Project Overview: Riverine Macroplastic Monitoring and Marine Species Exposure
Plastic in the environment is becoming a great issue and rivers are known to be the main vector of plastic litter from land to the sea. Recently within the framework of the Marine Strategy framework Directive, as well as research in Universities and research bodies, macroplastic (>2,5 cm) in rivers started to be monitored also in order to assess impact and harm on species in conservation needs according to EU legislation.
There is a strong need to start sharing the appropriate and common monitoring protocol in order to harmonize data collection in IMPEL countries ,in particular within environmental authorities in charge of EU legislation enforcement.
The project aims to set up a network, increase capacity building in order to harmonise riverine macrolitter monitoring and investigate the exposure risk of marine species listed in the HD and Bird directive (e.g. Shearwater seabirds) to marine floating plastic in (or proximity) and outside Natura2000 sites. The project will transfer, based on the more actual research and monitoring protocol, the monitoring techniques to environmental officers, particularly within the IMPEL network, in charge of riverine monitoring. Special focus will be placed on increasing the knowledge of exposure risk of marine species listed in the Habitats Directive to floating plastic.
Planned Deliverables:
- Guidelines for Monitoring Macroplastic in Rivers
- Booklet on Plastic Litter Exposure Risk for Marine Macro-Fauna Umbrella Species
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