-friendly, ensuring broad accessibility for both experts and farmers. The tools will be tested in two demonstration river basins in Poland and four replication river basins (in Denmark and Germany). The solutions developed in these areas are designed to be scalable and applicable in other regions of Europe facing similar climate-related challenges. The project’s specific objectives include improving landscape water retention, protecting biodiversity, reducing nutrient pollution, and enhancing the ecological status of rivers receiving pollution from agricultural areas. Another important aspect of the project is the education and engagement of stakeholders, from farmers to water managers, in the process of adapting agricultural lands to climate change. The LIFE RIVEREASE consortium includes universities, local governments, private companies, and NGOs from Poland, Germany, and Denmark. It aims to create scalable NBS that can be implemented across the EU to help Member States achieve their environmental and climate adaptation goals.