Dzidra Hadonina Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia Kiev, Ukraine, November 22-24, 2004 Legal Framework for Cooperation in the River Basin Daugava/Zapadnaya Dvina

Contents Water legislation in Latvia Water legislation in Latvia Daugava River Basin Project Daugava River Basin Project International co-operation International co-operation

General facts about the Republic of Latvia The territory of Latvia is km 2 The territory of Latvia is km % of total area is forestland 44.4% of total area is forestland 39% of land is used in agriculture 39% of land is used in agriculture 2256 lakes larger than 1 ha 2256 lakes larger than 1 ha Total number of water courses in approximately (lenght of 777 rivers exceed 10 km) Total number of water courses in approximately (lenght of 777 rivers exceed 10 km)

Water legislation Water legislation Transposition of the Water Framework Directive via adoption of: new “Law on Water Management” new “Law on Water Management” 7 new regulations of Cabinet of Ministers 7 new regulations of Cabinet of Ministers

Law on Water Management  Adopted by the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) on September 12, 2002 In force since October 1, 2002 In force since October 1, 2002  Framework law for water protection and management  Transposes basic principles and requirements of the Water Framework Directive

The Law defines: Establishment of 4 River Basin Districts Establishment of 4 River Basin Districts Establishment of new institutions – 4 river basin authorities and co-ordination councils Establishment of new institutions – 4 river basin authorities and co-ordination councils Precise boundaries of the River Basin Districts has been identified by Cabinet of Ministers

ESTONIA RUSSIA BELARUS LITHUANIA Lielup e Venta VENTA RBD Salaca Gauja DAUGAVA RBD GAUJA RBD LIELUPE RBD N River Basin Districts in Latvia

Management structure Ministry of Environment State Geological Survey Lielupe RBD Authority Daugava RBD Authority Gauja RBD Authority Venta RBD Authority Co-ordination Council LEA SEI

River Basin District Authorities Develop and update management plans, programmes of measures and related documents Develop and update management plans, programmes of measures and related documents Develop proposals concerning financial resources needed for implementation of plans & programmes Develop proposals concerning financial resources needed for implementation of plans & programmes Co-ordinate implementation of plans & programmes Co-ordinate implementation of plans & programmes Participate in the development of monitoring programmes Participate in the development of monitoring programmes Ensure public participation Ensure public participation Arrange the work of the advisory boards Arrange the work of the advisory boards

Co-ordination Coouncils Represents public authorities, municipalities, non-governmental organisations located within the particular River Basin District Represents public authorities, municipalities, non-governmental organisations located within the particular River Basin District Discuss and co-ordinate interests of these groups concerning water use, etc. Discuss and co-ordinate interests of these groups concerning water use, etc. Discuss and provide conclusions on the River basin management plan and Programme of measures Discuss and provide conclusions on the River basin management plan and Programme of measures

Latvian Environment Agency Develops monitoring programmes for each river basin district Develops monitoring programmes for each river basin district Develops proposals concerning financial resources for their implementation Develops proposals concerning financial resources for their implementation Co-ordinates implementation of the monitoring programmes Co-ordinates implementation of the monitoring programmes Reports to the European union Reports to the European union

Daugava River Basin Project Daugava River Basin Project Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia and Latvian Environmental protection fund Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia and Latvian Environmental protection fund Swedish Environmental ministry through the Swedish Environmental agency Swedish Environmental ministry through the Swedish Environmental agency ‘Daugavas Fonds” (task group) ‘Daugavas Fonds” (task group) Vattenresurs – Sverige AB (consultant) Vattenresurs – Sverige AB (consultant)

Daugava Project objectives Daugava Project objectives Demonstrate the implementation of the EU- Water Linked Directives Demonstrate the implementation of the EU- Water Linked Directives Facilitate Latvia in the EU-approximation within the water oriented environmental protection Facilitate Latvia in the EU-approximation within the water oriented environmental protection Produce trained water administrators Produce trained water administrators Demonstrate future co-operation within the Latvian water administration and stakeholders Demonstrate future co-operation within the Latvian water administration and stakeholders

DAUGAVA RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.Description of river basin 2.Characteristic of surface waters and ground waters 3.Impact of human activities 4.Economic analysis of water use 5.Protected areas 6.Monitoring system 7.Typology of surface water objects and ecological quality and quality objectives 8. Programs of measures 9.Summary of public information and consultation results

Outcomes (I)  Daugava River Basin District Management Plan - the first European River Basin Management Plan according to the Water Framework Directive  Programmes of measures  Involvement of stakeholders

Outcomes (II)  Typology for rivers and lakes  Typology for groundwaters  Quality classes for rivers and lakes  Designated Surface water bodies (SWB)  Quality objectives for SWB’s  Monitoring programme (proposal)  River Basin Information System (proposal)

International co-operation (I) Trilateral agreement between governments Latvia, Russia and Byelorussia in relation to Daugava river basin management has been adopted by Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic Trilateral agreement between governments Latvia, Russia and Byelorussia in relation to Daugava river basin management has been adopted by Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia on April 15, 2003 of Latvia on April 15, 2003 Project “Three Rivers, Three Tasks, Three Countries” - monitoring of small border rivers (Latvia, Estonia, Russia) Project “Three Rivers, Three Tasks, Three Countries” - monitoring of small border rivers (Latvia, Estonia, Russia)

International co-operation (II) Technical Protocol between the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania on Cooperation in Managing the International River Basin Districts has been signed on October, in Palanga Technical Protocol between the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania on Cooperation in Managing the International River Basin Districts has been signed on October, in Palanga Agreement between the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Estonia on Cooperation in Protection and Sustainable Use of Transboundary Water Courses has been signed on October, in Palanga Agreement between the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Estonia on Cooperation in Protection and Sustainable Use of Transboundary Water Courses has been signed on October, in Palanga

Thank you for attention!