Objective
To establish and test new technology which enables the harvest and use of natural materials from wet reedbeds and fens. It will elucidate the technical, environmental and economic aspects of this approach in comparison to alternative labour intensive methods and wetland neglect. Dissemination will be targeted at authorities and European regions where the potential benefits for technology transfer is greatest.
Wetlands provide many important services to human society, and are at the same time, ecologically sensitive systems. Much attention has recently been directed towards the formulation and operation of sustainable management strategies for wetlands since their environmental values depend on continued management, involving regular removal of the standing crop. Due to changing agricultural practices these valuable wetland areas have become neglected and, through natural succession to woodland, this has resulted in losses for biodiversity, landscape and recreational values, together with reduced 'functional values' such as the ability to absorb nutrients and flood storage. Apart from government commitments to maintain wet reedbeds and fens through national biodiversity action plans, there are many large scale projects to restore and create new wetlands, for example to act as pollution filters. The long-term success of these plans will depend on there being new commercial harvesting systems which take full account of environmental needs. This project will establish and test such a system.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
NR3 1BQ Norwich
United Kingdom