Dr. Josselin Rouillard

Dr. Josselin Rouillard

Doctor of Philosophy
MSc (Environmental Change and Management)
BSc (Environmental Sciences)

Senior Fellow

Team
Topics

Dr. Josselin Rouillard joined Ecologic Institute Berlin in 2013. He works both in academic research and consultancy, applying his expertise to support the implementation of water, climate and agriculture policies. His research work draws on institutional economics, collective action theories and policy science studies. Josselin Rouillard is a native French speaker, is fluent in English and has a good knowledge of Spanish.

Currently, Josselin leads the work on the financing of restoration and nature-based solutions in freshwater ecosystems in the EU Innovation Action MERLIN. He contributes to the assessment of innovative policy instruments and governance for sustainable water use in the Govaqua research project, and is the technical coordinator of the upcoming Assessment of European Waters and Integrated Water Assessment for the European Topic Center on Biodiversity and Ecosystems as a support to the European Environment Agency.

Josselin also provides technical assistance to the European Commission and the working groups of the Common Implementation Strategy of the WFD regarding the implementation of water allocation policies and drought management plans in Europe. As a senior environmental expert, he contributes to the European Evaluation Helpdesk of the CAP (part of the EU CAP Network).

For the European Environment Agency, Josselin previously contributed to the assessment of the State of Europe's Waters for the European Environment Agency, was a lead author on the report Water and Agriculture: towards sustainable solutions, and contributed to the assessment of the status and pressures on European groundwaters and the assessment of water scarcity and droughts in Europe. He also contributed to the development of guidance on the definition of good ecological potential for the European Commission and the working groups of the Common Implementation Strategy of the WFD. He has provided assistance on strengthening the use of economic instruments in river basin management and led the integrated assessment of EU policies to support the mainstreaming of ecosystem-based management for aquatic ecosystems.

Josselin recently led the work mapping and analysis of the interventions related to the climate and environmental ambitions of the CAP strategic plans, for DG AGRI. Since 2015, he has provided consultancy services to DG ENV and DG CLIMA on various projects related to the climate and environmental ambitions of the CAP, including in the Rural Development Plans 2014 -2020 and the recently adopted CAP strategic plans.

Between 2018 and 2020, Josselin was on secondment at the French Geological Survey (Brgm) as part of a Marie-Skłodowska Individual Fellowship on sustainable groundwater management and water allocation policies. Before joining Ecologic Institute Josselin Rouillard was a research associate for the School of Geosciences at the University of Edinburgh and the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, where he worked on a variety of research projects on river basin management and the ecosystem services approach. He also worked as a project officer for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, as an environmental expert with Europe-Planet Earth and for ACT, and as an intern for the European Environmental Bureau in Brussels.

He completed his doctorate studies in 2012 as part of a collaborative program between the Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society, the University of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh. His thesis was on adaptive water governance, flood risk management and rural development in Scotland. He holds a MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford and a BSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Reading.

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Selected projects by Dr. Josselin Rouillard

Water resources

ProjectEuropean Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters (ETC-ICM)
 
|©EvgenyKuklev|iStockphoto.com
Ecologic Institute is member of the European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters (ETC-ICM) which works with the European Environment Agency (EEA) under a Framework Partnership Agreement for the period from 2019 to 2021. The ETC-ICM aims to provide... Read more

European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters (ETC-ICM)

Duration
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Funding
ProjectStudy of the Impacts of Pressures on Groundwater in Europe
 

Groundwater spring in the Beauce region, France

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© Josselin Rouillard

As part of this project for the European Environment Agency, Ecologic Institute is providing an overview of the chemical and quantitative status of groundwater across Europe, and its significance for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Groundwater is a crucial... Read more

Study of the Impacts of Pressures on Groundwater in Europe

Duration
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Funding
ProjectRiver Basins and Financial Redistribution in Practice (EcoCuencas)
 
