2021.08.23

Demonstration event in Krakow

Demonstration of algae harvesting in the oxbow lake Tynieckie took place in vicinity of Krakow on 25^th of August 2021. The algae harvester specially designed for this purpose by Baltic Environment (Lithuania) was demonstrated for stakeholders. The harvester is an innovative and novel solution for effective harvesting of excess cyanobacteria and macroalgae biomass, which is used for various products. Harvesting of excess biomass helps to clean the water bodies of excess nitrogen and phosphorus and eliminate cyanobacterial toxins. Also unmanned aerial vehicle as a remote sensing method for the monitoring of algal blooms has been demonstrated by project experts from Lithuania. The demonstration event was attended by all partners of the international team implementing the LIFE 17 ENV/LT/000407 project. Also representatives of local authorities and institutions interested in water protection such as Polish Anglers Association with the President of the Krakow District, Municipal Water Supply and Sewage Company in Krakow, Municipal Water Supply and Sewage Company in Wadowice, the Management of Urban Green Areas in Krakow, The State Water Holding Polish Waters took part in the event. Total number of participants – 46.

Video of Demonstration Event in Krakow

Online seminar took place on 26^th of August 2021. Aim and objectives as well as results obtained of the project have been presented during the seminar. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles and satellite imagery (Sentinel) within the project has been presented as well. Also video summary of field demonstration of the previous day has been presented for participants of online seminar. Representatives of National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (fund co-financing the project) and the representatives of Lithuanian and Polish stakeholders attended the seminar. Total number of participants – 38.

Presentations:

Introduction

Cleaning Polish Water for LIFE

Algae Service for LIFE in Lithuania Results of Water Quality Improvement and Bioproducts from Wild Algal Biomass

Macroalgae as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds Types of Biomass and Possibilities of Its Use

Use of Remote Sensing Methods for Monitoring of Lithuanian Waters

UAV Methods Using for Monitoring of Cyanobacteria Blooms

2021.07.22

Partnership: Environment for Development

On July 15, project was presented during the meeting of the Working Group on Water and Wastewater Management within the national network of environmental authorities and institutions managing EU funds “Partnership: Environment for Development” – National Water Management Authority (https://sdr.gdos.gov.pl/SitePages/GWS.aspx). The meeting was attended by representatives of Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection, General Directorate for Environmental Protection, Marshal Offices, Regional Water Management Authorities, Polish Water Management Authority and the Ministry of Infrastructure. This meeting was conducted on the topic of the Baltic Sea and its pollution.

Presentation

2021.07.17

40th EARSeL Symposium

Aims of the project and results of UAV monitoring were presented by Marcin Spiralski Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation. Institute of Aviation cooperates with Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences. In the frame of the LIFE project both Institutes work on distant methods of cyanobacterial blooms monitoring.

Presentation was done for students of Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies University of Warsaw during the 40^th EARSeL Symposium (European Remote Sensing-New Solutions for Science and Practise) between 7 and 10 June 2021.

Presentation

2020.10.14

Natural Toxins: Environmental Fate and Safe Water Supply, international conference

Natural Toxins: Environmental Fate and Safe Water Supply, 24-25 September 2020, online conference organized by the NaToxAq project consortium (https://natoxaq.ku.dk/).

Website: https://www.recetox.muni.cz/en/about-us/events/natoxaq-conference-2020

During the conference the oral presentation entitled: “Tools to manage cyanobacteria agglomerations in freshwater ecosystems” was given. The project, it’s aims and achievements were presented.

Presentation

Abstract

2020.08.26

8th progress meeting of project management group

The 8th progress meeting of the project management group took place in Anykščiai. The Polish partners were unable to attend this meeting due to the COVID-19. The communication event “Demonstration of algae harvesting in the River Šventoji”, logistics of collection of biomass of cyanobacteria and macroalgae and other relevant issues were discussed.

Communication event “Demonstration of algae harvesting in the River Šventoji”

Communication event with stakeholders “Demonstration of algae harvesting in the River Šventoji” took place in Anykščiai on 12^th of August 2020. Project objectives and activities were presented during this seminar. Also problems of water blooms, improvement of water quality and use of algal biomass as a green fertilizer were discussed together with partners from Poland. Distant methods in the field using unmanned systems and macroalgae harvesting using prototype AS-S in the River Šventoji were demonstrated.

