The methodological guide “Digital Methodology Guidelines for Phytoremediation Implementation for Catastrophic Areas” was developed within the international ROOTS project, implemented by Linnaeus University (Sweden) with the support of the Swedish Institute. The publication provides consolidated approaches and practical recommendations for applying phytoremediation to address the environmental consequences of contamination in the Baltic Sea and Central European regions, with a particular focus on challenges caused by the war in Ukraine.
An international team of researchers from Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine analyzed current methods for restoring areas affected by natural disasters and military actions. The pilot region of the project is Kharkiv Oblast, where soil and water contamination poses long-term risks to ecosystems and public health.
The guide presents phytoremediation as an environmentally safe, cost‑effective, and scalable technology for cleaning contaminated areas using plants and associated microorganisms. It includes recommendations on plant selection, field research organization, sampling procedures, data analysis, and decision‑making. Visual tools and flowcharts support step‑by‑step implementation of the methodology.
The guide was developed with the contribution of researchers and representatives of partner organisations from Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland, including Linnaeus University, Kyiv Medical University, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine, the Lithuanian Energy Institute, the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Gdańsk University of Technology, the University of Agriculture in Kraków, and the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. The project manager is Ulyana Muñoz (Linnaeus University, Sweden).
This publication will be valuable for researchers, environmental practitioners, local authorities, and community initiatives. It combines technical solutions with principles of sustainable development and strengthens regional cooperation in environmental recovery.
PDF | Digital Methodology Guidelines for Phytoremediation Implementation for Catastrophic Areas