Masaryk University is restoring over 500 hectares of endangered wetlands within the agricultural landscape of South Moravia. As well as supporting biodiversity and improving conditions for protected species, the ‘LIFE in Salt Marshes’ project will now also focus on improving the quality of water flowing into these areas. Special biofilters capable of reducing the amount of pesticides, fertilisers and other pollutants in the water by up to 95% are to be installed at four sites this year. The project has also recently been included among the initiatives of the European mission ‘Restore Our Oceans and Waters’, which connects projects focused on restoring aquatic ecosystems across Europe.
Researchers at Masaryk University have developed a project that addresses biodiversity loss, the decline in protected species populations and issues related to wetland drainage and water pollution. “Nitrates and phosphates in the water promote the growth of fast-growing plant species, such as reeds and goldenrod. These then displace other species from the wetlands”, said Marie Kotasová Adámková, project leader of the ‘LIFE in Salt Marshes’ project at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science. “Pesticides are particularly toxic to aquatic organisms. In high doses, they cause mortality, while in lower doses they cause damage that prevents reproduction and the survival of populations. Most wastewater treatment plants today are unable to remove these substances. By installing biofilters, we can significantly reduce the amount of pollution entering valuable protected areas”, she added.
“At the project sites, we monitor groundwater levels, tributaries and water quality, and suggest appropriate measures. The most effective approach is to create a protective grassy buffer zone between agricultural land and the protected wetlands. At four of the ten project sites affected by point sources of pollution, we are installing biofilters through which water slowly flows through a filtration substrate. Filtration is provided by bacteria and the physical properties of the material. Biofilters can reduce the amount of nitrates and phosphates in water polluted by agricultural and municipalities by 90–95%, and the amount of pesticides by 70–90%”, explained Antonín Zajíček, a member of the team at the Research Institute for Soil Monitoring and Protection, a project partner.
The project, which is coordinated by Masaryk University, aims to restore more than 500 hectares of protected wetlands in the agricultural landscape of South Moravia has recently been included among the initiatives of the European mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters’. This European Union initiative aims to protect and restore the health of oceans, seas, rivers and aquatic ecosystems by 2030 through research, innovation, sustainable management and citizen engagement. Over 1,100 projects across Europe have already joined the mission. “The public and stakeholders form an integral part of the project, and local municipalities, farmers, land managers and volunteers are already involved in project activities. Our goal is to ensure that, upon completion of the project, the wetlands receive optimal long-term care through collaboration with these local entities. Participation in the ‘Restore Our Oceans and Waters’ mission will enable us to share and replicate our experiences at a pan-European level, significantly amplifying the project’s impact”, said Marie Kotasová Adámková, of Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science.
The ‘LIFE in Salt Marshes’ project is being implemented in collaboration with Masaryk University, the Research Institute for Soil Monitoring and Protection, the South Moravian branch of the Czech Ornithological Society, and the company World from Space. The project will run from 2023 to 2029, with an overall budget of 4.74 million euros.
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, 200 students aged 9-18 visited the University Campus in Bohunice as part of the MjUNI Children's University program. Lecturers from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Sports Studies prepared a rich interactive program.
A fundamental influence on a person's development is the family and teachers, who accompany and shape them throughout most of childhood, at university and in adulthood. Teachers' Day in the Czech Republic is regularly celebrated on March 28, the anniversary of the birth of J. A. Comenius.