This project aims at strengthening the financing of River Basin Organisations (RBOs) in Latin America. Adequate financing of RBOs is crucial for improving water management and increasing local capacities to prepare for and adapt to climate change. In order to achieve... Read more

River Basins and Financial Redistribution in Practice (EcoCuencas)

Duration
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Funding
ProjectManaging Water Demand in Europe: An Assessment of Price and Non-price Measures and an Update on Price Elasticity of Water Demand
 
| Fotolia© 2jenn
In this joint project commissioned by the European Environment Agency, the team at Ecologic Institute evaluates both technical aspects (e.g. cost-effectiveness) and implementation dimensions (e.g. barriers and enabling factors) of water demand management practices in... Read more

Managing Water Demand in Europe: An Assessment of Price and Non-price Measures and an Update on Price Elasticity of Water Demand

Duration
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Funding

Agriculture

ProjectEvaluation of the Contribution of EU Rural Development Policy to Water and Flood Policy
 
| Fotolia © Guido Thomasi
A consortium including Ecologic Institute has been commissioned by the European Commission to provide support in the evaluation of the contribution of Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Floods Directive ... Read more

Evaluation of the Contribution of EU Rural Development Policy to Water and Flood Policy

Duration
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Funding
ProjectUpdated Inventory and Assessment of Soil Protection Policy Instruments in EU Member States
 
| © Emilio González-Sánchez
This project, led by Ecologic Institute, aims to take stock of existing soil policy instruments in the EU in order to identify gaps in protection and to support the decision-making process for further policy action. Collaborating closely with experts from 28 EU Member... Read more

Updated Inventory and Assessment of Soil Protection Policy Instruments in EU Member States

Duration
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Funding

Ecosystem restoration

ProjectCIS Guidance on Article 4(7), Inter-comparison of Good Ecological Potential and Hydromorphological Assessment Methods
 
| Fotolia © magann
In the latest Work Programme 2016-2018 of the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Water Directors of European countries agreed specific Ad-hoc Task Groups (ATGs) should be set up on the following topics: (1) Best practice and... Read more

CIS Guidance on Article 4(7), Inter-comparison of Good Ecological Potential and Hydromorphological Assessment Methods

Duration
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Funding
ProjectSupport to the Ad-hoc Task Groups on Hydromorphology and Article 4(7) of the WFD
 
In the latest Work Programme 2016-2018 of the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Water Directors of European countries agreed specific Ad-hoc Task Groups (ATGs) should be set up on the following topics: (1) Best practice and... Read more

Support to the Ad-hoc Task Groups on Hydromorphology and Article 4(7) of the WFD

Duration
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Funding
ProjectHorizon 2020Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)
 
Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies (AQUACROSS) aims to support EU efforts to protect aquatic biodiversity and ensure the provision of aquatic ecosystem services. Funded by Europe's Horizon 2020... Read more

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)

Duration
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Funding

Adaptation to climate change

ProjectIntegrated Water Resource Management and Climate Change Adaptation
 
| Fotolia © c_irochka
Countries such as Bangladesh face fundamental threats on their water resources from climate change. Significant demand exists for knowledge how to enhance institutional capacity and effectiveness of water management policies. This project objective is to investigate how... Read more

Integrated Water Resource Management and Climate Change Adaptation

Duration
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Funding
ProjectFP 7Economics of Climate Change Adaptation in Europe (ECONADAPT)
 
| Fotolia © focus finder
The ECONADAPT project, on the Economics of Adaptation, was a research project funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Recognizing that there is an economic rationale for climate change adaptation, the ECONADAPT project set out to advance the... Read more

Economics of Climate Change Adaptation in Europe (ECONADAPT)

Duration
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Funding
ProjectFP 7Making Society an Active Participant in Water Adaptation to Global Change (BeWater)
 
Sustainable water management under climate change is an urgent challenge for the Euro-Mediterranean region. The BeWater FP7 project supports a transition to stakeholder-driven river basin water management planning in this region by working together with local partners... Read more

