Project Overview

Location: China

Dates: Early 2007 - 2008 (18 months)

Funded by: European Commission

Project Aims

2006 saw the publication of China’s eleventh 5 year programme. This signalled a clear shift in emphasis from economic development in purely GDP terms to sustainability and has required government bodies to demonstrate how there ongoing activities are aligned with environmental objectives. The lack of appropriate regulatory frameworks for the control of environmental pollution has been identified as a key priority and reason for establishing robust and proven standards. Best practices from Europe will provide a solid framework for introduction in China.

The project objectives are the acquisition of technical capacity to conduct Biomonitoring experiments and legislative capacity to implement the Biomonitoring approach for the Yangtze Valley Water Resources Protection Bureau (YVWRPB) and other Chinese Water Monitoring Authorities. Other results include the publication of biological parameters for the Wuhan Water System, increased awareness of water reliant industries of the role of the Biomonitoring approach in combating environmental issues, capacity for organisations in the Education, NGO and Community sectors to conduct Biomonitoring experiments and a shared online database for information sharing between these groups, and increased public awareness of water environment pollution and its causes. The Biomonitoring approach is complementary to existing chemical and physical monitoring techniques and is an innovative and cost effective tool in the implementation and networking of effective wastewater management strategies.

A Pilot Study of the innovative and integrated Biomonitoring approach will increase the available knowledge and understanding of the Wuhan water system in particular and the Yangtze (Changjiang) River in general. Workshops will introduce Biomonitoring approach to the various water monitoring authorities in Wuhan. This improved knowledge and understanding of the water system and is further disseminated to the Education, NGO and Community Sectors through an additional Workshop and the publication of a Biomonitoring training manual.

Project Consortium