The new improveaquaticlife.se website follows Europe’s largest water conservation project. The first action has already been taken – a 200-ton concrete culvert has been removed to restore the natural flow of the Pjältån river.
Improve Aquatic LIFE is Europe’s largest water conservation project to restore aquatic environments in lakes, rivers and coastal waters in nine different counties. Almost SEK 400 million is being invested in improving aquatic environments, mitigating the effects of climate change and strengthening threatened stocks of fish and mussels in southern Sweden.
A 200-ton, 60-meter-long concrete culvert was removed and the water is flowing back into the natural watercourse.
New website – improveaquaticlife.se
It is now possible to follow the extensive activities here on the new website. It provides an overview of all project areas, priority species and news about the various sub-projects. In the future, videos, podcasts and even more fresh news will follow the progress of the giant water conservation project.
200-ton concrete culvert removed
The first action was taken in September last year, in the Pjältån nature reserve in Östergötland. A 200-ton, 60-meter-long concrete culvert was removed and the water flows back into the natural watercourse. The measure benefits trout, but also river lamprey that live in the same habitat.
Hundreds of actions over seven years
Over a period of seven years, more than 500 restoration actions will be carried out in watercourses, wetlands and coastal areas to strengthen the habitats of threatened species. Migration barriers will be removed, eelgrass beds planted, and waterways and wetlands restored. Advanced research from universities on, for example, fish movement patterns and habitats will provide valuable knowledge on how best to restore a watercourse.
Particular priority species are salmon and sea lamprey, as well as the two freshwater mussels, the pearl mussel and the thick-shelled mussel, but a wide range of other fish, animals and plants will benefit from the measures.
– “Thanks to large-scale projects like this, we can really make a difference for endangered species and improve their habitats,” said Karin Olsson, Project Manager of Improve Aquatic LIFE.
Improve Aquatic LIFE
Improve Aquatic LIFE is a seven-year win-win project with high sustainability values for nature and future generations. Improve Aquatic LIFE is funded by the EU, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, among others. 17 different partners are involved in the project: the county administrative boards in Värmland, Västra Götaland, Halland, Skåne, Blekinge, Kronoberg, Jönköping, Kalmar and Östergötland, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Karlstad University, University of Gothenburg, Lund University, Helsingborg Municipality, Tingsryd Municipality and Swedish Anglers Association.