Multifunctional measures for WFD and FD implementation and

links with other policies

RESTORE Workshop Dublin 9th -10th April 2013

Exploring the synergy between EU Directives to achieve best practise river restoration and management

DG Environment Evdokia Achilleos

Overview of the presentation

Opportunities for integrated actions under WFD and FD

implementation (Blueprint follow up)

Natural Water Retention Measures

Integration of ESA approach

Links with EU policy:

Specific links with Biodiversity Strategy

Cap, Regional policy and Funding potential

Streamlining EU Policies on Biodiversity,

Nature, Water and Marine environment

"How to create synergies and implement them together in the most

efficient way?" https://circabc.europa.eu/w/browse/71a1a955-decd-

4922-89c6-cb5cdb651682

Links between the Water Framework Directive and Nature Directives

(Birds and Habitats Directives) FAQ

https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/d/d1df7f46-f072-46f4-9d54-

8cfa8d881db4/FAQ-WFD-BHD_20Dec2011_LR.pdf

Guidance on the implementation of the Nature Directives in ports

and estuaries and on sustainable inland waterway development and

management

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/do

cs/Estuaries-EN.pdf

The Blueprint and Council Conclusions:

Essential to address the challenges that threaten the water ecosystems

and their services on which society depends

Proposed solutions include assessment of the costs and benefits of

water measures , further implementation of the concept of payment for

ecosystem services and the promotion of green infrastructure, and

guidance for the uptake of NWRM

Member States were urged to '' improve implementation of the WFD

and other relevant EU legislation and reduce hydro-morphological

pressures in river basins using whenever possible green infrastructure,

best available techniques and mitigation measures, thus reducing the

EU’s vulnerability to floods and droughts, supporting biodiversity and

soil fertility as well as improving the status of waters.''

Specific Blueprint objectives Voluntary Regulation Conditionality Funding priority

Maximisation of the use

of Natural Water

Retention Measures

(Green Infrastructure)

CIS Guidance by 2014 Greening of CAP

pillar as of 2014

Structural &

Cohesion Funds &

EIB loans (2014-

2021)

Implementation of

ecological flow

Application of target

setting

CIS guidance Water

accounts/Ecological

flows by 2014

CIS guidance target

setting by 2014

Reduction of flood risk Through Green

Infrastructures

European Flood

Awareness System

Flood Risk

Management

Plans by 2015

Reduction of drought

risk

Through Green

Infrastructures

European drought

observatory in 2013-

2014

Enforcement

of WFD

requirements

(on-going)

Better calculation of

costs and benefits

CIS Guidance by 2014

Blueprint Measures Managing

water

demand

Soil

management

Restoring

riparian area

Restoring lateral

connectivity

Reducing water pollution

at source

Water reuse

& recycling

Water storage

Treatment of

brackish or

sea water

Transfers

Restoring

Longitudinal /lateral

continuity

Crop

management

Improvement of irrigation

systems and management

Distribution

networks

efficiency measures at the buildings

level

water efficient products

Protecting the

water

ecosystems

Improving

availability of

clean water

NWRM

Natural Water Retention Measures

• Measures that aim to safeguard and enhance the

water storage potential of ecosystems and aquifers, by

restoring or natural features and characteristics of

water courses and restoring ecosystems.

• Measures that use nature to regulate the flow and

transport of water so as to smooth peaks and

moderate extreme events.

• They are a component of Green Infrastructure

contributing to integrated goals dealing with nature

and biodiversity conservation and restoration,

landscaping, etc.

to support the Blueprint and to carry out the impact

assessment: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/ia_en.htm

to cover the different aspects of Green Infrastructure Strategy:

• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm

Blueprint follow up -delivery studies:

''Support Policy Development for Integration of Ecosystem

Services Approach with WFD and FD Implementation''

www.watereco.info

PP:'' Integration of Natural Water Retention Measures in river

basin management''

Studies launched by DG ENV

M1 Continuous cover forestry M2 Maintaining and developing riparian forests M3 Restoring and maintaining meadows and

pastures M4 Afforestation of agriculture land M5 Buffer strips M6 Crop practices M7 Tillage M8 Terracing M9 Green cover M10 Early sowing M11 Filter strips and swales M12 Permeable surfaces and filter drains M13 Infiltration devices M14 Basins and ponds M15 Green roofs M16 Artificial ground water recharge M17 Wetland restoration M18 Restoration of lakes M19 Shallow impoundments on tributaries of

reservoirs M20 Floodplain restoration M21 Bank structure M22 Re-meandering

(mostly) Forest &

Semi-natural

Areas

(mostly)

Agricultural

Areas (i.e. arable)

(mostly) Artificial

Areas (i.e. Urban)

(mostly)

Wetlands and

Water Bodies

Physical Impacts

improving soil’s water storage capacity limiting soil erosion increasing groundwater recharge conserving water in natural systems decreasing flow velocity, controlling runoff reducing flood peaks

Nutrient retention, dilution, and remediation

WFD objectives: water purification services, Improvement: physico-chemical, HYMO biological quality elements FD objectives: Promoting non-structural initiatives Reducing likelihood/extend of flooding, Reduce flooding consequences,

ESS

flood hazard reduction water flow regulation water purification, water provisioning soil quality improvement, provision of habitat cultural services Air quality improvement Climate regulation.