Presentations:

Aim of the project tasks and activities

Ecological conditions and status of biodiversity in the river Sventoji

Conundrum of cyanobacterial blooms in small and shallow waters

Factors optimizing macroalgae development in fresh waters and ways of using the biomass as green fertilizer

ArcGIS application “Mark an algal blooms in water bodies”

Use of remote sensing methods for evaluation of algae blooms in River Sventoji

Algae Service S

2020.06.02

7th progress meeting of project management group took place online

2020.05.04

Meeting with specialists of Directorate of Anykščiai Regional Park

The project “AlgaeService for LIFE”, the results of biodiversity research and planned activities in Šventoji River were presented during the meeting. Possibilities to cut club-rushes and other helophytes as well as collect macroalgae mats at the end of July in the Šventoji River at central part of Anykščiai using the prototype AS-S constructed during the project was discussed. Also organization of demonstrational event of the LIFE project which will be held on 12^th August 2020 was discussed.

6th progress meeting of project management group

Biodiversity seminar at the Nature Research Centre

Seminar-meeting was organized at the Nature Research Centre on 28^th February 2020. It was attended by scientists from Flora and Geobotany, Evolutionary Ecology of Hydrobionts, Fish Ecology Laboratories and project experts (13 participants in total). The results of the biodiversity research obtained in the rivers that are tested in the project were presented and the potential impact of collection of Cladophora macroalgae biomass in rivers on species and habitat diversity was discussed.

Meeting “LIFE breakfast”

The project “AlgaeService for LIFE” was presented during the event. Executors of LIFE projects discussed topical issues of project implementation, shared experience in solving problems arising during project implementation.

Seminar “Innovations of the Renewable Energy: What Does Business Choose?”

Seminar “Innovations of the Renewable Energy: What Does Business Choose?” was organized by the Lithuanian Business Support Agency and was held in Vilnius for business representatives on 12^th February 2020. Dr. Judita Koreivienė gave the presentation “Microorganisms – the future of energy”. The energy-related activities of the project “AlgaeService for LIFE” were presented. The seminar was attended by more than 30 professionals and business representatives.

Link to the presentation: https://bit.ly/2YuXTKz

8th meeting of the Nordic/Baltic Network for Water and Health

Gražvydė Norkienė (Head of the Environmental Health Department of the Center for Health Education and Diseases Prevention), member of the monitoring committee of the project “AlgaeService for LIFE” presented project objectives and the development of special prototypes for water quality improvement at 8th meeting of the Nordic/Baltic experts for water and Health which took place in Riga on 12-13th December 2019.

Download

5th progress meeting of project management group

2019.11.26

Project Steering Committee meeting

The first meeting of the Project Steering Committee was held on 21st November 2019. The rules of procedure of the Steering Committee and the Report of the project results for period 2018-2019 was approved.

Seminar “Issues of bathing water quality management in the municipality”

The Center of Health Education and Disease Prevention organised the seminar “Issues of bathing water quality management in the municipality” for the administration leaders and representatives responsible for administration of beaches and bathing area from municipalities, which took place on 14 November 2019 in Trakai. Dr. Jūratė Karosienė gave a lecture about cyanobacteria toxicity and effect on human health. The information concerning recommendations of World Health Organisation, approaches of cyanobacteria monitoring in bathing waters in European countries and Lithuania was provided also. Participants answered the questionnaire about cyanobacteria blooms. 38 specialists attended the seminar. More information.

4th Baltic Networking meeting

The Project was announced at the fourth Baltic Networking meeting, which took place on 7-8 November, 2019 in Sigulda, Latvia. The main project results were presented and the issues of LIFE projects implementations were discuss with the representatives from other LIFE projects. Also, the implementation place of the project LIFE PHIPP was visited. More information.

4th progress meeting of project management group

2019.11.18

Event “SPACESHIP EARTH”

National Science festival “Spaceship Earth” events took place in the Nature Research Centre on 17th September 2019. During the lectures “Blooms in freshwaters: is it safe to bath in Lithuanian lakes? and workshops for 53 participants, dr. J. Karosienė, dr. J. Koreivienė, dr. J. Kasperovičienė and D. Morudov introduced the mysterious world of algae and cyanobacteria in freshwaters, demonstrated how to determine the main water quality parameters and to assess the ecological status of the lakes. The mobile application of the project AlgaeService for LIFE “Mark a blooming water body” and the interactive map of blooming ecosystems were presented. Participants were invited to observe and mark changes in the water bodies in their surroundings.

2019.07.04

7th European Phycological Congress. Zagreb, Croatia

The project “AlgaeService for LIFE” was advertised for scientific public at the 7^th European Phycological Congress that took place in Zagreb, (Croatia) in 25-30 August, 2019. J. Koreivienė presented the information in a poster entitled ‘’Algae Service for LIFE project: creation of ecological service tools to mitigate cyanobacteria and algal blooms in freshwaters”.