AT A GLANCE
Aquatik aims to raise awareness on water heritage and water management in inland areas. European water heritages often exist in the most remote and/or inland areas, leading them to be overlooked and neglected as urbanisation accelerates globally. As a result, inland and remote areas rich in water resources are experiencing depopulation and are indirectly suffering the environmental consequences and climate change exacerbated by urbanisation. In addition to this, oftentimes initiatives aimed at raising awareness and improving water governance focus on resources found in urban areas, without considering the deep interconnection between them and those remote areas and their water ecosystems. The Aquatik-EU project begins where it is recognised that concrete actions aimed at mitigating or improving the management of aquatic heritages stem, first of all, from heightened awareness of the importance of such precious yet often overlooked resources. This awareness must be cultivated among citizens, local communities and, above all, governments and towns, as reflected in the project’s partnership. In order to reach its general objective, the project will work on 3 strands: capacity building, governance, and cultural heritage – e.g. the creation of a network of water museums.
OBJECTIVES
The general objective of the project is to contribute to the development and strengthening of a European awareness and capacity regarding the conservation status of hinterland aquatic ecosystems and their cultural, touristic, environmental and socio-economic relevance.
Specific objectives are:
- Capacity-building:
- To improve water management, related expertise and tools of a network of European municipalities for preserving local water heritages;
- To improve citizens’ and local communities’ sense of responsibility and knowledge on the multifaceted importance of preserving water resources;
- Governance:
- To improve dialogue opportunities between local authorities, sector-specific stakeholders, civil society and citizens on water preservation and valorisation through participatory mechanisms;
- Culture:
- To enhance mutual understanding and a sense of shared identity among European citizens in recognising the multifaceted importance of water resources as cultural heritage.