Making Society an Active Participant in Water Adaptation to Global Change (BeWater)

Duration
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Funding
Selected publications by Dr. Josselin Rouillard

Water resources

PublicationArticleFrom State to User-based Water Allocations
 

Irrigation in Dordogne, France

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© Josselin Rouillard

In a new scientific article published in Agricultural Water Management, Dr. Josselin Rouillard, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institute, and co-author Dr. Jean-Daniel Rinaudo (Brgm) examine strategies to manage the overexploitation of water by agriculture. The research... Read more

Rouillard, Josselin, and Jean-Daniel Rinaudo. "From State to user-based water allocations: An empirical analysis of institutions developed by agricultural user associations in France." Agricultural Water Management 239 (2020): 106269.

PublicationArticleGroundwater and Agriculture: A Comparison of Managing Scarcity and Droughts in France and California
 
Groundwater is a strategic resource for agricultural production across the world, accounting for 33% of total water abstraction worldwide and half of the irrigation water used to grow the world’s food. It plays a crucial for water and food security and the economic... Read more

Rouillard, Josselin 2019: Groundwater and agriculture: a comparison of managing scarcity and droughts in France and California. California WaterBlog, 24 March 2019, https://californiawaterblog.com/2019/03/24/groundwater-and-agriculture-….

PublicationBook SectionGoverning for the Nexus: Empirical, Theoretical and Normative Dimensions
 
In this chapter the authors, among them Ecologic Institute's Josselin Rouillard, examine how the Water-Energy-Food nexus is emerging at different scales and national contexts worldwide. The chapter presents empirical evidence of innovations in terms of policy... Read more

David Benson, Animesh K Gain, Josselin Rouillard et. al. 2017: Governing for the nexus: empirical, theoretical and normative dimensions. in: P. Abdul Salam, Sangam Shrestha, Vishnu Prasad Pandey, Anil K. Anal (Eds.): Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Principles and Practices.

PublicationReportImplementing Redistributive Financial Mechanisms in River Basin Management
 
It is common wisdom that the water crisis is not a resource crisis but rather a crisis of governance (e.g. UN World Water Development Report 2). Improving water governance and achieving the sustainable management of water resources, which will maintain water-related... Read more

Vidaurre, R., Rouillard, J., Krüger, I. (2017). Implementing Redistributive Financial Mechanisms in River Basin Management. Ecologic Institute.

Vidaurre, R., Rouillard, J., Krüger, I. (2017). Implementando Mecanismos Financieros Redistributivos en la

Gestión de Cuencas: Guía para América Latina. Ecologic Institute.

PublicationArticleGetting into the Water with the Ecosystem Services Approach
 
Die Struktur des DESSIN-ESS-Evaluierungsrahmens (basierend auf Müller und Burkhard, 2012; Van Oudenhoven et al., 2012; Haines-Young und Potschin, 2010 & Haines-Young und Potschin, 2011)
Ecologic Institute contributed to a practical guide for local-level evaluations of changes in ecosystem services. The approach helps to associate such changes to specific water management measures and enables both monetization and qualitative appraisal of impacts.... Read more

Anzaldua, Gerardo et. al. (2018). Getting into the water with the Ecosystem Services Approach: The DESSIN ESS evaluation framework. Ecosystem Services.

PublicationPolicy BriefDesigning Governance and Financing Regimes to Encourage Innovation Uptake
 
Within the European water research project "Demonstrate Ecosystem Services Enabling Innovation in the Water Sector (DESSIN)," a policy brief on governance factors conducive to innovation in the urban water sector was published. Josselin Rouillard and Rodrigo Vidaurre... Read more

Rouillard, Josselin; Vidaurre, Rodrigo: Designing governance and financing regimes to encourage innovation uptake. A guide for water managers and policy makers. DESSIN policy brief 1. October 2015.

