Why should we learn about lakes?
Lakes are essential elements for nature, the economy and the society. They encompass a variety of habitats for plants and animals, provide water for the industry and civil society and are interesting tourism destinations. On account of the high value of the ecosystem lake simultaneously with a high use pressure, lakes need to be sustainably managed. However, there is a skills deficit relating to how to do this among those responsible for lakes management and a lack of suitable vocational training and education to train them. Established against the background of the EU Life Programme Leonardo Lifelong Learning, the Learning for Lakes partnership aims to bring together experts of vocational training in environmental education and practitioners in lakes management to fill this gap. Experts and lake manager from five organizations from the UK, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Hungary joined this partnership and regularly meet to discuss in-situ at the lakes about problems, solutions and sustainability. Lakes in the EU are found in a wide range of environments from shallow wetlands to mountainous uplands and the seven partners reflect this variety; each country has experience of contrasting issues to contribute to the learning process. We closely discussed the five topics Economic Development and Lake Management, Lake and Wetland Restoration, Partnership and Community Involvement, Cooperation with land managers including farmers and fishermen and science for lake management.