ACTIVE WETLANDS
ACTIVE measures on WETLANDS for decreasing nutrient load in the Baltic Sea
- Thematic cluster:
- Vigorous sea
- Programme:
- Southern Finland - Estonia Sub-programme
- Priority:
- 1. Safe and healthy environment
- Direction of support:
- Maintaining and improving the condition of the natural environment
- Duration:
- Nov 2009 - Apr 2013 (3 years, 6 months)
- Total funding:
- 1 009 540 €
- ERDF funding:
- 781 355 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Reducing nutrient inputs to the sea to acceptable levels
Development idea
Agriculture is an important sector in both Estonia and Finland. However, active use of land, soil erosion, and nitrogen and phosphorus-leaching exerts a negative impact on the environment. These create problems like eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, erosion of arable land and the inefficient use of valuable plant nutrients.
Aim of the project
The Active Wetlands project identified possible solutions for how to reduce agricultural nutrient load by enhancing nutrient retention in the watersheds. Constructed wetlands are recognised as a powerful tool in reducing nutrient run-off from arable land to the Baltic Sea. Such wetlands preserve soil and nutrients from incoming water and increase biodiversity by creating plant and animal habitats different from neighbouring fields.
Main project activities
During the project, Estonian and Finnish farmers, rural advisors and decision-makers learnt more about how wetlands can be used to reduce the nutrient load from agriculture. By establishing small pilot wetlands, the project established practical designs and methods to increase the efficiency of agricultural wetlands.
Partners
MTT Agrifood Research Finland
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Kanta-Häme
- ERDF funding:
- 217 350 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 72 450 €
WWF-Finland
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 96 480 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 32 160 €
Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS)
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Varsinais-Suomi
- ERDF funding:
- 136 125 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 45 375 €
Finnish Environment Institute, Research Department/Research Programme for Integrated River Basin Management
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 125 700 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 41 900 €
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering ,Department of Water Management
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 124 100 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 21 900 €
Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF)
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 81 600 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 14 400 €
Results
A report on active wetlands
The report includes the analysis and results of different tests and studies carried out during the project in Finland and Estonia.
A report on an economic assessment of active wetlands
An economic assessment of active wetlands was made to estimate their cost-efficiency in retaining nutrients originating from agriculture.
The report presents the results from the catchment-scale modelling and assessments to estimate the cost-efficiency of active measures and constructed wetlands in retaining the phosphorus escaped from agriculture. Modelling was conducted in five case areas in Finland and one in Estonia.
Report "Modeling, assessments and cost-effectiveness analysis of constructed wetlands and active methods for the treatment of runoff from agricultural areas" (ENG)