PublicationPolicy BriefIncreasing Chances of Innovation Uptake Through Governance
 
Within the European water research project "Demonstrate Ecosystem Services Enabling Innovation in the Water Sector (DESSIN)" a policy brief on governance factors conducive to innovation in the urban water sector was published. Rodrigo Vidaurre and Josselin Rouillard... Read more

Vidaurre Rodrigo and Rouillard Josselin: Increasing chances of innovation uptake through governance. A guide for technology companies and water utilities. DESSIN policy brief 2. October 2015.

PublicationReportDesign and Development of Economic Policy Instrument in European Water Policy
 
Despite their successful application in other environmental domain (such as air quality and climate), the use of economic policy instruments (EPIs) to tackle water management issues has faced many challenges. This report, written by Ecologic Institute in collaboration... Read more

Delacámara, G.; Dworak,T.; Gómez,CM.; Lago,M.; Maziotis, A.; Rouillard, J.; Strosser, P.; 2013. EPI-Water Deliverable 5.3: Guidance on the design and development of Economic Policy Instruments in European water policy. EPI-Water - Evaluating Economic Policy Instruments for Sustainable Water Management in Europe.

Agriculture

PublicationReportWater and Agriculture
 
publication's cover

© European Environment Agency (EEA)

As part of its work within the ETC-ICM, Ecologic Institute has contributed as lead author to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report examining the multiple pressures that agriculture put on Europe's water. The report shows that that a wider uptake of sustainable... Read more

EEA 2021: Water and agriculture: towards sustainable solutions. EEA report 17/2020. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 128pp.

PublicationReportKey Descriptive Statistics on the Consideration of Water Issues in Rural Development Programmes 2014-2020
 
As part its on-going participation to a framework contract with the European Commission on supporting the implementation of European water policies, Ecologic Institute led an assessment of how Member States' current Rural Development Programmes (2014-2020) address... Read more

Rouillard, Josselin; Maria Berglund 2017: European level report: Key descriptive statistics on the consideration of water issues in the Rural Development Programmes 2014-2020. Ecologic Institute, Fresh Thoughts: Berlin, Vienna.

PublicationReportGuidance on "Good Practices" for Rural Development Programmes from a Water Perspective
 
In the context of a framework contract with the European Commission focused on supporting the implementation of European water policies, Ecologic Institute has contributed to the preparation of a best practice overview report on how water management issues can be... Read more

Berglund, Maria; Josselin Rouillard; Thomas Dworak 2017: Guidance on a "Good Practice" RDP from a Water Perspective. Fresh Thoughts, Ecologic Institute: Vienna, Berlin.

Ecosystem restoration

PublicationReport European Waters – Assessment of Status and Pressures 2018
 
EEA Report Nr. 7/2018
In 2018, the European Commission will publish its report on the assessment of the second River Basin Management Programme (RBMPs) and will start the process of evaluating the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (EC, 2017a). To accompany and inform this process, the European... Read more

EEA 2018: European Waters Assessment of Status and Pressures. EEA Report No 7/2018. European Environment Agency, Luxembourg.

PublicationReportWG ECOSTAT Report on Common Understanding of Using Mitigation Measures for Reaching Good Ecological Potential for HMWBs (Part 3)
 
JRC110959
Hydromorphological alterations for drainage are widespread pressures on water bodies in Europe. Because of the importance of the water uses relying on drainage schemes, such as agriculture and urban areas, not all necessary restoration measures can be taken without... Read more

Rouillard J, Kampa E, (eds), WG ECOSTAT report on common understanding of using mitigation measures for reaching Good Ecological Potential for Heavily Modified Water Bodies, EUR 29132 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2018.

PublicationArticleIntroducing the H2020 AQUACROSS Project
 
    ... Read more

Lago, M., Boteler, B., Rouillard, J., Abhold, K., Jähnig, S., Iglesias-Campos, A., Delacámara, G., Piet, G., Hein, T., Nogueira, A., Lillebø, A., Strosser, P., Robinson, L., De Wever, A., O'Higgins, T., Schlüter, M., Török, L., Reichert, P., van Ham, C., Villa, F. and Hugh, M. (2019). Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies. Science of The Total Environment, 652, pp.320-329.

