Code: LIFE20 ENV/ES/000687

Specific programme: LIFE Environment and Resource Efficiency

Title: Forest Based Solutions for Surface Drinking Water Protection, Biodiversity, Bioeconomy and Climate Resilience 

Acronym: URBASO

Team members:

• Iñaki Antigüedad Auzmendi (Principal Investigator)
• Maite Meaurio Arrate
• Jesús Ángel Uriarte Goti
• Ane Zabaleta Lopetegui

Participants: 

• NEIKER (Coordinador)
• Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
• Basque Centre for Climate Change
• Bilbao Bizkaia Ur Partzuergoa
• EFE

Project start: 01/09/2021 

Project end:   31/08/2025

Brief description: The LIFE URBASO project aims to show that high-quality water yield with reduced sediment load, THMs and PTAs can be maintained through careful planning and adequate forest management of the upslope areas of drinking water abstraction points. It will develop its approach in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve where 39 abstraction points are located in forested areas, of which 13 are in pine and eucalypt plantations.

LIFE URBASO will thus demonstrate an innovative methodology for improving the quantity and quality of raw water through land use management using nature-based solutions. The main objective is to protect areas for abstraction points of water for human consumption as set out in Article 6 of the Water Framework Directive.