WWF - Conservation and environmental news & publications: Poland

The Carpathian Convention at 10: On the map, but much left to do

2013-05-22

By Andreas Beckmann

The Carpathians turn 10 years old this month. The venerable mountains have of course been around for longer – at least 66 million years in fact. But it has been only relatively recently that the Carpathians, which stretch across seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe, have really come into focus and gained a common identity as a mountain range with unique qualities, traditions and way of life, as well as challenges shared by people living across the region.

Ten years ago, on 22 May 2003, representatives of the governments of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia put their signatures to the "Framework Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians."

Over the past decade, the "Carpathian Convention," as the agreement is more often referred to, has created a common focus and framework for identity and cooperation across the region.

Record-breaking agreement

The idea for the convention was first broached in Bucharest in 2001 at a summit of regional leaders organized by WWF and the Romanian government. Within two years, and with the support of the United Nations Environment Programme, the governments of the seven Carpathian countries had completed negotiations and inked the agreement. As far as conventions go, the Carpathian Convention was negotiated and agreed in record time.

The original framework convention has spawned a series of additional, more specific agreements between the member countries. In the past 10 years, the seven member states have adopted formal protocols on the protection of biodiversity, tourism and forests.

Implementation strategies for these protocols have been agreed or are under development. Protocols on cultural heritage and transportation are already well advanced.

Strategic guidance on adaptation to climate change is also underway and expected to be formally adopted by ministers when they meet next year. Further agreements are expected in the future, relating to agriculture, energy and regional development and spatial planning.

Paper over practice?

Critics say that, to date at least, the convention has been more about meetings and paper than actual practice. Indeed, there have been many meetings, and not all have been productive.

Even where commitments have been achieved, it is fair to ask to what extent those commitments have actually changed anything. It is simply too early to know, for example, whether the Carpathian Convention commitment to protect Europe's greatest remaining areas of virgin forest will become reality. Definitions of virgin forest will be discussed in June, to be followed then by discussion of actual protection measures to be taken.

A basic problem is that the Carpathian Convention is "soft" legislation – that is, legislation without a real bite – in contrast to EU directives and regulations, where there is the real possibility of diplomatic embarrassment and even financial fines and sanctions.

Also, while most progress has been made in terms of commitments to biodiversity protection, the key to securing this protection lies in addressing pressures in other areas, such as development of infrastructure for transportation and energy.

Habitat fragmentation is a major concern to the future of bears and other large carnivores, but so far, there has been limited progress in integrating wildlife migration corridors into transportation planning.

Similarly, the planned construction of thousands of hydropower stations across the Carpathian Mountains present an imminent threat to hundreds of streams and rivers.

Guidance for development of these projects is urgently needed to ensure that any gains in clean energy does not come at too great a cost in terms of biodiversity and other ecosystem services.

Yet it is unclear the extent to which a Carpathian Convention protocol on energy, which in any case is in the future, could address the intense pressure from investors and related political interests.

A common home

But even relatively blunt tools can be effective – for example in focusing efforts, and mobilizing cooperation and resources.

The Carpathian Convention has spawned networks of cooperation across the mountain range. Recently, 140 protected area managers and supporters came together to meet, inspire and learn from one another. Across the Carpathians, protected area managers do important work, safeguarding many of Europe's greatest natural treasures.

Indeed, over the years, a community of people and organizations has developed around and in support of the Carpathian Mountains, from government authorities to international organizations like the United Nations Environmental Programme, which currently leads the secretariat, and non-profit organizations like WWF.

Cooperation has been fostered not only across the Carpathians, but also to the Alps, with a strong partnership with the Alpine Network of Protected Areas, and the European Academy in Bolzano, an Alpine think-tank that has been giving strong support to the Carpathian Convention secretariat.

Also not to be underestimated is the importance of creating an identity and idea, and networking behind it. Ten years ago, no one spoke of the Carpathians or saw them as one range of mountains shared by different countries. Differences prevailed over things in common.

Over the past decade, this has clearly changed. The Carpathians today have become a term like the Alps, a badge of identity and pride for the countries and the people living in these areas.

Nevertheless, the Carpathian Mountains are an area of extraordinary qualities and treasures, part of WWF's Green Heart of Europe initiative, and those treasures are being lost. The extent to which they survive will be the ultimate test for the convention. A good start has been made, but much remains to be done.

Andreas Beckmann is director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme, which has been closely involved in the development of the Carpathian Convention.

Learn more about the Carpathian Convention at: http://www.carpathianconvention.org/

From Estonia to Poland – one of Europe's largest predators relocated for survival

2010-11-26

Warsaw – WWF plans to introduce lynx from Estonia into the Polish forests of Piska and Napiwodzko-Ramuckie in order to combat the declining population in the country. The first felines should be relocated by February 2011.

Bobcat numbers have been decreasing dramatically in Poland in the past 20 years resulting in the listing of the species, mainly threatened by hunting and habitat loss, in the Polish red Book of Animals in 1995.

'The lynx's survival is at stake in Poland. With the transfer of animals from Estonia, we hope to repopulate the forests and prevent the species from extinction in the country' said Pawel Sredzinski, leader of the WWF Poland Lynx Campaign.

Lynx population in Poland have benefitted from a ban prohibiting hunting passed in 1995.

In Estonia, it is estimated that over a hundred animals are hunted annually. The situation of Estonian lynx's population is stable.

WWF started raising funds to pay for the transfers. The cost of relocating just one lynx is 10'000 Zloty, almost eight times more than the country's minimum wage.

There are currently only 200 lynx in Poland. Most of them live in the Polish Carpathians but an estimated 60 felines live in the Piska and Napiwodzko-Ramuckich forests where the Estonia bobcats will be introduced.

Stressed Baltic faces uncontrolled growth

2010-08-24

Stockholm, Sweden: The Baltic, one of the world's most stressed seas, faces uncontrolled growth in demands for space and resources over the next 20 years, according to WWF projections released this week.

Future trends in the Baltic Sea details many sectors growing several hundred per cent, highlighting the inadequacies of sector by sector and country by country planning.

Taking shipping as an example, the number of ships plying the Baltic is expected to double in the next two decades, as will be the cargo carried. Cruise ship use of the Baltic will increase several fold. While the number of ports will remain constant, many will increase their size and capacity and more dredging is expected as a result.

The increased shipping will need to be more careful of wurling windmill blades, with the wind energy sector expected to increase today's capacity by more than 6,000%. Anchors will also be more likely to encounter electric cables and pipelines.

"The situation we have today is the result of many years of bad planning and lack of leadership," says Ottilia Thoreson, Manager of the Baltic Ecoregion Programme at WWF-Sweden. "If we continue in this way, it will lead to even more competition and conflicts between sectors, resulting in even more pressure on the marine resources the Baltic Sea provides us with."

One area that needs growth, Marine Protected Areas, is hardly assured of it. With only 12 percent currently protected, WWF estimates an additional 20 percent of the Baltic's area is required to help in restoring the sea to health.

