Integrated emerging approaches for joint protection and restoration of Natural Lakes in the spirit of European life heritage support
Europe’s natural lakes are under immense pressure. Despite the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive, many lakes remain in an alarming ecological state. Nutrient pollution, contaminants, and the growing impacts of climate change are taking a significant toll. But there’s hope: how can we restore the health of our lakes while ensuring a sustainable future?
The research project ProCleanLakes is focused on exactly this challenge. By leveraging innovative nature-based solutions (NbS), the project aims to protect and restore the ecological function and balance of natural lakes. Through three pilot projects – located in Norway, Romania, and Greece – the team is demonstrating practical, targeted ways to implement these solutions.
Three Lakes, Three Challenges – One Mission
Each of the selected lakes faces unique challenges, and ProCleanLakes addresses these head-on:
Norway: A glacial lake contaminated by heavy metals from historic mining activities.
Romania and Greece: Lakes here are plagued by excessive nutrient pollution and dropping water levels during drought periods.
The project team is developing tailored NbS in collaboration with local partners and stakeholders. The goal? To create solutions that not only address local issues but also serve as best-practice examples for other European lakes.
Why Nature-Based Solutions Are the Way Forward
Nature-based solutions offer more than just short-term fixes. By harnessing the power of nature, these approaches make lakes more resilient to environmental stress while improving the quality of life for local communities and ecosystems. They don’t just enhance water quality in the long term; they also support ecological cycles – a win for both people and the planet.
A Digital Perspective: Remote Sensing as a Key Technology
KWB brings its expertise in remote sensing to the project, using satellite data to identify the most suitable NbS and monitor their effectiveness in improving water quality.
By combining satellite time series with ecological indicators from the Water Framework Directive, as well as meteorological and geographical data, the team is creating a comprehensive picture of these lakes. What makes this particularly exciting is that the lakes are located in different climate zones, offering valuable insights into how these methods can be applied more widely.
A Guide for All of Europe
ProCleanLakes delivers more than just scientific findings. Together with its project partners, it is developing a practical guide that shows how to implement nature-based solutions effectively, sustainably, and at scale across European lakes.
The ultimate goal is a sustainable future for Europe’s lakes. Clean, healthy water bodies don’t just mean a better environment – they also secure our future.
