Degradation Causes (WP3)
Leader WP3: Philippe Negrel; BRGM, France
Objectives
- Compilation and integration of current R&D results on topics related to degradation in river basins: erosion, contamination, floods, compaction, sealing, organic matter decline and salinisation
- Exchange of experience and up-dating of technical approaches developed in previous networks and national basis for the monitoring and remediation mitigation of soil-water-sediment system.
- Supply other WPs of RISKBASE with an integrated description of the identified degradations in river basin, their origins and causes, possible interrelations and sustainable mitigation/remediation options. Special link with WP5 in order to link the societal system to the physical system. Feed back with WP4, especially concerning MONITORING issues and PROCESSES understanding.
- Proposal of an approach for sustainable assessment and sound investigation for degradations causes and remediation/mitigation approaches in the soil-water-sediment system at the river basin scale
Description of work
The work will be done in a series of two workshops with selected invited participants. A closing final (writing) meeting with selected core-team members will set the basis for compiling the WP 3 contribution to the overall project. The workshops are organised partly in parallel sessions of 4 working groups of varying importance (see figure). In relation to the threats identified in the Soil Thematic Strategy the WGs suggested in the frame of WP3 of RISK BASE will also be articulated on soil degradations 4 working groups (see figure) dedicated to major degradations in soil water sediment system.
In relation to the threats identified in the Soil Thematic Strategy the WGs suggested in the frame of WP 3 of RISKBASE will also be articulated on soil degradations.
The tasks to be performed by all working groups (horizontal tasks) will concern the identification of (i) DRIVING FORCES (climate change). Cross linking with social, cultural and economic drivers (transport, energy industry, agriculture, urbanisation policy); (ii) PROCESSES (state of the art in the identification procedures. Identification of gaps in the understanding of the processes in the soil-water-sediment system induced by the threat. Scale of the processes involved. Environmental impacts will be assessed on site and off site. Identification of interdependencies with other degradations (state of the art, research needs); and (iii) SOCIO ECONOMIC IMPACTS both on site and at regional level (off site).
The specific tasks to be performed by the WG will concern the PROCESS CHARACTERISATION (especially the WG Erosion and Flooding, Contamination that will both address soil and water issues while focusing on the identification and description of the sources of the degradation, the transfer procedures and the targeted media. Tasks to be performed will also concern MONITORING through the focus on reviewing existing monitoring systems; compilation and integration of current R&D results on monitoring systems, soil/water/sediment mapping and inventories; gaps and bottlenecks in monitoring systems; identification of discrepancies, need for harmonisation and standardisation.
Tasks on REMEDIATION/MITIGATION will focus on reviewing existing mitigation/remediation solutions (prevention and protection of water and soil resources); compilation and integration of current R&D results on sustainable remediation and mitigation procedures; barriers for the implementation of remediation/mitigation innovative and sustainable techniques.
WP 3 will organise the following three events:
- 1st workshop: State of the art in the assessment and sound investigation for degradations causes and remediation/mitigation approaches in the soil water sediment system at river basin scale, possible improvement. Identification of gaps.
- 2nd workshop: Implementation plan for WP 3 approach
- writing meeting: Overall WP 3 outcome synthesis in a meeting with selected WP core-team members aimed at producing the manuscript for chapters in the RISKBASE scientific book