Today, none of the open basins in the Baltic Sea have a "good ecosystem health status" according to a recent study by Helcom, the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. Of 24 ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea, less than half were operating properly.

"As long as the use of the sea is managed sector by sector and country by country, it will be impossible to take the hard decisions that are necessary", says Ottilia Thoreson. "We believe that this is one of the reasons why it has been so difficult to save the Baltic Sea".

There is also a large economic benefit to improved sea use planning. A report that was recently released by the European Commission concludes that better maritime planning in European waters could generate as much as 1.3 billion euro in 2020 and up to 1.8 billion in 2030.

In the "Future Trends" report, WWF concludes that the only way to avoid chaos in the Baltic Sea is a more integrated approach to sea use management

The report was issued during this year's Baltic Sea Festival. n 2007, WWF instituted an award, the WWF Baltic Sea Leadership Award. WWF bestows this award when the organisation is inspired and moved by specific acts of true leadership – providing the rest of us with great examples to celebrate and demonstrate as examples for others. This year the Award was presented to Poul Degnbol, Head of the Advisory Programme at ICES (the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) and former Scientific Advisor at the European Commission, with the following motivation:

"WWF applauds Poul Degnbol for taking the initiative during his five years within the European Commission to champion the need for, and benefits of, sustainability and integrating the ecosystem based approach to fisheries management within the Common Fisheries Policy which has made a real difference for the Baltic Sea. WWF also recognizes his leadership to advocate for enhanced stakeholder engagement and a more transparent regional decision-making approach to fisheries management based on scientific advice."

For more information, please contact:
Ottilia Thoreson, Programme Manager, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme
Tel: +46 (0)8- 624 74 15
Email: ottilia.thoreson@wwf.se

Flood plain failures lead to tragedy in Poland

2010-05-25

Warsaw, Poland: Poland's devastating floods have been worsened by over-reliance on flood embankments and over-development of flood plains, WWF-Poland said today.

The global environment group, which has been agitating in Poland for modern systems of natural complementary flood protection since devastating floods in 1997, said it greatly regretted the loss of life of property in current floods.

"But in Poland, despite losses caused every year by floods and appeals from NGOs such as WWF. the same mistakes continue to be repeated over and over again," said Piotr Nieznański, Head of Conservation for WWF Poland.

"Uncontrolled development of areas at risk from flooding is considered at present as one of the most important causes of mounting economic and social losses resulting from river flooding.

"At the same time, already three quarters of floodplains of the Odra and the Vistula river in Poland have been confined inside flood embankments and open for development even though it is common knowledge that the flood embankments do not guarantee 100% safety to these areas."

For rivers – space, for humans – safety

During thirteen years which elapsed since the great flood of 1997 WWF published and distributed to local authorities brochure "For rivers – space, for humans – safety", which emphasises the need for a series of new solutions to improve flood safety. This material was passed to local authorities 8 years ago, after the 2001 Vistula floods.

In developed countries preventing development in floodplain areas is a fundamental rule of flood protection.

Moreover, a legal expert study was sent out to Water Management Boards on the subject of legal regulations which could be used to hold back development in floodplain areas.

The Odra River Floodplains Atlas, developed ten years ago also made it possible to designate areas where water may flood safely without causing damage along the entire course of this river.

In 2007 WWF-Poland, in cooperation with the Regional Board for Water Management Wrocław, developed and passed on to the commune authorities on the Odra information material and maps showing areas at risk from flooding in the Odra valley in the Lower Silesian voivodship.

These were to be taken into account when planning development in individual communes so that the commune authorities would not issue permits for development in areas potentially at risk from flooding.

The majority of these communes declare that they have been using these maps while issuing decisions on development and hold back building construction and project investments from entering areas most threatened by flooding.

In cooperation with local self-governments and state administration WWF has also been running a project which involves setting back some 7.5 km of embankments several score metres from the Odra to help obtain an additional area of around 700 ha where the river could flood without causing damage This should help improve flood safety of two localities which were affected by the 1997 flood and, at the same time, restore the good status of areas valuable for nature.

"It is a pity that Poland does not take advantage of a huge potential for water storage in areas where river flooding does not cause great losses," said Nieznański. "Designation and appropriate adjustment of these areas in the valleys of Poland's rivers would make it possible to reduce the threat in areas with development.

"Unfortunately, this has not met with the understanding of the decision makers who continue to believe that merely raising the level of flood embankments or construction of reservoirs will change the situation."

More and more rivers around the world have been seeing projects to restore wetlands as natural wet and dry season reservoirs, with dramatic reductions in flood damage being only one of the benefits. Other projects have reduced the canalisation of rivers and increased access to flood plains.

"Non-technical programmes on behalf of flood effects mitigation and natural storage preservation ought to be implemented consistently by successive governments," said Nieznański. "Unfortunately, they continue to be treated marginally even though they are a crucial element for reducing the consequences of flooding.

"We hope that changes announced by the representatives of the highest authorities will guarantee the possibility to purchase land most often open to disaster which will help to resettle inhabitants of these areas to safer places.

"Unfortunately, interest in floods tends to increase only with increase in the level of the flood wave, but let us hope that the latest developments will force the politicians to make true the promises of a comprehensive renovation of the flood protection system"

Contact:

Piotr Nieznański, Head of Conservation, WWF Poland, +48 601 817 060, pnieznanski@wwf.pl

Anna Drążkiewicz, + 48 692 452 118, adrazkiewicz@wwf.pl

WWF and Industry Leaders join forces to save European fisheries

2010-04-28

Brussels, Belgium: Global environment organisation WWF and the leading associations for European seafood processors and retailers today announced they will work together to push for solutions to the crisis of European seas and fisheries.

The EU Fish Processors' and Traders' Association, AIPCE-CEP, and Eurocommerce, which represents retail, wholesale and international trade interests to the EU, and WWF will be jointly seeking reforms to the troubled European Common Fisheries Policy to lay the basis for sustainable fisheries and a sustainable fishing industry.

The current EU Common Fisheries Policy has failed to secure the health of EU fisheries, and has put most of them under severe strain, compromising the ability to offer the EU population the sustainably harvested fish they are demanding.

"In the last decade conservationists and the seafood industry have definitely changed. Where once we might have been adversaries, today we are allies and all agree that without these key reforms we will not be able to bring European fisheries back to wide scale health and prosperity," said Tony Long, Director of the WWF European Policy Office.

"Today's alliance already represents a very significant portion of the supply chain from the processing and trading sector and the retail sector, and from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Sustainability is a conservation necessity and a business necessity today."

AIPCE President Guus Pastoor said "For the sake of an improved CFP, EU Fish processors and traders are convinced that it is necessary to join forces to achieve sustainable and profitable fisheries for the future of all EU citizens. Therefore we feel committed to support an alliance of partners seeking for a reform which meets the needs of the sector."

Xavier Durieu, Secretary General of EuroCommerce, said "The commerce sector is committed to play an active role in helping to achieve a sustainable and well managed supply of fish, which in turn should enable retailers to meet the growing consumer demand for healthy and environmentally friendlier fish and aquaculture products."

