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MAR2PROTECT At “Water Knowledge Event”

MAR2PROTECT At “Water Knowledge Event”

MAR2PROTECT Live at the WaterKnowledgeEvent in Brussels! 

Our project coordinator and researcher at NOVA FCT Executive Education, Ana Belén Pereiro Estévez, participated in a panel discussion focused on policies. Joining with other project coordinators from PROMISCES, SCENARIOS and LIFE SOURCE the debate explored key insights on water management.

Together, Ana and WP7 Leader, Tamara Rodríguez from FEUGA, also took part in different expert sessions during the Water Knowledge event and attended the presentations from the Comission representatives as

  • Water outlooks from the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027 by Bertrand Vallet, DGRTD
  • How to write a win-win project proposal by Evdokia Achilleos, European Commission REA

A great opportunity to network with partners and colleagues!

MAR2PROTECT At “Suelos Vivos” for World Soil Day Celebration

MAR2PROTECT At “Suelos Vivos” for World Soil Day Celebration

MAR2PROTECT was pleased to participate in Suelos Vivos: European Innovation to Transform Galicia. This regional event held in honour of the World Soil Day, was successfully organized by FEUGA on December 5th in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. With over 50 participants the event aimed at raising awareness about the importance of soil quality preservation and showcasing the latest innovative practices, with a special focus on their application in Galicia.

During the event, experts from Galicia’s three public universities presented their involvement in key European projects: AGROSUS, SoildiverAgro, MRV4SOC, FIREPOCTEP+, SUS-SOIL, AF4EU, DRYAD, MAR2PROTECT, and ALERT-PFAS. Innovative strategies and solutions to challenges such as carbon agriculture, biodiversity measurement, and the identification of contamination sources, with concrete results applicable to the local context, were discussed in two different roundtables.

Key Themes Discussed

MAR2PROTECT was pleased to participate in one of the event’s roundtables, where researchers from various projects gathered to share their expertise in soil sustainability. As a speaker at the “Nutrient Management and Carbon Agriculture: Innovations in Fertilizers and Organic Waste Utilization” roundtable, our project leader, Ana Pereiro, represented MAR2PROTECT by presenting our latest innovations and advancements in the Galician region. She also actively engaged in the following discussion, adding valuable insights to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable nutrient management.

During these pannels, the speakers covered topics such as the impact of wildfires on soil health, the importance of sustainable agricultural practices to promote biodiversity, and the need for resilient crops in the face of climate change. Technological solutions like artificial intelligence were also explored to address future challenges, alongside the crucial role of legislation and collaboration between administrations to implement these solutions.

Networking and Collaboration at the Soil Hub Fair
The day concluded with the Soil Hub Fair, an interactive initiative where participants had the opportunity to discover success stories, explore project ideas, and establish key connections in the sustainable soil management field. Posters, stands, flash presentations, and workshops were just some of the activities that made the fair a highlight of the event, fostering the exchange of ideas and the creation of new collaborations.

On this World Soil Day, we reaffirm our commitment to raise awareness and promote solutions for healthy and resilient soils. Take a look at the photos taken during the event!

Pilot Revegetation Study Kicked off at the Lima Estuary Demosite

Pilot Revegetation Study Kicked off at the Lima Estuary Demosite

The pilot revegetation study at the Lima Estuary began on October 21st and 22nd, 2024. Led by the CIIMAR team, this project is designed to address significant environmental challenges by using the natural capabilities of saltmarsh plants for phytoremediation—the process of employing plants to remove contaminants from the environment. The study aims to improve surface water quality and reinforce the coastal protection functions inherent to saltmarsh ecosystems

The pilot project involves the careful transplantation of healthy Juncus maritimus plants collected from a donor site within the estuary to two distinct target areas: 

  • A control site, where Juncus meadows are already well-established. 
  • A site where saltmarsh vegetation has been significantly depleted.

Over the coming months, the CIIMAR team will closely monitor the development of these plants, assessing their growth and the potential impact on the removal of contaminants from the sediments, water, and plants themselves. This research will provide valuable insights into the role of revegetation in restoring ecosystem health and improving water quality in coastal environments. 

