REFRESH

A new EU project called REFRESH started early in 2010.  The project is working to understand sensible strategies for managing freshwaters in the face of environmental  change throughout Europe.  Managing freshwater systems is challenging, even without planning for the effects of changes in climate, land use, acid deposition and water resources. The new research will be designed to improve our understanding of the potential costs and effects of different adaptation and mitigation measures, by studying biogeochemical and ecological changes of lakes, rivers and wetlands.

There are eight catchment study sites, representing a gradient of climate conditions across Europe.  One of these is the Dee catchment, and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen is the partner responsible for doing the research in this area.  We are keen that many aspects of the project should involve those involved in catchment management and are working with the Dee Catchment Partnership to help achieve this.

An early part of the project is to learn about how existing policy measures designed to encourage sustainable use and protection of freshwater do (or don't) influence decisions 'on the ground'. To help us understand barriers that might discourage land managers from responding to policies we would like to give land managers in the Dee catchment an opportunity to share their views with us. For example, there may be financial barriers to changing management practices, or a lack of access to demonstration sites.

We will be running a one-day workshop in November to discuss these issues.  The workshop would be focussed on barriers to adopting existing measures or changes in land-management practices, which influence water.  Anyone with any interest in finding out more about this workshop (or any other aspect of REFRESH) is more than welcome to phone or email Kerry Waylen at MLURI (k.waylen@macaulay.ac.uk, 01224 395313).

We hope that those taking part in this REFRESH workshop will find it interesting and useful to participate in, discuss and reflect on our research as well as other aspects of catchment management. We will also provide excellent catering!

There will be further REFRESH activities and workshops in the Dee catchment later on in the project.

More information about the project can be found on the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute's website at http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/projects/projectdetails.php?105466 and on the REFRESH project website at www.refresh.ucl.ac.uk.