• These awards recognise the work of entities and associations that are involved in guaranteeing equal access to water and its conservation.
• The LIFE URBASO project proposes solutions based on forests for the protection of drinking water.

Yesterday, the Lurra Bizkaia Sariak awards were presented by the Consorcio de Aguas de Bilbao Bizkaia in recognition of the work of entities and associations that are involved in guaranteeing equal access to water and its conservation.

LIFE URBASO, a European project coordinated by NEIKER, won the prize for the best scientific initiative on the environment and sustainability. Led by the researcher Nahia Gartzia Bengoetxea from the Department of Forestry Sciences, LIFE URBASO aims to demonstrate that careful and appropriate planning of forest management in watersheds that feed into drinking water catchments improves the quality and increases the quantity of water captured, both of which are essential for improving human health and adapting to the uncertainties of climate change.

On behalf of NEIKER, the award was collected by Leire Barañano, its general manager, who highlighted that “with this project we will better understand the relationship between biodiversity, bioeconomy and climate resilience, based on the study of the impact of forests on water quality”.

In addition to NEIKER, the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), the University of the Basque Country-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU) and EFE are also part of the project.

More information about the project, its objectives, etc. can be found on the NEIKER website.