Strategies, Law and Regulation in the EU ： River Impacts on Oceans and Coasts Carl Gustaf Lundin Director, Global Marine & Polar Programme IUCN

Structure 1.European Union Framework 2.Water Framework Directive 3.River-basin decisions  Algal bloom  Hazardous substances 4.Physical Modifications 5.Strategies and Solutions – Blue Carbon

European Union Framework Different countries Different national legislations Different ministries Standardized regulatory base: EU legislative policies & directives Beyond EU: National legislations National legislations: heterogeneous

European Union Framework Key Marine and Freshwater Instruments Common Fisheries Policy (1970) Habitats Directive (1992) Biodiversity Strategy (1998) Strategic Environmental Assessment (2001) Water Framework Directive (2000) Integrated Maritime Policy (2007) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008) EU Directives: mostly started in the 1990s Aim: rectify missing legislations (marine)

Key Marine Instruments Common Fisheries Policy (1970) Habitats Directive (1992) Biodiversity Strategy (1998) Strategic Environmental Assessment (2001) Water Framework Directive (2000) Integrated Maritime Policy (2007) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008) European Union Framework Some country’s national legislations more stringent National legislations are important

Relevance to China River Rhine Yangtze River Operates in similar geographical scale Framework provides standardized structure River Rhine/Yangtze River: brings together heterogeneous member States/Provinces

Water Framework Directive (WFD) Objectives: – Achieve good ‘ecological status’ by 2015 – New ways of protecting and improving: Rivers, lakes, groundwater, estuaries, coastal waters, land drainage – Integrated ecological improvement Physical habitat, water quality and flow regime Relevance to China:  Long term perspective of implementation process  Polluter Pays Principal

Milestones in WFD Implementation Source: EU China River Basin Management Programme

Arkansas Water Advisory Group OCEANS + COASTS RIVER BASINS

OCEANS + COASTS RIVER BASINS + DIRECT MODIFICATIONS OCEANS + COASTS = TOTAL IMPACT ON OCEANS + COASTS

Algal Bloom Nitrates and Phosphates found in river systems Point and non-point sources Dependent on sewage and agricultural management decisions in river basins © Daily Mail 青岛港

Point Source Pollution: -Sewage -Industry Diffuse Source Pollution: -Agriculture -Urban land use and development Natural Inputs: -Freshwater -Sediments ACCUMULATION INTO OCEANS AND COASTS © Daily Mail

Hazardous Substances Examples: – PCBs – Lead – DDE (a degradated product of DDT) – Cadmium – Mercury – TBT – Dioxins – Brominated flame retardants, etc. © Lu Guang 安徽省

© China Daily Point Source Pollution: -Industries, factories -Sewage ACCUMULATION INTO OCEANS AND COASTS Diffuse Source Pollution: -Urban land use -Urban development -Agriculture

Good Environmental Status of Oceans + Coasts Sewage needed to achieve dependent on River Basin Decisions Agriculture Industrial Runoff Development Various management boards Multiple river basins Impact numerous deltas ACCUMULATION EFFECT

Physical Modifications of Rivers, Coasts and Oceans ECONOMICSENVIRONMENTALSOCIETY Land for development of industries Threat to ecosystem functions Revenue for local governments Accessible and cheap transportation Intensifies red tides and fisheries decline Minimize compensation loss for buying land and changing land use Avoid land use conflictsPollutionAlternative source of energy for development Valuable energy resourceAdd into carbon budgetIncentive for uncontrolled land reclamation Great economic loss associated with natural and man-made hazards Destroy natural coastal protection barriers and habitats

Physical Modifications of Rivers, Coasts and Oceans ECONOMICSENVIRONMENTALSOCIETY Land for development of industries Threat to ecosystem functions Revenue for local governments Accessible and cheap transportation Intensifies red tides and fisheries decline Minimize compensation loss for buying land and changing land use Avoid land use conflictsPollutionAlternative source of energy for development Valuable energy resourceAdd into carbon budgetIncentive for uncontrolled land reclamation Great economic loss associated with natural and man-made hazards Destroy natural coastal protection barriers and habitats

© BBC Japan Earthquake and Tsunami 2011

‘It is now the crucial moment for China to set strategic plans for the development of its oceans & coasts for the next 10 to 20 years – A key phase to stimulate sustainable social and economic development in the future’ River Basin management decisions integrated with Ocean management decisions.

Significance of EU WFD to China ThemeAnalysis HISTORYWater policy and legislation shaped over a 25-year period bringing together differing member States. Suitable model for China to follow with varying differences at provincial levels. CHARACTERISTICS1.Clear governance structure 2.Management by objective 3.Ecology at the centre Clear and easy framework to be followed, with specific goals and targets to be met. IMPLEMENTATIONLong term perspective: spans equivalent of three Five- year plans of China. Take into account long term implementation and execution process. COSTS-Polluter pays principal -Payment by beneficiaries Mechanisms allow funding for measures to be executed effectively

Strategy and Solutions Mountain top to ocean management (New trend to coastal management) Structure of management boards – Involve river basin managers in coastal planning boards and vice versa Monitoring and Assessment: every stage of the process

Policy Solution: Blue Carbon Coastal ecosystems - mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass meadows and kelp forests Over 55% biological carbon is captured by marine living organisms High carbon storage in soils of coastal wetlands Degradation = substantial carbon emissions and loss of carbon sequestration functions

Policy Solution: Blue Carbon Include coastal carbon sinks into climate change policy frameworks Development of new financial mechanisms to support blue carbon Some policy mechanisms readily available, others are yet to be developed

© Lu Guang 广东省

贝江广西省

Thank you! IUCN – Global Marine and Polar Programme