The alliance is seeking the replacement of "political quotas" for fish with mandatory long term management plans firmly based on science for all EU fisheries by 2015.

The alliance is also seeking to have all regional stakeholders play effective roles in developing fisheries plans and a culture of compliance for fisheries.

Strong EU standards should also apply wherever the EU fishes and this should be reflected in EU fishery and trade polices and fishing agreements and partnerships.

Fisheries policy should also seek to maximise value from catch to consumer, avoiding waste and ensuring stable supplies of seafood and added value at each stage of supply chain.

In the next months WWF and its allies will present their shared position to members of the European Commission and the Parliament involved in the reform of European fisheries and actively engage more and more national offices and companies to move towards sustainable and well-managed fisheries inside and outside Europe.

For further information:
Stefania Campogianni, Press Officer, WWF European Policy Office, Tel. +32 (0)2 743 88 15,
Mob: (0) 499 539736, Email: scampogianni@wwfepo.org
Aurora Vicente, Secretary General, AIPCE-CEP, tel. +32 (0)2 743 87 44, Email: aipce@agep.eu
Marina Valverde Lopez, Adviser on Food Policy and Consumers, Eurocommerce,
tel. +32 (0)2 737 0584, Email: valverdelopez@eurocommerce.be

This press release and related material is available on www.panda.org/eu
.

Out-of-court negotiations lay way for less damaging Baltic pipleline

2010-04-23

Berlin, Germany - The controversial Baltic Sea gas pipeline is to be less damaging to the vulnerable sea following out-of-court negotiations between proponents Nord Stream and WWF-Germany and BUND (the German chapter of Friends of the Earth).

Under the agreement, Nordstream will modify construction procedures to better protect the environment, greatly increase funding for nature conservation activities, provide more in compensation and provisions for nature conservation measures.

BUND and WWF will discontinue their legal action against the zoning approval and hence waive the option tohave construction work stopped.

"The agreement is a trailblazing success for the protection of the Baltic Sea", notes Jochen Lamp, head of the Baltic Sea office of WWF Germany.

The operators are guaranteeing that they will implement additional measures to protect nature during the construction of the pipeline, going so far as to implement a modified concept of digging. Funds for compensation measures and nature conservation tasks and maintenance will be increased by more than €10m.

On the crucial Greifswald bodden Nord Stream has agreed to considerably reduce disruptions from construction activity, with marsh soil rich in slush now to be transported to onshore dumps or used as construction material. This will eliminate unnecessary water turbidity which would have killed soil organisms and benefit herring spawn.

The company also entered into an agreement with fishers, which will see the the fishing season for herring in the Greifswald bodden reduced by ten days during next year's spawning season.

In addition to the requirements imposed by the public authorities, Nord Stream will contribute €10 million for the implementation of nature conservation measures in the Baltic Sea.

Nature reserves as large as up to 1,000 hectares are to be created in order to compensate for damage caused during construction, with Nord Stream paying for maintenance of these areas for a term of 35 years.

Furthermore, the company will provide a guarantee for remedial action concerning unforeseeable environmental impacts of the pipeline.

The additional funds can now be used to develop and implement nature protection projects in the Baltic Sea habitats in due time. These projects include, for instance, steps to remedy the low oxygen content in the sea which is burdened anyway.

Other options include the creation of large wetlands near the coast and the relocation of dams in order to create space for flooded salt marshes.

Notes Corinna Cwielag, managing director of BUND Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: "We have achieved far more for Baltic Sea protection than public authorities were able or willing to do.

"We have achieved a revision of the approval by the mining authorities which foresaw compensation of just 40 percent - and hence also achieved the main goal of our action."

Eberhard Brandes, head of WWF Germany, called it a "historical achievement" as the first time that a material value visible for investors had been defined for nature on the seafloor and costs had been identified for intervention in marine nature.

This would set standards for the future, he said.

Seven steps to save the Baltic Sea

2010-02-09

Ban of phosphates in detergents, cleaning up remaining Helcom hotspots and a network of marine protected areas are among seven simple actions which could help save one of the most threatened sea areas in the world.

WWF and its partners have published a set of recommendations ahead of the Baltic Sea Action Summit which will take place in Helsinki on the 10 th of February.

Prime Ministers and Heads of States, together with companies and organisations will meet this week in the Finnish capital to agree on "practical commitments to save the Baltic Sea".

The Finnish president Tarja Halonen and the Swedish king, Carl XVI Gustaf, also president of the Council of WWF Sweden, are among the participants.

"Strong leadership and urgent action is needed from all countries around the Baltic to save our joint sea. Good ambitions and bold commitments are very important, but words need to be followed by concrete action to a greater extent than today if we are to see any actual improvements in the sea", said Mats Abrahamsson, Director, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme.

WWF has compiled a list of seven simple things that can be done right now in the short term to improve the state of the Baltic Sea. Many of these measures have already been "promised" by the Baltic Sea governments.

"We certainly need to continue to work within regional and European institutions to establish solid long term change processes that have a chance to match the severity and complexity of the problems" said Mats Abrahamsson." However, while we work on these long term processes, there are several things that can be done now in the short term to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.

The seven simple things proposed by WWF are: Ban all uses of phosphates in detergents, introduce a tax on N and P in mineral fertilizers, ban fishing of eel until the stock is recovered and restore inland migration routes, ratify the Ballast Water Convention, clean up remaining Helcom hotspots, provide adequate port reception facilities for cruise ship sewage and establish a network of marine protected areas

"These measures can be achieved by with very small changes to existing legislations and budgets. They are far from what is needed to restore the Baltic Sea to a good environmental status, but we think they could be a good start, concluded Mats Abrahamsson

Background: WWF, through its Baltic Ecoregion Programme , is cooperating with governments, businesses, scientists and other organisations around the Baltic Sea to involve all nations, all sectors and all stakeholders in a coordinated process to plan the use of the sea and its resources, in an ecosystem-based approach, with the aim of both saving the environment and facilitating economic development.

Governmental initiatives include the 1977 Helsinki Convention and all its ministerial declarations; the Baltic Sea Environmental Declaration of 9 April 1992; the Baltic 21 agenda, initiated by the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Sea countries in 1996; the Baltic Sea Action Plan of November 2008; and lately the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, adopted by the European Council in October 2009.

Subsidies contribute to harming Baltic Sea instead of saving it

2009-06-17

The majority of subsidies given to Baltic Sea fisheries and agriculture have a negative impact on the health of the sea, a new WWF report says.

Some 14 billion euros of taxpayers' money is distributed to these sectors in the region every year. But according to WWF at least 84 percent of this cash pile is being used in an environmentally harmful way or instead of serving the public good is supporting purely profit related activities.

A previous Swedish Environment Protection Agency showed that the minimum cost to reach the environmental targets for eutrophication and fisheries in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan is calculated to be approximately €2.6 billion per year.

