CleanRegion
Collaboration between European Regions will reduce the emission
of pesticides in the environment
The INTERREG IIIC project "Regional Collaboration for Minimising Pesticide
Emissions in the Environment" in short CleanRegion, was launched at a starting
meeting from 30 March till 1 April 2005, in Denmark. The project links research
institutes and local and regional authorities in seven European countries:
Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, The Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom.
Together we want to minimise the use of herbicides for weed control in urban areas,
and improve methods for reducing point-source pollution by pesticides.
There is a strong focus on the use of pesticides in Europe, and on the risks
they pose to human health and to the environment. The risk of pesticides leaching
to the ground water is pronounced
- when pesticides are applied to hard surfaces, such as for weed control in
urban areas, and
- from point-sources such as washing and filling areas for sprayers.
The project has the following components:
Project activities will take place in all involved regions.
Tests of weed control methods will take place on specifically selected areas in
Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland and Germany, representing different
weed problems. Surveys will be conducted and data gathered in all seven participat
ing countries. Pilot projects on reducing point-source pollution will take place
in Sweden and Denmark. Partners will meet 1-2 times per year for exchange of
results and planning. As an outcome of the project, guidelines for weed control
will be made, and the information obtained will be disseminated to other local
and regional authorities.
The project runs over a period of three years until the end of 2007 and is
co-financed by the INTERREG IIIC North Zone.
Read more about CleanRegion:
INTERREG IIIC Newsletter
Further information can be obtained from the Project Manager Bo Melander,
Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences.
Bo Melander