NGO work with the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in

Finland

Hannele AhponenWater project coordinator

Finnish Association for Nature ConservationGliwice, 17/1/2008

Facts about Finland's waters

187 888 lakes over 5 are 25 000 km rivers 46 000 km coastlineLakes are shallow and small, coastal waters are shallow and

closed -> vulnerable for eutrofication Nutrients from our own rivers and lakes the biggest problem in

coastal watersLot of settlement and agriculture on the coastal areaNew settlement, salting and chemical accidents are threat for

groundwaterOnly about 2% of small waters like streams are in natural condition

in southern Finland

Water quality 2000-2003Source:Finnish

Environment Institute

Lakes

Rivers

Coastal waters

Excellent Good Satisfactory BadTolerable

Sources of PhosphorusSource:Finnish Environment Institute

Agriculture

Scattered settlement

Forestry

Deposit

Settlement

Pulp and paper industry 4,4 %

Fishery

Fur animal farming

Other industry

Peat production

Sources of NitrogenSource:Finnish Environment Institute

Agriculture

Deposit

Settlement

Forestry

Scattered settlement

Pulp and paper industry 3,3 %

Other industry

Fishery Peat production

Fur animal farming

Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Finland

• 7 river basin districts

• 2 international river basin districts (1 with Sweden and 1 with Norway)

• Ahvenanmaa Island works independently

• Regional environmental center coordinates the work in every river basin district

Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Finland - Timetable

* Good ecological status of all waters 2015

* Measures start* Work program for years 2016-21

2012

* River basin management plans approved by government2009

* Draft river basin management plans Public Consultation

2008

* Significant water management issuesPublic Consultation

2007

* Timetable and work program of river basin management plan Public Consultation* Programs for monitoring of surface and ground water status

2006

* River basin district characterization (Article 5 report)* Cooperation with stakeholders in national level starts

2005

Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Finland

Stakeholder co-operation groups • One or more groups in every river basin district• Main stakeholders: communities, fishing authorities, industry, hydropower industry, agriculture and forestry, environmental NGO´s• Participation in preparation of river basin management plans • Sectoral working groups (agriculture, heavily modified waters etc)

Public participation• Consultations (2006, 2007,2008)• Information: Internet, public information meetings, media

NGO work in the Implementation of WFD• Participation in the national law drafting committee regarding

WFD

• Participation in the WFD Working Group of EEB (European Environmental Bureau)

• Statements /comments about consultations, national guidance documents, program for monitoring of water status

• Members in every co-operation group in river basin districts

• Training / education for our members in the cooperation groups– Preparation of instructions for programs of measures– Seminars

NGO work in the Implementation of WFD

• Participation in pilot projects in river basin districts

• Report / investigation about public participation and the stakeholder cooperation (2006) – Questionnaires for regional

environmental centres and for NGO members of the cooperation groups

– +Three regional reports

Performance of Finland in the Implementation of WFD

• Long tradition of water management and protection and stakeholder co- operation– some cooperation groups for biggest rivers and lakes

existed before WFD

• NGO's participate / involved in all stages of WFD

• Regional environmental centres do good work in spite of the lack of resources

Performance of Finland in the Implementation of WFD

• Article 5 report: River basin characterization– only the biggest waters (lakes over 40

km2 and river basins over 1000 km2) in the repot to EU, the smaller in “national part” of the report > different status

– in river basin management plans lakes over 5 km2 and river basins over 200 km2

– Economical analysis / Water services (only water supply and waste water treatment)

Performance of Finland in the Implementation of WFD

• The preparation of ecological classification is not ready for the management plans > not enough information about ecological status of waters

• Arrangement of public participation is only minimum

• Not enough resources (money and working stuff) for WFD work

Performance of Finland in the Implementation of WFD

Biggest problems in the preparation of programmes of measures:

• Agriculture and how to reduce nutrient load – EU legislation (CAP)

• Climate change and it's effects to nutrient load

• Heavily modified waters (hydropower, dams) – What WFD can do?

– WFD management plans > ground for modification of legislation (water law and the old permits of hydropower)

Information /communication• Information have ben targeted mainly for stakeholders / cooperation groups• Information about WFD haven´ t reached the general public

Consultation • Only few feedback from general public in the first consultation (Timetable and work program of river basin management plan)

• Information about consultation not sufficient – the issue is not interesting for general public and media – the level of the planning is too general compared to ordinary people's worry about the stage of the local waters and nature

Investigation about public participation and the stakeholder cooperation in 2006

Co-operation croups

• Role is mainly information forum: Only few meetings per year, big size of the group, not communicative, not clear rules how to take account different opinions in the river basin management plan

• Sub groups or working groups good

Some results of the report

Enough resources• For participation and other WFD work of environmental authorities Also for environmental NGO’s

Improve the participation of stakeholders• Sub-groups, working groups and workshops – already established in almost all river basin districts

Participation of general public• Enough information spreading. Concrete, close to public, interactive. Consultation material “easy” enough. - Some public meetings and questionnaires already organized.

Assessment of participation• Some seminars and special working groups organized. Another assessment report after first cycle of WFD

How to make the participation work:

Thank you!

Contact information:

Hannele AhponenFinnish Association for Nature Conservationwww.sll.fie-mail: hannele.ahponen@sll.fi