"This shows that we have enough money to save the Baltic Sea," says Lasse Gustavsson, the CEO of WWF Sweden. "Just the money provided to the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the form of misdirected subsidies equals four times the amount of money needed to save the Baltic Sea."

Parallel to the report on subsidies, WWF released its vision statements for the future of European agricultural policy and the European fisheries policy.

Both of these documents state that public funding should only be used to pay for those goods and services that benefit us all, but are not paid for by the market; services like the sustainable management of common resources, biodiversity protection or the maintenance of cultural values.

"The distribution of subsidies today reflects the outcome of political negotiations rather than an objective assessment of the needs of these sectors, the appropriate use of public funding in response to these needs, or a consideration of the amount of funding required", says Lasse Gustavsson.

"Delivering public goods should be the primary purpose of public funding, and this is likely to require substantial investments in the Baltic Sea region also in the future".

According to WWF the most urgent measure to solve the fisheries crisis is to bring down fishing over-capacity to a sustainable level. Today subsidies are used both to scrap vessels and to support increased fishing. The report shows that the cost to bring down over-capacity would be less than zero – it would be a net gain for society.

In order to put agriculture policy on a more sustainable track the WWF vision states the importance of working in partnership with environmental NGOs, farmers' representatives and others to develop a new Common Environment and Rural Policy for implementation in 2019.

The full report and the vision papers are available at www.panda.org/baltic

River managers plan a bleak water future for Europe

2009-05-29

Brussels, Belgium: An ambitious European scheme to fix and safeguard its rivers and secure its water future is at risk of being undermined by poor and inadequate plans for water management prepared by EU countries, a new study by WWF and European Environment Bureau (EEB) has found.

The analysis has found none of the draft plans rates well across a range of water safety, conservation and management measures.

"The European Water Framework Directive when adopted in 2000 was far from perfect but it had the makings of a world-leading vision to change the ways we manage, use and value water at a time when the worlds water future looked much more secure than it does today ," said Sergey Moroz, Water Policy Officer at WWF.

Despite increasing water challenges exacerbated by climate change, draft plans developed so far by Member States are generally putting off major and necessary decisions, providing few mechanisms and little funding to achieve good status for water bodies.

"in the interests of agriculture and industry to become less vulnerable"

"These plans dont create an impression that we are finally departing from the unsustainable practices that led us to the current water crisis," said Pieter de Pous, EEB Water Policy Officer." For example, it is in the interests of agriculture and industry to become less vulnerable to increasingly insecure water supplies but there is very little in the plans when it comes to reducing their water consumption."

What future for EUs water? expresses particular concerns with increasingly water scarce Italy and Greece where it is unclear whether they are actually planning to finalise plans even remotely comparable to what the rest of Europe is doing.

Some countries like the Netherlands that have lost much of their natural rivers and waters in the past, are now starting initiatives to give rivers more space for flooding and thus improving their ability to face future climate change impacts. The Netherlands also managed to secure funding for river restoration, although the amounts are still inadequate.

Worrying diverging trends now emerge from Eastern and Southern Europe, like in Czech Republic and Portugal, where rivers continue to be poured into concrete straightjackets for the purpose of navigation, flood defence or hydropower, said de Pous.

In Portugal up to 10 new dams for hydropower are currently proposed for construction without any adequate consideration of the likelihood that there may not be enough water to run them.

"need to be visionary to tackle lasting food and energy security, public health and climate challenges"

Water pollution remains a serious issue also not sufficiently addressed in the majority of plans and large portions of Europes waters remain at risk of becoming unavailable or in need of expensive treatment.

Water efficiency measures were particularly poor in most draft plans. A partial exception was France's Loire Bretagne basin where a water efficiency objective is proposed for drinking water supply for rural and urban areas.

"To tackle Europes water challenges, Member States plans need to be visionary, abandoning a minimalist approach to implementation and becoming the central plank of efforts to tackle lasting food and energy security, public health and climate challenges," said Moroz.

Public consultation on the draft river plans is set to close at the end of June. EU Member States will have to finalise their water plans by the end of the year and send them to the European Commission.

5 years on, EU accession scores some wins for nature conservation

2009-05-01

Five years after the EU's "big bang" enlargement to the East and South, some wins have been scored for nature conservation in the new member states.

The ten countries that on May 1, 2004 pinned their stars to the EU flag – including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania as well as Cyprus and Malta – are the EU's treasure troves of natural wealth, including some of its greatest natural forests, wilderness and cultural landscapes.

Accession to the EU has brought some solid advances for nature protection in the countries, but has not been a panacea for persisting challenges. At the same time, still unreformed EU policies and programmes have brought new threats to the EU's newest heritage.

EU legislation
Over the last several years, the EU's Natura 2000 network of specially protected sites – the cornerstone of the EU's system for nature protection – has been extended to include the new member states. As a result, 142,540 km2 (an area roughly twice the size of Ireland) have been added to the EU's "safety net for nature", which now covers some 17% of all EU territory. The protective folds of the network cover plants and animals of European and even global importance, including e.g. the European lynx (Lynx lynx), Brown bears (Ursos arctos) and outstanding sites from the Bialowieza primeval forest in Poland to Triglav National Park in Slovenia.

Some of the EU's new members have overtaken older member states in implementing the EU nature legislation. Slovenia has designated 35% of its territory as part of the Natura 2000 network. The Czech Republic can serve as an example to other member states for some of its management systems for the new areas.

Many challenges remain. While now on paper, the Natura 2000 network is only gradually being put into actual practice. In Slovakia, for example, many protected areas, like the Tatras National Park, are threatened by development of ski facilities and other tourism infrastructure, despite being part of the Natura 2000 network.

Despite reforms in recent years, the EU's Common Agricultural Policy continues to favour industrial agriculture systems that undermine the rich biological diversity. There are still problems with targeting some of the agri-environmental programmes that are specifically dedicated to promoting nature conservation.

At the same time, EU development funds often serve to undermine natural treasures. EU and national safeguards, like Environmental Impact Assessments, which should ensure that environmental considerations are properly taken into account in planning and project development, are often ineffective or poorly applied in the new member states, providing little more than a green fig leaf.

Despite the challenges, there are clear cases where the application of EU legislation has already made a real difference. EU legislation backed by pressure from the European Commission has saved the Rospuda Valley in northeastern Poland. Bowing to pressure from the European Commission and a case before the European Court of Justice, the Polish government has called off longstanding plans to build a major motorway through the globally important area and is considering alternative routes.

Similar conflicts may be avoided in future as the Polish government has introduced measures to more fully integrate environmental concerns in planning for infrastructure developments before steps are taken toward implementation.

No panacea

"EU legislation and policies provide us with some powerful instruments for promoting nature conservation and the environment in these countries, but not a panacea for all problems – and probably cannot be expected to do so," said Alberto Arroyo, said WWF's Natura 2000 coordinator.

Legislation on paper must be applied in practice – and much of this comes down to the efforts not only of authorities and the European Commission, but also and especially citizens and environmental organizations as independent advocates for the preservation of Europe's riches. Behind the European Commission's action to save the Rospuda Valley in Poland were thousands of active citizens and organizations that raised public awareness and concern of the issue.

