Polluted rivers

fifty of the 69 rivers in Europe have poor ecological quality and most European countries have inadequate environmental monitoring systems, a new report states. Water and Wetland Index by the World Wide Fund for Nature ( wwf ) assessed the ability of freshwater systems in 16 European countries to meet requirements of the European Union's water framework directive. Impacts of canalisation, dams and pollution were cited as the main reasons for degradation of the European rivers. The report shows that Rhne, Seine, Ebro, Segura, Severn, Danube, Meuse and Scheldt are among the major rivers that need restoration and other actions to meet 'good ecological status' before the end of 2015, as required by the directive. The rivers in the uk that need to be cleaned up include the Severn, Trent, Dee, Foyle, Lagan and Bann. The uk wetlands are described as being "under constant threat." The report says that France, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey have inadequate monitoring systems and lack basic information needed to improve the state of their rivers, wetlands and scarce freshwater resources.