ProCleanLakes

Our target is to combat the combined impact of various disruptive factors that generate continuous pressure on the lake’s ecosystem status and facilitate the accumulation of emerging, non-regulated, chemical contaminants and nutrient enrichment.

The main goal of ProCleanLakes is to create a science-based ENL remediation and protection action plan that involves a diverse group of stakeholders, including the public. This plan aims to:

  • Enhance the ecological and chemical status of ENL, including biodiversity, through the use of innovative integrative Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

  • Implement new 4.0 Digital solutions to support ecosystem monitoring, restoration, protection, and the transfer of knowledge to other regions.

  • Promote business activities grounded in the circular economy concept, facilitating the shift from a Blue to a Green Economy.

  • Increase awareness, empower communities, build capacities, and collaboratively develop solutions with citizens and stakeholders to address challenges related to the restoration and protection of ENL.

OUR PARTNERS

The project is a partnership of 18 organizations including: 12 academic and research institutions, 1 public authority, 1 NGO and 4 SMEs from eleven EU countries. We are proud of our partners, who work  to to ensure the long-term feasibility of restoration and protection solutions.

OUR OBJECTIVES

The vision of ProCleanLakes is to jointly work on sustainable and interdisciplinary restoration and protection pathways for European Natural Lakes.

ProCleanLakes introduces a dynamic and adaptable approach that emphasizes learning through observation and practical application. The resulting Action Plan will offer numerous benefits and co-benefits, both during the funding period and in the long term. A key aspect of this initiative will be the ongoing dialogue between the scientific and social communities. Public input, including ideas and opinions on “how” and “who” should be involved, as well as both qualitative and quantitative improvements in the ENL ecosystem and biodiversity, will be crucial elements in developing the ENL Action Plan.

The overarching goal of ProCleanLakes will be achieved by the successful delivery of five specific objectives (SO1-
SO5) as detailed below:

  • SO1: Design, optimization, demonstration and evaluation of integrated NbS for restoration and protection of ENL
  • SO2: Identify innovative business models for sustainable exploitation of healthy European natural lakes towards circular
    economy
  • SO3: Establish strategies for an effective and targeted spreading and uptake of the developed Action Plan & business opportunities to relevant local-, national-, and European authorities and policy makers
  • SO4: Inform, educate and build-capacity of relevant stakeholders on the co-develop and co-design NbS & business
    opportunities and engage citizens toward restoration and protection of ENL
  • SO5: Upscaling the developed and demonstrated solutions in associated regions through three case studies