This experience is borne out by the newest EU member states Romania and Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, a growing public movement is actively opposing often illegal construction of ski and tourism facilities in many of the country's most outstanding protected areas. In January, thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets for a week in the nation's capital to protest – and ultimately stop – legislation that would have opened loopholes for developers to destroy natural areas throughout the country. According to a recent public opinion survey, 85% of Bulgarians now think that nature conservation and protected areas are a major concern in their country.

Prospects for next members

Many of the countries still waiting at the doorstep to EU accession bring with them a similarly rich dowry in natural wealth. Croatia, a candidate for EU membership, packs an astonishing diversity of natural riches in a relatively small area, from the striking karst landscape of the central part of the country to the marine wonders on the Adriatic coast. Turkey, also a candidate country, is a nature tycoon, boasting as many species of plants and animals as the rest of Europe combined, including many that are unique to the country.

Potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans like Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro host important freshwater ecosystems, including the most extended network of subterranean rivers and lakes in Europe, alluvial forests and wetlands of international importance, such as the Neretva delta (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Croatia), and Skadar/Shkodra Lake (Montenegro/Albania).

Preparation for implementation of EU nature conservation legislation and policies is in full swing in most countries. Croatia is already well on its way to bringing a large part of its natural treasures into the Natura 2000 network, and Serbia is just beginning a major EU-financed project to prepare the country for the legislation.

If the experience of past new member states is an indication, holding onto these treasures will require not only the committed application of key EU legislation, e.g. related to the Natura 2000, but also further reforms of EU policies and programmes, including the Common Agricultural Policy and the Regional Funds.

The best opportunity for implementing these reforms is coming up with the programming for the next financial period, 2013-20, which is already getting underway. It will be essential to ensure that environment and nature conservation are fully and effectively integrated into the new policies – and then also applied in actual practice.

For many of Europe's greatest natural treasures, the EU still holds much promise – and threat.

Andreas Beckmann is Deputy Director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme

WWF gives Europe a roadmap to Copenhagen

2009-02-27

Brussels, Belgium: With a series of critical European Union meetings on a new global climate deal about to begin, WWF has set out what Europe needs to do to grow in a green way while contributing to helping the world avoid passing the 2 degree threshold of warming that presents unacceptable risks of catastrophic climate change.

"There is a clear link to be made between ambitious climate policies and a new phase of economic growth," said Stephan Singer, Director of Energy Programme at WWF International.

"The recent financial bailouts prove that when governments decide to fix a problem, money and regulatory instruments are there. There is no excuse to treat the climate crisis with less support and attention."

The WWF roadmap to a successful new global agreement in Copenhagen in December would see Europe radically strengthen its announced commitments of cutting emissions by just 20 per cent by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2050.

European environment ministers will consider target developed and undeveloped country emissions to take to Copenhagen at Monday's EU Environment Council meeting in Brussels.

Commit to zero net emissions

Based on various studies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios, WWF says that emissions will have to be reduced by at least 80 percent by 2050 globally to keep warming below 2°C. In compliance with its fair share of responsibility, the EU must commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

The IPCC also said that industrial countries will have to reduce their greenhouse gases by between 25 and 40% by 2020. The current EU target is only 20%, with a possibility to increase to 30% if other developed nations will join an international agreement.

These targets are clearly at the lower end of the IPCC scale, and even lower in reality considering that EU countries are allowed to fulfil up to two thirds of their commitment by way of certificates for projects in developing countries (the so-called CDM credits).

At the forthcoming Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) meeting on Tuesday March 10, European finance ministers will consider both the plan to boost economic recovery in Europe and financing climate protection measures.

WWF said Ecofin must come to grips with the fact that so far EU countries have failed to seriously face the challenge and to see the opportunities created by a greener economy.

Today, the fossil fuel energy sector in the EU-15 countries still receives about €20 billion of subsidies, equal to 0.2% Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Europe imports about 4.8 billion barrels of oil per year, equal to 3% of GDP. Natural gas imports are another 3% of GDP.

According to the European Commission, between 600,000 and 900,000 jobs can be created by renewable energy by 2020, compared to today's 150,000 jobs. As a comparison, the cement and the steel sectors – some of those crying wolf about strong climate measure – employ about 60,000 and 300,000 people respectively.

With finance to developing countries being touted as a make or break issue at Copenhagen, WWF is calling for European contributions for clean technology and reduced deforestation in developing countries to
amount to €35 billion per year, in addition to the long-time promised 0.7% GDP for development aid.

Funding of climate protection measures (avoidance, adaptation and forest protection) needs to be sustainable, predictable and controlled in a transparent manner by the international community.

The European Commission's current proposal also fails to address the enormous potential of energy efficiency, with an almost complete lack of concrete proposals for technology co-operation.

WWF says that the EU financing of technology development and research should be increased by a factor of 10 compared to current levels by 2020, particularly for renewable energies, energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The EU should also promote the setting up of a technology action programme under the UNFCCC to protect intellectual property rights and promote innovation.

Outcomes from the Ecofin and Environment Council meetings are scheduled to be considered by EU Heads of State at a European Council meeting on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March. Some issues however may carry over to when Sweden assumes the presidency of the EU

Ski champions demand climate action in Poznan

2008-12-05

Poznan, Poland: With snowy winters and ski resorts under threat from climate change, world-famous skiers and snowboarders are calling on governments attending the UN climate talks in Poznan to rapidly reduce global emissions. At a WWF action in Poznan, athletes performed a series of tricks expressing their support for urgent action against rising temperatures.

The skiers - including Olympic and world champions from the US like Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso as well as world and European champions from Poland like Magdalena Gwizdoń and Tomasz Sikora – have signed onto an urgent appeal by WWF. It addresses Maciej Nowicki, the Polish Environment Minister and President of the Poznan talks, and other Poznan delegates.

"From the European Alps to the Asian Himalayas, the US Rockies and the Central American Andes, global warming means milder winters and less snowfall", the petition said. "Ice and snow are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming, and as avid skiers and snowboarders we see our beloved sports endangered."

The signatories demand a new global climate treaty which is ambitious enough to keep global warming below the danger-threshold of 2°C. They urge a peak of global emissions well before 2020 and a reduction of 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. As a crucial first step, they call on industrialized countries to cut their emissions by 25 to 40% by 2020.

"Skiers are first-hand witnesses of the destructive power of climate change, seeing glaciers retreat and snowpack disappear with their own eyes", says Kim Carstensen, Leader of the WWF Global Climate Initiative. "These massive changes endanger important species and alpine ecosystems and threaten local communities depending on tourism and winter sports."

According to science, glaciers in the European Alps have decreased by at least 50% since 1850. If climate change intensifies as projected in upcoming decades, the snowline will move from 1200 to 1800 meters above mean sea level, leaving only 44% of existing ski centers with enough snow for the whole season.

