International co-operation

International cooperation in North Ostrobothnia Regional Environment Centre (NOREC) has increased since Finland joined the EU. NOREC participates in research- and development projects with partners from several EU-countries. It has also an important role in the implementation of EU`s Water Framework Directieve in its area.

NOREC has a long-term experience both on river status assessment, and on environmental impacts and water protection measures of diffuse source loading. Since the 80's  water protection methods for peat mining have been developed, resulting in widespread utilisation of wetlands constructed on peatlands in peat mining areas in Finland. The method has been applied also in forestry, and developed further in 2001-2004 in the PRIMROSE-project (EU 5^th Framework Programme).

NOREC has led and co-ordinated the EU LIFE-Environment projects RiverLife and Bothnian Bay Life. It has also participated the EU INCO Copernicus project Kola Water Quality. At the present it is also participating the project "Nitrogen and Greenhouse Gas Cycling in Rivers and Estuaries of the Bothnian Bay" (financed by the Academy of Finland).