PublicationArticleProtecting and Restoring Biodiversity Across the Freshwater, Coastal and Marine Realms
 
This paper presents an integrated assessment of how EU policies influence aquatic biodiversity in order to determine how EU policies and laws contribute to achieving and/or hindering EU and international biodiversity targets. The authors from Ecologic Institute, IUCN,... Read more

Rouillard, J., Lago, M., Abhold, K. et.al. (2017). Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity across the Freshwater, Coastal and Marine Realms: Is the existing EU policy framework fit for purpose?. Environmental Policy and Governance.

PublicationArticleProtecting Aquatic Biodiversity in Europe
 
As part of the Horizon 2020 project AQUACROSS, Ecologic Institute and consortium members have published an article in the peer-reviewed journal Ambio examining the potential of Ecosystem-Based Management as an integrative policy concept for improving the integration of... Read more

Rouillard, J., Lago, M., Abhold, K. et al. 2018: Protecting aquatic biodiversity in Europe: How much do EU environmental policies support ecosystem-based management? Ambio (47)1. doi:10.1007/s13280-017-0928-4

Adaptation to climate change

PublicationWeb ApplicationTools for Economic Evaluation of Climate Adaptation: ECONADAPT's Toolbox and Library
 
The FP7 Project ECONADAPT came to a close in September 2016 after three years of research on the economics of adaptation. The main impetus of the project was to support adaptation planning through building the knowledge base on the economics of adaptation to climate... Read more

ECONADAPT Consortium 2016: ECONADAPT / The Economics of Climate Change Adaptation. URL: http://econadapt.eu/

PublicationReportThe Economics of Climate Change Adaptation
 
Tröltzsch, J., Rouillard, J., Tarpey, J., Lago, M., Watkiss, P., Hunt, A. (2016). The economics of climate change adaptation: Insights into economic assessment methods. ECONADAPT Deliverable 10.2 ... Read more

Tröltzsch, J., Rouillard, J., Tarpey, J., Lago, M., Watkiss, P., Hunt, A. (2016). The economics of climate change adaptation: Insights into economic assessment methods. ECONADAPT Deliverable 10.2

PublicationReportThe Economic Analysis of Climate Adaptation
 
Rouillard, J., Tröltzsch, J., Tarpey, J., Lago, M., Watkiss, P., Hunt, A. Bosello, F., Ermolieva, T., Goodess, C., Mechler, R., Parrado, R., Sainz de Murieta, E., Scussolini, P. (2016). The economic analysis of climate adaptation: Insights for policy-makers. ECONADAPT... Read more

Rouillard, J., Tröltzsch, J., Tarpey, J., Lago, M., Watkiss, P., Hunt, A. Bosello, F., Ermolieva, T., Goodess, C., Mechler, R., Parrado, R., Sainz de Murieta, E., Scussolini, P. (2016). The economic analysis of climate adaptation: Insights for policy-makers. ECONADAPT deliverable 10.3

Recent content by Dr. Josselin Rouillard

News
 
Over the past two decades, Europe has witnessed a concerning trend of escalating water scarcity and more frequent drought events, with projections indicating a continuation of this trend into the future. Europe must confront water stress risks and adapt its governance to build water resilience. In a series of three reports, Ecologic Institute, together with partners from the EU project GOVAQUA, examine three topics of critical importance for water resilience.
 

GOVAQUA Policy Matrix

Governance Innovations for Sustainable and Equitable Water Use in Europe

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the European Environment Agency's report titled 'Europe's state of water 2024: The need for improved water resilience.' The cover features an abstract illustration of a river winding through a landscape of hills and valleys, in shades of blue and yellow. The logo of the European Environment Agency's 30th anniversary is displayed in the top left corner.
On 15 October 2024, the European Environmental Agency (EEA) published their landmark report on the state of water in the EU, the most comprehensive assessment of the status of European groundwater, rivers, lakes and coastal waters to date. Supported by Ecologic Institute through its coordination of the contributions from the European Topic Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystems, the publication analyses various European data flows relevant to water management, with a particular focus on data reported by the Member States under the EU Water Framework Directive.

