About the Freshwater Information Platform

Numerous EU funded projects addressing freshwater ecology and water management have generated websites, tools, databases and other products, which are intended for long-term use. However, many of them are not maintained after the project has ended and, moreover, they are dispersed across several project websites. For freshwater researchers and other users, it is challenging to gain an overview of projects and their products. The EU funded project BioFresh was the first to establish a platform bringing together information and data on freshwater biodiversity in a clearly arranged and easily explorable way.

Thereafter major European research institutes have joined forces to maintain and extend this platform as a community information resource. The scope was widened from purely biodiversity issues to all kinds of freshwater ecology, management and research topics. Our mission is to bring together the results of many projects dealing with freshwater ecosystems in a single platform. The FIP is currently fully supported through the efforts of the founding partners and partner projects. The FIP offers a collection of resources and tools to support better science, policy and management of freshwater life. Whether you are a scientist, policy maker, consultant, educator, activist or simply an interested citizen, you are sure to find something on the platform that will enrich your work or feed your curiosity. 

Project Objectives 

• Integrate and centralise freshwater knowledge and resources: consolidate dispersed data, tools, project outputs and scientific information into a single, accessible platform to overcome fragmentation and ensure long-term availability
• Support science-based management and policy: provide reliable data, visualisations, species information and analytical tools that enable evidence-based decision-making in freshwater research, conservation and ecosystem management
• Facilitate knowledge exchange across communities: connect researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and other stakeholders through a shared information infrastructure that promotes collaboration, learning and the uptake of freshwater science

Funding

The FIP is currently funded by BOKU and IGB. We acknowledge funding by the projects: BioFresh, SAFRED, MARS, AQUACROSS, MERLIN, AquaINFRA, infraFADA and BioAgora.