Nearly all glaciers surveyed in Alaska are melting, with thinning rates in the last 5 to 7 years rising to more than twice those seen in previous years. Glaciers in the Northern Andes are receding rapidly and losses accelerated in the 1990s. The majority of Himalayan glaciers have also been retreating and thinning over the past 30 years, with accelerated loss in the last and current decade.

Tuna commission comes up with "a disgrace, not a decision"

2008-11-24

Marrakech, Morocco - The commission tasked with preventing a collapse of the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery today opted for catch quotas still far higher than its own scientists recommend and leaving industrial fleets free to scoop up tuna at the height of its spawning period.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, for the past week, brushed aside its own review's description of its management of the bluefin fishery as "an international disgrace" to endorse a total allowable catch (TAC) of 22,000 tonnes for next year.

ICCAT's own scientists had recommended a TAC ranging 8,500 to 15,000 tonnes per year, warning there were real risks of the fishery collapsing otherwise. The scientists also urged a seasonal closure during the fragile spawning months of May and June, while today's outcome allows industrial fishing in practice up to 20 June.

"This is not a decision, it is a disgrace which leaves WWF little choice but to look elsewhere to save this fishery from itself," said Dr Sergi Tudela, head of WWF Mediterranean's fisheries programme, speaking from Marrakech.

"Any alternative is preferable to an organization which boasts of its respect for science but where in a decade catches have gone from twice to four times the scientific recommendations, with massive legal and illegal overfishing. It is clear that the only thing to slow the fishery with ICCAT at the helm is running out of fish."

The European Union drove today's decision, supported by Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Syria and later joined by Japan.

Japan had initially been party to a US, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Iceland and Brazil proposal, supported by a brace of developing nations, to fix the allowed catch at the upper levels recommended by scientists and closing the fishery for the full spawning period.

The debate has been marred by allegations of the European Commission threatening developing state members with trade retaliations should they support lower catch limits and extended closed seasons, with the names of some nations appearing and disappearing from the more scientifically-based proposals.

"ICCAT's string of successive failures leaves us little option now but to seek effective remedies through trade measures and extending the boycott of retailers, restaurants, chefs and consumers," Dr Tudela said.
WWF has been urging a suspension of the out-of-control fishery, an option endorsed by the recent World Conservation Congress and recommended by ICCAT's own internal high-level review.

The world's largest bluefin tuna trader, Mitsubishi, signalled earlier in November that it would "reassess" its "involvement in this business" should ICCAT continue to be unable to sustainably manage the fishery.

"WWF will also actively push for a listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in the hope that stringent trade controls tied explicitly to the survival of the species will turn around the half-hearted attempt at fisheries management shown here by ICCAT and especially its European contingent."

CITES next meets in Doha in January 2010 with submissions on listings required by August 2009.
"Today's outcome is a recipe for economic as well as biological bankruptcy with the European Union squarely to blame," said Dr Tudela.

"Bluefin consumption in the main consumer market of Japan is expected to drop from 18,000 tonnes due to the economic crisis, with around 30,000 tonnes of frozen bluefin already in Hong Kong and Japan and additional unknown amounts in other Asian countries and in freezer ships.

"Our industry sources also tell us that there are 7,000 tonnes of illegally fished tuna in fattening cages across the Mediterranean that nobody wants to buy."

The moratorium option, which the scientific panel said would lead to the quickest recovery in bluefin stock and the best future prospects for fulfilling ICCAT's charter of delivering a long-term sustainable fishery, was not even given consideration by the commission in Marrakech despite increasing support for this option from European fishermen.

Europe sits on damning bluefin tuna report

2008-11-14

Barcelona, Spain: A European fisheries report demonstrating continuing widespread infringements by bluefin tuna fleets despite increased fleet surveillance in the Mediterranean has been delayed until after the conclusion of next week's key international tuna commission meeting to decide on a new management regime for the fishery.

The existence of the report, revealed today by The Economist, undermines Europe's promise of support for strong action possibly including temporary closure of the fishery at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting in Marrakech, Morocco.

It also undermines European claims that it is bringing rampant bluefin overfishing under control, with a summary hurriedly produced after repeated demands from the European Parliament noting that extensive consultations with fishers and improved surveillance and inspections had little effect on the low priority industry gave to ICCAT rules.

"After decades of ignoring the science, ICCAT and member states are now trying to outdo each other in rhetoric about how much the science must matter," said Dr Sergi Tudela, Fisheries director for WWF Mediterranean.

"The information gathered by Europe's Community Fisheries Control Agency provides unprecedented data on the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery that would have been extremely precious for ICCAT scientists to make appropriate management recommendations.

"Shockingly, this valuable information has been kept hidden from scientists, thus undermining the quality of fisheries management advice – and the European Community, representing all EU Members States at ICCAT, must be held responsible for this."

Earlier this year, WWF welcomed Europe's promise of vastly improved inspection and surveillance of the bluefin fleet and fattening farms by the CFCA, based in Vigo, Spain.

The Economist claims that a comprehensive CFCA report - the product of a €20 million investment in seeking to reign in the bluefin fishery - went to the European Commission in August and that an abbreviated version only was provided to the European Parliament's Fisheries Commission earlier this month.

The abbreviated version is alarming enough, noting that "the level of apparent infringements detected in the tugs and the purse seiner fleet is considerable", "the (illegal) use of spotter planes for searching bluefin tuna concentrations is still wide spread" and "as regards the recording and reporting of bluefin tuna catches . . . the ICCAT rules have not been generally respected".

European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has said that the last management rules for this beleaguered fishery – agreed at a previous ICCAT meeting in Dubrovnik in 2006 – would work, as long as there was compliance with the rules.

"This latest evidence of widespread non-compliance, information that has been hidden from ICCAT scientists and decision-makers, should be case enough that the only solution now is to close the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery – pending a complete overhaul of the fiasco," Dr Tudela said.

Stronger European climate action could have €25 billion health benefit

2008-10-01

Brussels, Belgium – Health savings of up to €25 billion could be achieved every year in Europe if the European Union immediately opted for stronger climate policies, says a new study published by health and environment NGOs..

The report. The Co-benefits to Health of a Strong EU Climate Change Policy, analyses the health benefits of reduced climate pollution if the EU increased its 2020 target for domestic greenhouse gas emission cuts from 20 to 30 per cent without any delay.

The study was commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Climate Action Network Europe (CAN-E) and WWF.

The findings show that raising the target to 30 per cent, in line with recommendations of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), would produce savings resulting from better health valued at between €6.5-25 billion per year.

The estimates are based on economic evaluations of loss of life and health, working days lost and hospital costs. The findings show reductions in hospital admissions of 8,000 per year, and two million fewer work days lost per year by moving to the higher 30 per cent target.

These health savings are over and above the benefits of the EU's existing scenario of a 20 per cent target. The report shows that raising the target to 30 per cent would increase the savings by €25 billion, or 48 per cent, from €51-76 billion.

"Until now the discussion on climate change has been all about costs to industry and the economy, while costs of climate pollution to society have largely been neglected," said Delia Villagrasa, Senior Advisor to WWF's European Policy Office.

