Building on the successful work of the first phase (2002-2004), the Pilot River Basins (PRBs) have continued to work closely also in the second phase (2005-2006) within the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The objectives of Phase II of the PRB exercise were:...

The Water Framework Directive requires the development and implementation of river basin management plans for improving the ecological status of freshwater bodies throughout Europe. The scientific community supports this process by developing decision-support tools for identifying the principal...

The Water Framework Directive requires the development and implementation of river basin management plans for improving the ecological status of freshwater bodies throughout Europe. The scientific community supports this process by developing decision-support tools for identifying the principal...

Sustainability science explores the interactions between human activities on the Earth's life support systems. Unless we understand these interactions, we will not be able to design a path towards sustainable development. In this report we focus our attention on water as key resource for human...

This report presents a pan‐European perspective on the state soil in Europe in light of available data held within the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC) and the research activities within the Joint Research Centre's Soil Action. Managed by the JRC on behalf of EU institutions, the ESDAC...

There is a need to prove the relevance of ecosystem services in economic terms in order to make a comprehensive and compelling case for conservation of biodiversity. Many different approaches and frameworks used so far have proven that there is no economic or monetary estimate of ecosystems or...

A modelling environment has been developed to assess optimum combinations of water retention measures, water savings measures, and nutrient reduction measures for continental Europe. This modelling environment consists of linking the agricultural CAPRI model, the LUMP land use model, the...

An assessment for Europe on available water resources and a comparison with water demands from various economic sectors shows that freshwater availability over the European continent varies significantly. Large areas in Spain and Eastern Europe have on average less than 200 mm generated...

An assessment for Europe on available water resources and a comparison with water demands from various economic sectors shows that freshwater availability over the European continent varies significantly. Large areas in Spain and Eastern Europe have on average less than 200 mm generated...