The critical role of wetlands for European water quality

Leonardo Bertassello (), Nandita Basu, Joachim Maes, Bruna Grizzetti (), Alessandra La Notte and Luc Feyen ()
Additional contact information
Leonardo Bertassello: European Commission - JRC, https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en
Bruna Grizzetti: European Commission - JRC, https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en
Luc Feyen: European Commission - JRC, https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en

No JRC143319, JRC Research Reports from Joint Research Centre

Abstract: "In Europe, excessive inputs of nitrogen threaten ecosystems and public health. Wetlands act as natural filters, removing excess nutrients and protecting downstream waters. Using high-resolution data on nitrogen surplus and wetlands distribution, we estimate that existing European wetlands remove 1092 ± 95 kt of nitrogen per year. Restoring 27% of wetlands historically drained for agriculture (3% of land area), targeted in high nitrogen input areas, could reduce current nitrogen loads to the sea by 36%, but with potential costs to agricultural productivity. A more efficient strategy targets wetland restoration on farmlands projected to be abandoned by 2040, yielding a 22% load reduction, and enabling major rivers such as the Rhine, Elbe and Vistula to meet water quality targets with minimal agricultural impact. Our findings highlight wetland restoration as a cost-effective, policy-relevant solution that – if spatially targeted – can deliver major water quality improvements while supporting broader EU climate, biodiversity, and agricultural sustainability goals."

Date: 2025-09
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143319 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc143319

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in JRC Research Reports from Joint Research Centre Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Publication Officer ().