"It is essential to see that measures to promote cleaner sources of energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption will not only contribute to control climate change but will also cut air pollution and improve quality of life for European citizens."

Baltic states failing to protect most damaged sea

2008-08-27

Nine Baltic sea states all scored failing grades in an annual WWF evaluation of their performance in protecting and restoring the world's most damaged sea.

The assessment, presented today at the Baltic Sea Festival, graded the countries on how well they are doing in six separate areas - biodiversity, fisheries, hazardous substances, marine transport and eutrophication - and on how they have succeeded in developing an integrated sea-use management system.

The best grade (an F for just 46 per cent) was received by Germany, followed by Denmark (41 per cent) and the worst were Poland (25 per cent) and Russia (26 per cent).

"It is a shame no country could be given a satisfactory total score," said Lasse Gustavsson, CEO of WWF Sweden. "The Baltic Sea is influenced by a multitude of human activities, regulated by a patchwork of international and national regulations and authorities.

"What the Baltic Sea needs now is political leadership that can look beyond national or sectoral interests and take an integrated approach to solving the problems."

Behind the bad overall scores there were some rays of hope. Germany received an A on the biodiversity score for their protection of marine areas with around 40 per cent of the country's sea areas protected.

Latvia and Lithuania have taken measures to combat illegal fishing of cod, partly by giving inspectors the mandate to impose sanctions on site. Estonia has a narrow lead in lowering the impact of hazardous substances.

Also at the festival WWF awarded Tarja Halonen, president of the Republic of Finland, with the Baltic Sea Leadership Award for "her persistent efforts to unite groups and encourage cross-border discussions on the future of the Baltic Sea".

Finland is the only country in the region that has developed a cross-sectoral marine policy and several other countries are now taking steps to review their marine management.

"We now have an opportunity in the area of sea-use management with two current processes on the European level," said Vicki Lee Wallgren, programme manager for WWF's Baltic Ecoregion Programme.

She said initiatives such as the EU's Maritime Policy and the EU Baltic Sea Strategy meant that "there is hope for the Baltic Sea".

The poor state of the Baltic Sea environment has received attention this summer because of the extensive algal blooms caused by eutrophication and for recent scientific reports on the vast "dead zones" on the sea bottom. Seven of the world's 10 biggest dead zones, where nothing can survive due to lack of oxygen, are found in the Baltic Sea.

International cruise ships are feeding the algal blooms in the Baltic Sea

2008-07-08

A majority of the international cruise ships visiting the Baltic Sea continue to discharge their sewage straight into the sea. A plea by WWF to the cruise ship companies to stop their discharges of waste water has been met with refusal by most companies.

Already last year WWF contacted the ferry lines and cruise ship companies that are sailing in the Baltic Sea, asking for a voluntary ban on waste-water discharge. So far, most of the ferry lines have responded positively, but only three of the international cruising lines have signed up. The remaining 17 cruising lines that were contacted answered through their umbrella organization CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) by saying: "at this moment signing the WWF petition without sensitivity to understand the variety of waste streams, port reception facilities, and environmental equipment would be premature".

"We think it must be the responsibility of anyone operating a ship in the Baltic Sea to take care of their own wastes in a responsible manner and stop polluting the sea", says Mats Abrahamsson, Program Director of the WWF Baltic Ecoregion Program. "If some companies can sign our agreement, why can't the others?"

The Baltic Sea receives between 250 and 300 cruise ships each year. The waste-water produced in these vessels is currently estimated to contain 113 tons of nitrogen and 38 tons of phosphorus, substances that add to the eutrophication of the sea. Most of this is still discharged into the Baltic Sea, mainly in international waters. In addition to excess nutrients, the waste water also contains bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, as well as heavy metals.

Eutrophication is considered by many the main environmental problem of the Baltic Sea, causing both biological and economic damage to marine environment and coastal areas. It is caused by an overload of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, into the ecosystem. Eutrophication causes many problems, including unusually strong and frequent blooms of algae such as the toxic cyanobacteria (also called "blue-green algae").

"The international cruise ship industry claims that one of their biggest problems is the insufficient reception facilities in the ports receiving cruising ships. We know that there are improvements needed in many ports, and we have offered to work together with the cruising companies to demand better facilities. Still, there is no excuse for dumping the sewage in the sea", says Dr. Anita Mäkinen, Head of Marine Programme for WWF Finland, who has been coordinating the WWF project.

"All ports have some sort of facility to receive ship sewage. Some big cruise ships are treating their waste waters onboard, but only according to the Alaska regulations, which do not regulate nutrients but only bacteria and organic content of the waste water. They don't seem to understand that this is not enough in the Baltic Sea", continues Dr. Mäkinen.

Ferry companies that have signed WWF's voluntary agreement:
Birka Line (Finland)
Bornholmstrafiken (Denmark)
Colorline (Norway)
Eckerö Line (Finland)
Molslinien (Denmark)
Nordic Jetline (Finland)
Rederi AB Gotland and Destination Gotland (Sweden)
Seawind Line (Finland)
Tallink (Estonia)
Tallink-Silja Line (Finland)
Viking Line ABP (Finland)

Cruise ship companies that have signed WWF's voluntary agreement:
Aida (Germany)
Hurtigruten (Norway)
Peter Deilmann Reederei (Germany)

For more information, please contact:

Mats Abrahamsson, Program Director, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Program, +46 705 821 499

Dr. Anita Mäkinen, Head of Marine Programme, WWF-Finland, +358-40 52 714 25

See also

the original WWF petition letter (pdf 48KB)
a report by Finnish consultancy firm VTT on "Estimated nutrient load from waste waters originating from ships in the Baltic Sea area" (pdf 1,13MB)

Notes to editors:

Facts about the international cruise ships

A cruise ship with 1,100 crew members and more than 3,000 passengers produce altogether 1,000 m³ grey and black water per day. The amount of black water produced per day is 25 m³. (Black water is term used to describe water containing fecal matter and urine, while gray water refers to wastewater generated from processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing)
This size of a ship can store waste waters for 4 days.
The American owned ships are following the Alaska discharge requirement which regulate TSS (Total Suspended Solids), BOD (Biochemical/biological Oxygen Demand), pH, residual chlorine and fecal coliform bacteria (FCB). The Alaska requirements for these parameters are higher than IMO requirements; however, they don't regulate nutrients at all.

Facts about sewage water regulations in the Baltic Sea
According to the international convention MARPOL 73/78 and its Annex IV which is regulating discharge of sewage waters, ships are allowed to discharge black waters beyond 12 nautical miles from the shore line and grey waters beyond 3 nautical miles from the shore line.

The Baltic Sea states have agreed in the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) "to have in 2009 a joint submission by HELCOM Contracting States to IMO in order to elaborate relevant new regulations for ships covered by the existing Annex IV to MARPOL 73/78, including further consideration of designation of the Baltic Sea as a special area, with the aim to eliminate the discharge of sewage from ships, especially from passenger ships and ferries". They further agreed "to encourage voluntary activities in ports and shipping companies to dispose of sewage to the port reception facilities and to undertake all the necessary improvements in the availability of these port reception facilities".