Europe's State of Water 2024

The need for improved water resilience

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Publication:Policy Brief
 
Cover of the GOVAQUA policy brief titled 'Building water resilience: towards better implementation of ecological flows and water allocation in Europe,' dated 7 October 2024. The top half of the cover shows a cracked, dried soil surface with a green plant growing from it, symbolizing water scarcity and resilience. The lower half of the cover presents the policy brief text with key messages and is co-branded with logos of the European Union, UK Research and Innovation, and GOVAQUA.
As Europe faces increasing droughts and water shortages, it is crucial to rethink how we manage water resources. A new policy brief explores strategies to improve ecological flows and water allocation, offering vital insights for policymakers and stakeholders. Discover how these measures can safeguard ecosystems and support sustainable water use in the face of climate change.

Building Water Resilience

Towards better implementation of ecological flows and water allocation in Europe

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Publication:Fact Sheet
 
Fact sheet titled 'Food Value Chains for Leveraging Clean Drinking Water in Rennes, France' from the SPRINT Success Stories series. The infographic describes the 'Terres de Sources' initiative in Rennes, France, which uses public procurement to promote good agricultural practices to protect drinking water quality. It includes sections on the challenge, key objectives, main obstacles, policy solutions, and knowledge exchange solutions. The fact sheet features images of France, a farmer's market.
The city of Rennes in France faces the challenge of securing the quality of its drinking water, as intensive agricultural practices have led to significant pollution of water resources. As part of the "Terres de Sources" initiative, which was studied within the SPRINT project, sustainable solutions have been developed to improve drinking water quality through environmentally friendly agricultural practices while also promoting local food production and marketing. This case study illustrates how the initiative successfully implements measures to reduce pesticide use and promote sustainable value chains.

Food Value Chains for Leveraging Clean Drinking Water in Rennes, France

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Publication:Fact Sheet
 
Fact sheet detailing the promotion of good agricultural practices in vineyards at St. Emilion, France. It highlights the challenges of pesticide use in vineyards, key objectives such as implementing a holistic environmental program, and the regulatory solutions including compulsory certification.
The vineyards of St. Emilion, France, face significant challenges due to the reliance on pesticides, particularly given the region's susceptibility to mildew. However, the winegrowers of St. Emilion have successfully committed to a sustainable future by implementing stringent environmental regulations and significantly reducing pesticide use. This case study highlights the initiatives and successes achieved in the region, which aims to promote sustainable practices in viticulture.

Promoting Good Agricultural Practices in Vineyards, St Emilion, France

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the GOVAQUA Policy Matrix Part C – Regulating value chains and sustainable water footprints, featuring an aerial view of a lush green forest surrounding a body of water, with logos of the EU, UK Research and Innovation, and GOVAQUA at the bottom.
The present report, led by EU research project partner SYKE, focuses on the challenges and opportunities that relate to designing and implementing sustainable water governance in value chains in six Eur. It contributes to the ongoing policy discussions on the role of sustainable water management in the context of corporations’ value chains.

Regulating Value Chains and Sustainable Water Footprints

GOVAQUA policy matrix Part C

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Publication:Report
 
Cover of the GOVAQUA Policy Matrix Part B – Review of national eflows policies in six European countries, featuring an aerial view of lush green forest bordering a calm body of water, with logos of the EU, UK Research and Innovation, and GOVAQUA at the bottom.
The present report describes and analyzes the legal and regulatory frameworks for ecological and environmental flows (eflows) in six European countries. This analysis contributes to an improved understanding of national policies and challenges for setting up and implementing eflows in Europe.

Review of National Eflows Policies in Six European Countries

GOVAQUA policy matrix Part B

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