A Freshwater Conservation project: A Joint initiative between academia, environmental associations and companies.

Citizen science involves the participation of the public in research projects to enhance scientific knowledge. This kind of activities could bring advantages on the scientific, societal, educational and policy making levels. In the last decade, the breakout of citizen science has raised awareness across all segments of society. Major companies have begun actively participating in public participatory monitoring projects. In this case study, the University of Siena, Legambiente, and the Prada Group joined forces to support a freshwater monitoring project in an industrial area. 

The monitoring is conducted using the FreshWater Watch methodology, a well-established and scientifically validated approach used by citizens worldwide. This approach is based on visual observations and on the analysis of target freshwater parameters like nutrients and turbidity. Additionally, samples are also taken for ICP-MS analysis to provide a spatial coverage of metals presence in freshwaters. 

The project, started in October 2023, has so far proven successful in engaging stakeholders from environmental associations and workers of a renowned fashion brand, thus already providing valuable data from freshwater bodies in an industrial and urbanized area. The surveys, which will last for a year at least, are mostly conducted in the Valdarno region (Tuscany, Italy) on the Arno River and its tributaries and the data collected can be potentially used to support environmental agencies monitoring strategies.

This talk will present analytical methods and results from the surveys up to now (> 100), and will discuss how the data collected are not only scientifically useful, but also demonstrate an important societal impact of the project and an active stewardship of aquatic ecosystems by the participating stakeholders.