Common Reed (Phragmites australis) grows intensively in many coastal areas, riverbanks and lakesides worldwide. Reed is considered locally either as a nuisance or a beautiful part of the scenery or something in between – depending on where you are and who you ask from.

Wikipedia-article about Common Reed can be read here.

Versatile reed

Reed may be considered as a crop plant that grows on its own and, if properly utilized, offers many possibilities to the entrepreneurs and local people in terms of

• bioenergy potential,
• construction materials,

• material production,
• and handicrafts.

There are large red beds in Southern Finland, Estonia and Latvia, which could be sustainably utilized. Managing reed bed areas in a sustainable manner benefits the surrounding environment and local communities. Proper utilization of reed beds affects the water quality through enhanced water protection , sustains biodiversity and improves recreational and landscape values of the local environment.  

However, the practical solutions for cost effective and sustainable use of reed have not been developed and widely practically used. COFREEN-project aims to create new possibilities for using local reed cost effectively  through  studying profitable ways to harvest and use the harvested resources as well as creating social networks and raising awareness within the local communities.