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
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