INTEGRI-WATER PRESENTED AT THE “PLASTIC-FREE PLIVA” FESTIVAL – CONNECTING EUROPEAN INITIATIVES FOR WATER PROTECTION
The INTEGRI-WATER – Integrated Indicators for Nutrient Pressure and Water Management project, implemented by the Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska under the Path4Med Open Call, was presented on 11 September 2026 in Jezero during the “Plastic-Free Pliva” Festival.
The Festival was organised as part of the activities of the PLASTIC-FREE PLIVA project, implemented by the Municipality of Jezero through INSPIRE – Innovative Solutions for Plastic Free European Rivers, a Horizon Europe project. INSPIRE focuses on developing and deploying solutions for the detection, collection and prevention of litter, including macro- and microplastics in European rivers, with strong engagement of local communities.
The local PLASTIC-FREE PLIVA project applies this approach directly to the Pliva River through drone-based plastic litter mapping and AI-supported analysis, the use of the MAPEO-Water platform and citizen-science tools, as well as prevention, education and community-engagement activities.
Within this context, INTEGRI-WATER was presented as a complementary European initiative addressing water protection from a different perspective. While INSPIRE and PLASTIC-FREE PLIVA focus strongly on plastic pollution and its prevention, INTEGRI-WATER develops an approach based on integrated indicators of nutrient pressure, water quality and quantity, and decision-support tools. Its demonstration area covers Banja Luka and the Vrbas River Basin.
The projects share a common principle: effective river protection requires reliable data, modern technologies, integrated monitoring and the active involvement of institutions and local communities.
A special contribution to the presentation of INSPIRE experiences was provided by Prof. Joydeep Dutta from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, who presented modern approaches and technologies for water and environmental monitoring and protection.
During the programme, Prof. Predrag Ilić, Scientific Advisor at the Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, presented the broader context of Pliva River protection, natural and anthropogenic pressures, the importance of habitat and biodiversity conservation, and the need for an integrated approach to river ecosystem management and protection.
The Festival therefore provided an important opportunity to connect the activities of PLASTIC-FREE PLIVA/INSPIRE and INTEGRI-WATER, exchange experiences and explore how different European solutions – from plastic-litter monitoring, drones and digital tools to data integration and water-quality indicators – can be applied in concrete local and regional contexts.