No more EU-trophication! How CAP reform can save the Baltic Sea

2008-07-08

In the last 150 years, the Baltic Sea has developed from a pristine, nutrient-poor, clear water sea to permanent eutrophic conditions. A key factor in the environmental degradation of the BalticSea is the intensification of agriculture – much of it in the last 50 years – in the surrounding drainage basin.

Large amounts of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are released into the Baltic Sea each year as a result of modern farming practices such as the useof artificial fertilisers.

A key component in solving the problemof eutrophication lies on the land and in the promotion of more sustainable farming and land management practices.

Successive reforms of EU's CommonAgricultural Policy (CAP) have started the process of putting agriculture on a more sustainable footing but much remains to be done.

Putting an end to eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, and to a wide range of other environmental problems associated with European agriculture, demands further, progressive reform of the CAP.

The time is now ripe to consider what changes are needed in agriculture policy over the coming decade or more.

WWF, in seeking to address eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, presents a vision for policy reform that reaches far beyond the Baltic Sea States.

Time must not be wasted in moving towards a new vision for rural Europe.

In this paper, WWF outlines a vision for a new Common Environment and Rural Policy (CERP) and argues that steps must be taken now to make that vision a reality.

Carpathian biodiversity protocol signed

2008-06-26

The rich natural heritage of the Carpathian Mountains, including many of Europe's greatest natural treasures, received additional support on June 19 with the signing of the Protocol on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity to the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians.

The protocol was signed by all 7 countries that are a party to the Carpathian Convention -- the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine -- during the second Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention, which took place June 17-19 in Bucuresti.

"WWF welcomes the signing of the Biodiversity Protocol to the Carpathian Convention, which comes none too soon as the region and its natural treasures are facing growing pressure from a range of threats, from construction of motorways to ski facilities, not to mention illegal construction and logging in many protected areas", said Michael Baltzer, director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme. "The key priority now is to ensure that what has been signed on paper is enforced in practice," he added.

Red lists and ecological networks
The biodiversity protocol commits signatory countries to harmonise and coordinate their efforts to enhance the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biological and landscape diversity of the Carpathians, for the benefit of both present and future generations. The countries should work together for the conservation, maintenance and sustainable use of natural and semi-natural habitats, and securing their continuity and connectivity; restoration of degraded habitats; conservation and sustainable use of species of flora and fauna characteristic to the Carpathians, in particular on conservation of endangered or endemic species and large carnivores.

The Parties should also apply the precaution and prevention principles by assessing and taking into consideration possible direct or indirect, short- or long-term influence, including cumulative effects of the projects and activities. These are important provisions in a region that is undergoing rapid development, with major potential threats to nature from infrastructure and other projects.

Network of protected areas
Measures on which the countries should cooperate include drawing up a list of Carpathian Red List of Habitats and Species; establishing an ecological network in the Carpathians, composed of protected areas and other areas significant for biological and landscape diversity of the Carpathians and for coherence of the network. Each Party should also take measures in its national territory with the objective to prevent introduction or release of harmful invasive species.

A key provision is support for and cooperation under the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas, which brings together protected area administrations from across the region. Many of the greatest natural treasures in the Carpathians already enjoy some form of protection, but in most cases this protection is mostly on paper and very limited in actual practice, with significant problems e.g. with illegal construction and logging in national parks and other protected areas across the region. The protocol also calls for development and implementation of management plans for protected areas across the region.

WWF's work for the Carpathians
A major focus for WWF's work in the region, supported by the MAVA Foundation, has been strengthening of protected area management, including the Carpathian Network of Protected Areas. The ProPark Foundation, co-founded by WWF in May 2008, is dedicated to capacity building and training related to protected area management.

WWF has been a driving force for the protection of the Carpathian ecoregion. The Danube-Carpathian Summit organised in 2001 by WWF and the Romanian Government eventually led to the establishment of the Carpathian Convention, which formally came into force in 2007. In 2001, WWF and partners in the Carpathian Ecoregion Initiative also undertook the first comprehensive assessment of environment and social and economic impacts in the Carpathians.

Contact:
David Strobel, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme

Marine dead zones – a growing problem globally and in the Baltic Sea

2008-06-09

The global science community is watching the problem of oxygen depletion in marine and coastal areas with growing concern.

Over the last few years the number of known dead zones globally has increased from 44 in 1995 to 169 according to a recent report from the World Resource Institute (WRI). Another 246 areas are considered "vulnerable".

The report also concludes that there is still insufficient information available to determine the real extent of the problem in many parts of the world.

WWF notes that together with overfishing and climate change, the growing number of dead zones is among the biggest threats to the world's oceans in the 21st century.

Marine dead zones are caused by eutrophication – a process where bodies of water receive excess nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus. Dissolved in the water, the nutrients act as fertilisers and thereby enhance plant growth.

The dead zones occur when algae and other organisms die, sink to the bottom, and are decomposed by bacteria, using the available oxygen. Agriculture, human sewage, urban runoff, industrial effluent, and fossil fuel combustion are the most common sources of nutrients delivered to coastal systems.

"The situation is alarming - but a complete picture may be even worse", says Jochen Lamp of WWF Germany, author of the briefing paper.

"Eutrophication is an issue that requires greater attention by governments and society in general. Left untouched, it may have dire consequences for many ecosystems, the food webs that they support, and the livelihoods of the populations that depend on them."

According to one of the WRI scientists, Robert Diaz, 7 of the 10 largest dead zones recorded in their latest report are found in the Baltic Sea.

An assessment made by the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) estimates these to cover an area of 42,000 km².

In some periods they can easily reach up to 90.000 km².

Other hotspots of oxygen depletion are found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea.

Around 4/5ths of the US coast and 2/3rds of Europe's coasts are now faced with excessive eutrophication. Experts also believe that there are numbers of yet unexplored dead zones in the coastal waters of China and Southeast Asia.

Dead zones can also further add to the problem of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea in a vicious circle. Normally, phosphorus slowly binds to the sediments on the sea bottom and is thereby removed from the water. When there is no oxygen left in the sediments, these compounds are transformed and the phosphorus is released back into the water.

"Most people now connect eutrophication with the yearly algal blooms that we are now used to seeing each summer", says Mats Abrahamsson from WWF. "For the Baltic Sea, these dead zones are an invisible but even larger problem over the longer term. Dead zones can lead to the collapse of whole ecosystems as bottom-dwelling organisms die and more phosphorus is released into the water."

WWF believes that governments must take the consequences of eutrophication seriously.

As agriculture contributes to about 50% of the excess nutrients in the Baltic Sea, WWF advocates a reform of agriculture policy to curb these emissions.

For more information, please contact:

Mats Abrahamsson, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme, Programme Director, tel: +46 705 821 499

Jochen Lamp, WWF Germany, Head of Baltic Sea Project Office leader, tel: +49 3831 297 018