Partner

The Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste

The Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste (UNITS) was established in 2008 from the fusion of 4 departments, actually the largest of UNITS. The main expertise and fields of interest of the Ecology group are:

• Analysis of Ecological Systems, carrying out research into processes and patterns of terrestrial and aquatic ecological systems using multivariate analysis;
• Geographic Information Systems and Databases, for evaluating the environmental impact of human activities and for planning strategies for the rehabilitation of degraded areas;
• Remote sensing, vegetation and land use, integrating vegetation with remotely sensed data, and comparing land cover parameters with the traditional landscape classifications.

UNITS has a wide expertise in international projects, among which: “Establishment of a plant resources regional network in the SADC region” (SECOSUD), Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Coordinator); “Decision Support System for sustainable development of rural areas in Atlantic Forests (ECOMAN), EU-INCO; “Measuring, monitoring and managing sustainability: the coastal dimension”, EU-INCO; “Sustainable use of natural resources in rural systems of Eastern Africa. Strategies for environmental rehabilitation”, EU-INCO (Coordinator); “Desertification in the Mediterranean drylands: development of a monitoring system based on plant ecophysiology (DEMOS)”, EU-INCO (Coordinator); ”Development of Landscape Management Strategies for Sustainability of Natural Resources. A case study for the island of Hainan (CHINA) based on Remote Sensing and GIS Technology.”, EU-INCO (Coordinator); “Joint Environmental Decision-support Information System: information system for the efficiency assessment of actions of environmental improvement aiming at the sustainable development of the cross-border area” (JEDIS) – Interreg Italia-Slovenia (Coordinator); “Integrated System for the promotion of Territorial / Environmental Impact Assessment in the frame of spatial development” (ISOTEIA) – Interreg CADSES; “Remotely Accessed Decision Support System for Transnational Environmental Risk Management” (STRiM) - Interreg CADSES.

The Department of Life Sciences of the University of Trieste Group of Ecology (UNITS) via E.Weiss 2 – 34127 Trieste, Italy Website: www.units.it

The Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources

The Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources (CRICUWR) was established in 1961, and is affiliated since 1994 to the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus. Research projects implemented by CRICUWR covered a broad range of research fields. The multidisciplinary orientation and quality of research were secured by excellent research expertise of the staff that included 20 Professors and 100 Associated Professors. The research activities, with affiliations in Ukraine, Moldova and Russian Federation, had expanded over the whole former USSR. The international cooperation had also been of outmost importance for the Institute. The Director, Dr. Mikhail V. Kalinin, is in charge since 2003. The major fields of interest of CRICUWR are:

• Integrative environmental assessment of water resources in Belarus;
• Development of guidelines and recommendations for the management of environmental impacts on water resources; technological improvement of existing schemes of water use; development of robust systems for the monitoring of the surface and groundwaters;
• Development of international cooperation, in particular for the transboundary water systems.

It is to note that more than 220 regulations, prepared at CRICUWR, were adopted by the Belarusian Government. CRICUWR also provides research education through doctoral programs, and develops technical documentation and methodological support for the promotion of innovative technologies.