WG 2B IRBM Horizontal Guidance on Wetlands Paris, 2003

Lead Country: Italy Group Members - delegates nominated from: Austria; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Denmark; Flanders; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Lithuania; Romania, Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; UK; EEB; WWF/EEB; Evaluwet

As agreed at the Water Directors meeting, Copenhagen, November 2002, a Common Text for Wetlands will be inserted in all Guidance Documents  Wetland ecosystems are ecologically and functionally significant elements of the water environment, with potentially an important role to play in helping to achieve sustainable river basin management………...

WORK PROGRAMME October, 2002 Background document, Role of Wetlands in the WFD, produced by EEB/WWF and circulated to SCG November, 2002 – January 2003 Water Directors Meeting, Copenhagen. Common text and agreement on a Horizontal Guidance on Wetlands January 2003 Version 1.0 of Wetlands Guidance Document circulated Wetlands WG Kick-off Meeting, 29/01/03 21st February, 2003 SCG Meeting, Brussels 25 February, 2003 WG sent comments from SGC meeting & 2nd Version of document 7th March, 2003 WG deadline for comments to 2nd version 13th March Comments sent to GL & new version of Guidance circulated

24th March 2nd Working Group Meeting, Rome 31st March, 2003 New version of draft Guidance Document * 10-12 April, 2003 Third Working Group Meeting, Italy * 24 April, 2003 Final draft Version of Wetlands Guidance Document 5 May 2003 SCG Meeting *End May, 2003 Workshop, Czech Republic June, 2003 Final draft version presented at Water Directors Meeting, June 2003.

Work Status, 10th March, 2003 Version 1.0 circulated (January 2003); kick-off meeting (January 2003); Group Member comments integrated into Table of Contents and Chapters I & II ; and WG Members, Progress Report & Document presented at SCG meeting 21/02/03 7th March, 2003, comments received from SCG and integrated into the guidance document

Group members sent comments and suggestions to WGL regarding: Table of Contents Chapters I & II

New Table of Contents (main points based on group member comments) Description of Wetlands Overview of Wetland Functions Identification – wetlands in water bodies; wetlands not included in water bodies

The WFD refers to wetlands but does not define them or provide a size range to indicate their dimension

What is a Wetland?

Ramsar Definition “Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6m”

wetlands are diverse, complex ecosystems; The Ramsar definition is accepted but it includes “water bodies”; a wetlands description is a more flexible guide for Member States to use to their own national situations

During the kick-off meeting (29/01/03) it was agreed to define a wetlands ‘description’ instead of a wetlands ‘definition’

Wetlands are heterogeneous but distinctive ecosystems which develop naturally or are the product of human activities. Their biogeochemical functions depend notably on a constant or recurrent shallow inundation by fresh, brackish or saline water (<2 m), or saturation at or near the surface of the substrate. They are characterised by standing or slowly moving waters. Common features include hydric soils, hygrophilous vegetation and biota adapted to chemical and biological processes reflective of recurrent or permanent flooding and/or water-logging.

The Guidance needs to clarify: Environmental Objectives (Good status) have to be achieved When a wetland is a water body Environmental Objectives have to be achieved or measure are to be taken When a wetland is part of a water body When a wetland is a protected area Protection under the the specific legislation When a wetland is not part of a water body Wetland could be part of the programme of measures

Small WATER BODIES Annexe II 1.2.2 <3 m (mean depth) is the suggested as the inferior size range corresponding to the smallest lakes Characterisation system A, and the Guidance on water bodies (3.5), indicate 0.5-1 km2 as the minimal surface area

Wetland identification Wetlands may be identified as water bodies at the discretion of Member States, if their consideration is of practical relevance for the achievement of the rivers or lakes environmental objectives

Overview of Wetland Functions Hydrological processes delay flood peaks by storing precipitation water and releasing it evenly; contribute significantly to aquifer recharge by storing water for extensive periods;

Biogeochemical processes improve water quality by retaining nutrients within the biomass and the soil and by releasing reduced gases; Landscape kidneys Large wetlands experience higher precipitations higher deposition of nutrients and pollutants. Nutrients are retained through physical and biogeochemical processes.

Energy flux stabilisation collect and stabilise sediment fluxes; stabilise shorelines and floodplains by reducing the energy of waves, currents and wind;

Economic impacts high natural productivity; diverse natural resources: fish, game, forage, wetland agriculture; contribute to drinking water supplies; tourism, sporting and educational and scientific activities; distinctive and unique cultural attributes expressed in a multitude of human resource uses and customs.

Climate conditioning dissipate solar energy through evapotranspiration; mitigate green house effect through CO2 sequestration, carbon accumulation in biomass and in peat; influence local climate by dampening temperature peaks and troughs (evapotranspiration and condensation);

Biodiversity enhancement biodiversity foci and refugia from which species re-distribute and re-colonise river basins; resourceful “stepping stones” for migrating species; constitute nodes and bio-corridors within ecological networks.

Wetlands in the WFD

Good groundwater status; and, Terrestrial Ecosystems Implement programmes of measures to protect and restore their groundwater needs to the extent needed to achieve: Good groundwater status; and, Any relevant objectives for protected areas

Prevent deterioration in status Achieve good surface water status, and Water Bodies If identified as water bodies, implement programmes of measures to protect and restore to the extent needed to: Prevent deterioration in status Achieve good surface water status, and Achieve any relevant objectives for protected areas

Prevent deterioration in surface water status; Hydromorphological Quality Elements Apply Article 11.3(i) measures and other relevant measures, to protect, enhance and restore to the extent needed to: Prevent deterioration in surface water status; Achieve good surface water status; and Achieve any relevant objectives for protected areas

Restore or recreate wetlands as a supplementary measure designed to: Programme of Measures Restore or recreate wetlands as a supplementary measure designed to: Enable the basic measures to be used with a lighter touch,where considered appropriate by the Member State; Ensure the achievement of the Directive’s objectives where basic measures cannot do so on their own

WFD Environmental Objectives and Wetlands

Protected Areas and the WFD Which ecosystems to be included in Protected Areas Register? Monitoring groundwater bodies and dependent ecosystems

Issues Requiring further clarification within the WG: How do wetlands interact to influence the biological quality elements that make up Good Ecological Status ? How do groundwater bodies and wetlands interact, and how can these relationships best be characterised within WFD How will the Protected Areas Register work to ensure that wetland water needs are reflected in the River Basin Planning Process? What role do wetlands have within the Programmes of Measures of the WFD?

Finally……. Limited Time to finalise the work We are organising a 2nd and 3rd meeting Final workshop, to be held in Southern Bohemia, end of May

Policy integration Article 10 Recital 16

WETLANDS & AGRICULTURE Wetlands offer powerful means of reducing diffuse pollution in aquifers and surface waters The integration of RBM with Agricultural policy is an opportunity to rationalise agricultural regulations

WETLANDS & WATER SUPPLY Abstractions are a major threat The Directive insists on “water needs” and their linkage to sustainable aquatic ecosystems Checking abstractions protects both nature and water users

Hydrocide Year 2025 >3 billion people Hydric stress ‘First’ e ‘Third’ world, according to the Brandt Report (1982)

WETLANDS & NATURE PROTECTION Focussing on linkages will enhance understanding of Ecological Networks and ecological relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem stability within river basins

WETLANDS & EDUCATION Ecotonal wetlands are close to human societies and help them to gain access to aquatic ecosystems Tourism, education, scientific and cultural activities translate into economic gains.

Giorgio Pineschi