Intercalibration of assessment systems for the WFD: Aims, achievements and further challenges Presented by Sandra Poikane Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability

HIGH GOOD MODERATE POOR BADECOLOGICALSTATUSGOOD HIGH MODERATE POOR BAD ECOLOGICALSTATUS HIGH HIGH GOOD MODERATE POOR BADECOLOGICALSTATUS Intercalibration ? Restore

Intercalibration 2 aims :  Harmonise the understanding of ‘good ecological status’ throughout all member states  Ensure this common understanding is consistent with the WFD

4 Biological Quality Elements  BQE

5 Geographical IC groups NORTHERN MEDITERRANEAN EASTERN CONTINENTAL CENTRAL/BALTIC ALPINE

RESULTS  Started 2003  What is achieved by now ?

Commission Decision of 30 October 2008 establishing values of the MS monitoring system classifications as a result of the intercalibration exercise

RESULTS - RIVERS  Benthic fauna  Phytobenthos

Rivers: Benthic fauna  ALP: AT, FR, DE, IT, SI, ES  CB: AT, BE, DK, DE, FR, IE, IT, LU, NL, PL, ES, SE, UK  EC: AT, SK  MED: CY, FR, GR, IT, PT, ES  NORD: FI, IE, NO, SE, UK

Rivers: Benthic fauna

Rivers: Phytobenthos  ALP: AT, FR, DE, SI, ES  CB: AT, BE, DE, EE, FR, IE, LU, NL, ES, SE, UK  MED: FR, PT, ES  NORD: FI, IE, SE, UK

Rivers Phytobenthos

RIVERS – PLANS  Macrophytes  Fish fauna  Include all countries  Large rivers  Refcond working group

Lakes  Phytoplankton: –Chlorophyll-a –Composition  Macrophytes

Lakes  All GIGs – common datasets – Class Boundaries

Lakes: chlorophyll-a boundaries

Lakes – Phytoplankton composition  ALP: AT, DE and IT  MED: FR, IT, ES, PT, RO, GR, CY

Macrophytes  ALP: DE, AT  CB: BE, EE, DE, LV, NL, UK  NORD: IE, NO, SE, UK

Lakes: Macrophytes

RIVERS Benthic fauna Phytobenthos Not all MS

Reference conditions ? LAKES All countriesNot all countries

PLANS: ALL MS, ALL BQE

Important: National assessment systems IC results: International water body types National assessment systems National assessment systems PROBLEMS WITH TRANSLATING

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