Pilot Project: Integration of NWRM RB

management

a detailed assessment of effectiveness, costs and benefits of

natural water retention measures, supporting further scenario

modelling

further development and maintenance of a catalogue of

measures and case studies,

to be integrated into WISE

targeted information and communication events in a

representative selection of river basins with operators and

stakeholders

a contribution to the WFD Common Implementation Strategy and

to the 2015 River Basin Management Plans.

Support Policy Development for Integration of

ESA with WFD and FD Implementation

Develop guidance for how to take ecosystem services on board

in the next WFD planning cycles and as part of the

implementation of the Floods Directive. Involves:

Development of a framework that can help river basin managers

select measures that will optimise the delivery for ecosystem

services and also deliver the objectives of the WFD and FD.

Interviews with selected river basin planners (testing guidance)

Organisation of expert workshops and interactions with CIS

groups (formulating guidance, forum) http://www.watereco.info/

ESA Integration with WFD and FD

http://www.watereco.info/attachments/article/2/Illustrations_SPEX.pdf

Links with Biodiversity Strategy: Target 2

''by 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and

enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring

at least 15% of degraded ecosystems’'.

Improve knowledge of ecosystems and their services in

the EU (Action 5) (MAES WG)

Development of a Green infrastructure Strategy (Action

6)

Ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem

services (Action 7) (NNL WG)

MAES and Freshwater Pilot

Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their

services (MAES): Analytical Framework , Typology of

ecosystems and ecosystem services

The assessment should, to the extent possible, be based

on existing legal reporting obligations and other, existing

data sources

Six pilots, one on Freshwater Ecosystems: support for

MS assessment and mapping of freshwater ecosystems

and associated services , taking to account conceptual

approaches of related directives.

EEA 2013 activity on freshwater and biodiversity

Explore possibilities of linking WFD and HD information:

Analyse different aspects of “broad” inland water types

linking information on status and pressures from WFD to

information on freshwater habitats and species from Habitat

Directive (HD). Characterize the broad types by analysing:

Ecological status/potential

Pressures and impacts

Ecosystem services and goods related to the broad types

Measures for improving the status of the “broad” types.

Links with Biodiversity Strategy: GI

Green Infrastructure: spatial structure using ecosystem-

based approaches to deliver multiple benefits

integrate GI elements into river basin management

contribute to delivering good water quality and reducing the

impacts of floods and droughts

innovative solutions for drinking water and wastewater treatment

EC Communication on GI (commitment in Resource Efficiency

Roadmap and Biodiversity Strategy) expected in spring 2013

More information:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm

Links with Common Strategic Framework

Funds (CSF)

Draft legislative package framing cohesion policy for 2014-2014

Proposals for EU investment is targeted on Europe's long-term

goals for growth and jobs ("Europe 2020") and sustainable

development

CSF Funds:

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

the European Social Fund (ESF)

the Cohesion Fund (CF)

the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

CSF - Thematic objectives

Linked to Multifunctional Measures

• Among the 11 thematic objectives, 3 on sustainable

growth:

1. Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in

all sectors

2. Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention

and management

3. Protecting the environment and promoting resource

efficiency

Investment priorities setting aims for intervention for

every thematic objective

Climate change adaptation, risk prevention

and management: Priorities:

supporting dedicated investment for adaptation to climate

change;

promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster

resilience and developing disaster management systems;

Opportunities :

Ecosystem-based adaptation:

Preserving natural areas, biodiversity, water quality & quantity,

ecosystem services

New/Improved recreational areas = positive health effects

New jobs & activities

Protecting the environment and promoting

resource efficiency Priorities:

[…] investments in water sector ;

protecting biodiversity, soil protection and promoting ecosystem

services including NATURA 2000 and green infrastructures;

Improving urban environment including regeneration of

brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution.

Opportunities:

Implementation of River Basin Management Plans

Investments in green infrastructure: Preservation of ecosystem

services, Floodplains, river re-naturation, wetlands…

Links with Agricultural policy CAP mainly

EAFRD (as PES):

Afforestation and creation of woodland, establishment of

agro-forestry systems, prevention and restoration of

damage to forests, investments for the resilience and

environmental value of forest ecosystems, forest

environmental climate services

Agri-environment climate commitments

Natura 2000 and Water framework directive payments

LEADER for supporting local action groups on inter-

territorial or transnational co-operation projects

Links with CAP Pillar 1 - Greening

'' Greening'' - % of direct payments

Crop Diversification,

Ecological Focus Areas (important if used wisely along water

courses)

Permanent Grasslands

Cross Compliance standards

for maintaining soil organic matter level

the protection of wetlands and carbon rich soils

groundwater protection

Thank you for your attention