European project · Soil

Life-Nitrazens

Citizen science for nitrate monitoring

About the project

LIFE-NITRAZENS aims to create a sustainable, replicable model for reducing nitrate pollution in water.

The LIFE-NITRAZENS project tackles a crucial global challenge: nitrate pollution in water, a major threat to both ecosystems and human health.

Nitrate pollution, caused mainly by agricultural run-off and poor management of organic waste, leads to environmental damage, including the eutrophication of water bodies, and serious health risks such as methaemoglobinaemia and cancer.

Project objectives

Develop a citizen science project that involves the public in monitoring nitrate concentrations in surface water, groundwater and drinking water across the six designated pilot areas.
Produce Best Management Practice (BMP) guides to optimise fertiliser use, and offer training in behaviour change and capacity building, to encourage the uptake of sustainable farming practices that reduce nitrate pollution.
Involve the public in information and awareness campaigns to increase understanding of why nitrate-free water matters and how this pollutant affects the environment and human health.
Ensure the reliable replication and transfer of the project’s results by validating the tools and strategies developed in Portugal, using the Mutual Learning Exercise methodology.

The role of Ibercivis

Ibercivis supports and takes part in the work plan that will introduce citizen science methods through data collection missions and campaigns co-designed by all the stakeholders in the project’s pilot areas.

It also coordinates the work package responsible for communicating, disseminating and exploiting the project’s results, as well as for communication activities during its launch and development. It is drawing up the communication strategy while developing the project’s visual identity, website and social media presence.

Finally, Ibercivis contributes to the scientific protocols produced by the project and to the After-LIFE plan, ensuring the project lives on and can be replicated.

Our activities

Leading the project’s communication, dissemination and exploitation work package.

Taking part in and advising on the introduction of citizen science methods for data collection and water quality monitoring in the project’s pilot areas.