World Water Day: Insights from Giorgio Pace on River Quality
On World Water Day, we spoke with researcher Giorgio Pace to better understand the challenges facing our rivers and what we can do to protect them.
- What is your opinion on the current state of water quality in the ecosystems you study?
Unfortunately, only 37% of Europe’s surface water bodies have achieved a “good” or “high” ecological status according to the EU Water Framework Directive, and just 29% were classified as having “good” chemical status between 2015 and 2021. Portuguese rivers follow a similar trend. However, in Northern Portugal, there are still critical hotspots that require urgent attention and protection, particularly in remote areas such as Trás-os-Montes.
- What methods do you use to monitor water quality?
I focus particularly on riparian zones, including vegetation and forests. To monitor these ecosystems, I combine traditional EU-defined assessment methods with advanced remote sensing approaches, such as hyperspectral satellite imagery. These images differ from conventional ones because they capture details invisible to the human eye. Each element of the landscape—water, vegetation, or soil—has a unique “spectral signature”, which satellites can detect with high precision. This allows me to quickly identify various environmental issues, such as eutrophication, deforestation, and land-use changes, before they become visible.
- What do you suggest to improve water quality?
In short: restore and protect! We urgently need to increase riparian vegetation along riverbanks, as it acts as a natural buffer against pollution, helping to restore aquatic habitats. Additionally, it is crucial to reduce pesticide use and strengthen regulations on emerging pollutants, which are increasingly becoming an environmental challenge.
- What projects are you currently working on that contribute to improving water quality?
Through RIPARIANET, a project funded by the Biodiversa+ European Partnership, we are studying the impact of emerging pollutants, such as pesticides and microplastics, on the transfer of contaminants between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems—“From land to river”. Our goal is to identify biodiversity hotspots that require urgent protection. This project aligns with the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, an ambitious, long-term plan aimed at protecting nature and restoring ecosystems.