The Second AQUACROSS Newsletter is here!

We have been very busy since our first newsletter and wanted to share with you some highlights from the last year and direct links to some of our recent reports for your easy access:

In this second year, AQUACROSS analysed key environmental policies that potentially increase or reduce aquatic biodiversity loss (D2.1). This policy review focused on understanding how the ecosystem-based management (EBM) concept could potentially be used to bring together different policy objectives, which can help form a foundation to better protect aquatic ecosystems and their biodiversity. This work also looked into how key data and information about these environments are gathered (D2.2). With better information and data, society can make knowledge-based decisions that promote the health and sustainable use of these environments. To this end, AQUACROSS established a beta version of an Information Platform, which provides public access to relevant information on aquatic ecosystem services.

The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept (D3.1) and its Assessment Framework (D3.2) were developed with the aim of understanding the complex interactions between natural and human systems in aquatic environments. This work translates relevant concepts to broad audiences from diverse disciplines and lays the foundation for an integrative framework that can be applied to diverse aquatic habitats and systems.

AQUACROSS also provides a solid cornerstone to combine scientific disciplines, such as socio-economics, ecology and stakeholder knowledge. Detailed guidance has been developed to identify relevant threats to aquatic biodiversity (D4.1) as well as to assess links between freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services at different scales (D5.1). AQUACROSS has also performed a revision of suitable models and tools (D7.1) that can allow the integration of the ecosystem services concept into decision-making. Our most recent available work includes an exploration on the development of participatory scenarios (D7.2) relevant for the practical application of EBM under local conditions.
Through the work undertaken thus far, the project will continue its integrative work across aquatic realms and governance levels. Upcoming work will include a revision and guidance on indicators and methods to assess responses for EBM in relation to the various EU aquatic ecosystems. D8.1 is expected to be available around the Christmas break.

Read more about last year's highlights, the eight AQUACROSS case studies, publications, past and planned events in the Second AQUACROSS Newsletter.