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ERCE u/a UNESCO

European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology U/A Unesco, International Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences (POLAND)


REFERENCE PERSONS:
Kinga Krauze, Renata Włodarczyk, Małgorzata Niewiarowska

WORKING TEAM:
ERCE u/a UNESCO
Maciej Zalewski, Katarzyna Izydorczyk, Iwona Wagner, Edyta Kiedrzyńska, Mariola Rynkiewicz, Dominika Kozińska, Sebastian Szklarek
University of Lodz
Sebastian Ratajski, Angieszka Bednarek

The European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology (ERCE) is an international institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (emerged from International Centre for Ecology in 2008), and the category II UNESCO centre.

The aim of the Centre is to develop the international and national research activities focused on interactions between hydrological, biogeochemical and biological processes at the catchment scale from the point of view of the optimal management, protection and restoration of water resources. A special emphasis is put on the use of ecosystem properties as a tool for environmental management and restoration (ecohydrological approach). The scientific profile of the Centre is focused on further development of ecohydrological science and its implementation for restoring freshwater resources in the framework of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme. Priority is being given to delivering tools for implementing the European Water Framework Directive as part of Poland's national cooperation. Another research activities include: hydrobiology, river ecology, fish ecology, environmental chemistry, landscape processes, socio-ecological systems, soil ecology, bioindication, phytotechnology (including remediation) and ecotoxicology.

ERCE co-operates with many Polish and international institutions and has long experience in coordinating national and international research projects linking science with policy and management.

The Polish LTER network was established as a formal member of the International LTER network (ILTER) in 1998, as a result of a bilateral agreement between the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the then Chair of ILTER. At the moment, LTER-Poland consists of more than 25 sites in different environments. European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology a/u UNESCO coordinats Polish LTER. Also, ERCE manage directly one of LTER – Europe platform UNESCO/UNEP the Pilica River Demonstration Site LTSER. Platform comprises of two freshwater sites: Sulejowski Reservoir and Pilica River. Sulejowski Reservoir is directly involved in the EnvEurope project. Site was established in 1973 for multiple uses, with drinking water supply to the city of Łódź (agglomeration of about 1 million people), flood protection and recreation being the most important. The overall goal of the research conducted in site is mitigation of euthrophication and toxic algal blooms in reservoir.

 

External Assistance

They manage respectively 3 LTER sites included in the EnvEurope project: West Polesie Biosphere Reserve, Kampinoski National Park and Sulejowski Reservoir

 

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