| Description | While the agriculture and mining extractive industries are important sectors for the economy of Northern Periphery and Arctic(NPA) areas, their activities cause significant risk to the vulnerable environment through water and land pollution. Nutrients inagricultural runoff are one of the major contributors to eutrophication and algae blooms. Ammonium nitrate based explosives used in mining operations often result in nitrogen leachate via runoff. Global climate change will increase the frequency of floods and water runoff volumes in NPA areas increasing yet further the potential for pollution. The expertise in water and stormwater runoff management (SRM) in the NPA region is scattered and unequally distributed and needs to be strengthened in order to ensure continuous economic growth while protecting natural resources. The tight water quality targets set by the Water Framework Directive will require new and more comprehensive tools to prepare regional and local authorities and local communities for current and future challenges. Given the lack of expertise, interdisciplinary and international collaboration is essential to enable knowledge transfer and stimulate innovation in good management practices. Therefore the overreaching
goal of WaterPro is to develop eco-efficient tools and models for SRM practices and environmental protection for the NPA sparsely populated region. This will be done through development of a Tool-Box of good management practices and communication platform for agriculture and mining extraction runoff management. In addition, several innovative, low cost practices will be implemented in actual pilot sites and their treatment and cost-efficiency evaluated. The ultimate goal of WaterPro is to enhance the preparedness of responsible authorities and local resource users to protect the water quality of the NPA region’s coastal and freshwaters, protect human health and ecosystems and stimulate sustainable economic growth and development. |