Take a look at the photos and follow along as the pilot revegetation study progresses. We look forward to sharing further updates on the study’s advancement. 

Frielas hosted its second Living Lab

Frielas hosted its second Living Lab

On 25 October 2024, MAR2PROTECT held its second Living Lab workshop in Frielas, Portugal. This event was successfully hosted online by NOVA as the leading entity for the Lisbon area demo site of the project.

This innovative initiative aims to enhance collaboration among local communities, businesses, and research institutions to improve groundwater conditions in the Frielas region. On this occasion, the workshop gathered various stakeholders to share their perspectives on the technologies and materials developed through the project, specifically those applied in Frielas. The meeting also focused on co-creation activities that will soon be implemented in the region. Participants worked together to select and plan these activities with the goal of involving local citizens.

This Living Lab represents a significant step toward enhancing our community’s resilience and sustainability. Through workshops like this, MAR2PROTECT is getting closer to finding new ways to protect groundwater from global contamination.

Take a look at the event images!

News about Living Labs will be updated soon!

MAR2PROTECT organises a seminar focusing on Climate Change and Groundwater Challenges in the framework of EU Green Week 2024

MAR2PROTECT organises a seminar focusing on Climate Change and Groundwater Challenges in the framework of EU Green Week 2024

MAR2PROTECT, in collaboration with UpWater, NINFA, and the ZeroPollution4Water Cluster, is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar titled “Climate Change and Groundwater: Resilience Building and Adaptation Strategies”, in the framework of EU Green Week 2024, approved by the European Commission.

This event, scheduled for Thursday, June 06, 2024, at 10:00 CEST, aims to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change on groundwater quantity and quality in the Iberian Peninsula.

The primary goal of this webinar is to discuss resilience-building, adaptation, and mitigation strategies to address climate change-induced changes affecting groundwater in in the Iberian Peninsula. 

This session is a valuable contribution to the EU Green Week objectives of promoting dialogue and collaborative action towards environmental sustainability. We are excited about the opportunity to connect with individuals and organizations dedicated to water resilience and climate adaptation.

Join us on Thursday, June 06, 2024, at 10:00 CEST to learn more about how climate change is impacting groundwater and what strategies can be implemented to adapt and mitigate these effects.

Registration: here

Agenda: https://bit.ly/3WCrbVD

Event Details:

  • Date: Thursday, June 06, 2024
  • Time: 10:00 CEST
  • Location: Online Webinar

Frielas Livinglab brings stakeholders together for better local groundwater management

Frielas Livinglab brings stakeholders together for better local groundwater management

MAR2PROTECT has successful launched the Frielas LivingLab in Portugal during the last week. The event was proudly hosted by NOVA FCT, as the third demosite of the project. 

This exciting event was achieved in collaboration with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), the Regulatory Authority for Water and Waste Services (ERSAR), the Municipality of Loures, the Municipality of Lisbon, the Municipality of Almada, Lisbon E-NOVA, the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC), the Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences (MARE), the Portuguese Association of Environmental Technologies Companies (Apemeta), Águas do Tejo Atlântico, and Aquapor, among others.

The first workshop brought together these prominent entities with the aim of discussing groundwater management both nationally and across Europe. The primary focus was on ensuring the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the strategies proposed by the project. During the event, successful case studies were explored, key challenges were identified, and next steps were outlined to drive progress in this vital area.

The upcoming workshop of the LivingLab will focus on gathering stakeholders’ opinions on the technologies developed in the project, as well as co-creating awareness activities for civil society on this crucial topic.

The implementation of the LivingLab is supported by the methodology and detailed guidance provided by IHE Delft Institute for Water Education.

MAR2PROTECT seeks to save the world’s groundwater from contamination through an innovative and holistic approach.  This research project brings together two main strategies, the M-AI-R tool and LivingLabs, to create new approaches for safeguarding groundwater as it becomes more vulnerable in the face of climate change.

The project kicked off in December 2022 and will run for four years. It is funded by the Horizon Europe programme with a total cost of €4.143.681,25. MAR2PROTECT will usher in a new generation of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) that engages stakeholders and enhances both groundwater quality and quantity.