THE AQUATIS PROJECT

The Faculty of Geosciences and the Environment of the University of Lausanne provides its competence for the AQUATIS project in the field of research into water and the environment, it studies more particularly: the structure of the flows of mountain water and the ecology of streams; micropollutants released into the water and the state of ground water (aquifers) in Switzerland and abroad, including Lake Geneva.

The Institute of Sciences of the Environment of the University of Geneva provides its competence on the themes that cover the main fields studied there (biodiversity, climate, water, energy, towns and territories) and, more particularly, information relating to the impact of climate change.

The partnership with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation allows AQUATIS to benefit from the organisation’s long experience in the field of development aid, notably on issues of accessibility to water.

UICN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is known notably for its Red List of Threatened Species. This collaboration will encourage better knowledge of this list and the status of several species that can be seen at AQUATIS.

The Convention on wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, contributes to the Aquatis project by making available its knowledge concerning the protection of wetlands of major importance.

The partnership with the Tour du Valat Foundation allows AQUATIS to benefit from scientific contents on topics linked to Camargue and Mediterranean wetlands. It is linked to the section of the visit circuit that presents the Rhone from its source to it mouth in Carmargue. 

The CIPEL monitor the development of the quality of Lake Geneva, the Rhone and their tributaries. It ensures the maintenance or restoration of a good state of the aquatic environments, also allowing certain uses of the lake (drinking water, nautical activities, or even fishing). She brings her skills to the visiting area dedicated to Lake Geneva.

The karch provides expertise and information on the biology and behavior of reptiles and amphibians in Europe, the threats to these species and the conservation actions required.

The National Center for Scientific Research produces fundamental knowledge. Two of its laboratories pooled with the Université de Lyon are associated with Aquatis. The environment, city and society laboratory (UMR 5600) has expertise in the field of river dynamics, studying in particular the effects of anthropogenic developments and restoration actions on river forms and processes. The Ecology Laboratory for Natural and Human Hydrosystems (UMR 5023) studies the biological and ecological mechanisms involved in the functioning of hydrosystems, predicting the effects of global changes and measuring the effects of restoration operations in the Rhone.

The National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture works on the sustainable management of territories, water management and associated risks, drought, floods, floods, study of complex ecosystems and biodiversity in their interrelationships with human activities. Le centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne studies the sediments and pollutants on the Rhone river and has developed models to predict the ecological effects of the physical restoration of rivers.

The Groupe de Recherche, d'Animation technique et d'Information sur l'Eau mobilizes actors in the management of water, aquatic environments and urban planning and aims to develop a shared culture based on knowledge and exchange of experience. Among its activities, GRAIE runs two research facilities labeled by the CNRS on the Rhône: la Zone Atelier Bassin du Rhône (ZABR) and l'Observatoire Homme-Milieux Vallée du Rhône (OHM VR). These devices produce knowledge about the ecological status and socio-ecosystem functioning of the river and provide practitioners with tools for decision-making.