the need for better integration between science and management mare workshop 1-3 december 2004 kaj...
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The need for better integration The need for better integration between science and between science and managementmanagementMARE workshop 1-3 December 2004MARE workshop 1-3 December 2004
Kaj ForsiusKaj Forsius
HELCOMHELCOM
Helsinki Commission(HELCOM)
• Governing body of the Helsinki Convention
• International co-operation for the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area since 1974
• 1992 the new Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area was signed (entered into force Jan 2000)
Aim of the Convention
• to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution
• to restore the ecosystem and preserve its balance
• to ensure sustainable use of the natural resources
Role of HELCOM
• An environmental policy maker developing common objectives and actions;
• An environmental focal point providing information which can form the basis for decision-making in other international fora;
• A body for developing Recommendations (own and supplementary)
• A supervisory body ensuring that HELCOM requirements are fully implemented throughout the catchment area; and
• A co-ordinating body ascertaining multilateral response in case of major maritime incidents.
HELCOM’s priority areas of work
HELCOM work including assessments, as well as the supporting monitoring, should be targeted at identified threats
• Nature conservation and biodiversity;• Eutrophication;• Hazardous substances relevant for the Baltic
Sea; • Maritime safety and shipping, including
response activities
Principles for HELCOM’s assessment products
Backbone of HELCOM’s work since its beginning in cooperation with scientific network
Aim:• to provide policy relevant information for targeted users at
national, regional and international level• link assessments on pressures with state and impactsIn order to:• make sound decisions to restore the Baltic Sea ecosystem• reach good ecological status• support the implementation of the HELCOM objectives and
actions• to raise general public awareness
Information pyramid
Monitoring and Data
Indicator reports
Thematic reports
Holisticassessments
Scientific reports
&Modelling
Monitoring and Data
Indicator reports
Thematic reports
Holisticassessments
Scientific reports
&Modelling
Ecosystem Approach to management of human activities
• Adopted by HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2003• Integrated approach to manage human activities
affecting the marine ecosystems• Sustainable use of the marine resources and
maintenance of ecosystem integrity• Include political, economic and social values, • Should propose solutions which are socially
acceptable,
• Management to be based on sound scientific advice
Ecosystem approach
Ecological quality objectives (EcoQOs) play an integral role
• can allow for the setting of future policy goals • evaluation of management outcomes• EcoQOs should address both
– the critical ecosystem components and – the most significant anthropogenic threats
• Effective tool to gain public support and guide the decisions of managers
From Visions… to Actions!
“Prevent and eliminate pollution
in order to promote the ecological
restoration of the Baltic Sea Area
and the preservation of its
ecological balance”
Ecological Quality
Objectives &
Performance Indicators
are assessment tools
to show how the ecosystem
visions and goals have been met
to set future policy goals
Scope of the EcoQO project
EcoQOs - Eutrophication
Reduce eutrophication
in order to restore ecological balance
within the Baltic Sea and to ensure a functioning
marine ecosystem
Restored depth range of perennial water plants and algae
No excessive growth of opportunistic or nuisance species
No exceptional massive algal blooms.
Restored water clarity
Protect, allow recovery and restore the function of marine ecosystems in order to achieve and maintain good ecological statusgood ecological status
Target levels
• WFD reports (e.g. national & CHARM) (Coastal)• HELCOM Background value Workshop 2000 documents• Historical data: e.g. Laamanen, Fleming & Olsonen
2004 (secchi) and many others• Modelling: e.g. Wulff and Schernewski & Neumann 2004
1900 2000 2050
Reference level
Target level
NUTRIENT INPUTS
SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
physical and hydrodynamicaspects, and climatic/weather conditions (e.g. flushing, wind, temperature, light availability),
TRANSBOUNDARY TRANSPORT
INCREASED NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS &
NUTRIENT RATIOS
TRANSBOUNDARY NUTRIENT FLUXES
increase in primary production
increase in turbidity
decrease in light
penetration
nuisance / toxic algal species and
changes in species composition
increase in phytoplankton biomass (chl-a)
organic matter
degree of oxygen deficiency
(during growing season)
shift from long-lived to short-lived nuisance macrophyte species and
reduced depth distribution
foam
macrophytobenthos biomass and primary production
algal
toxins
Increase in
bacteria
zoobenthos / fish kills & benthic community
structure
Ecosystem structure
(+)
(+)
(+)
(-)
(+)
(+)
(+)
(+)
(+)
(+)
(+)
II
(+) (+)
(-) (-)
II
I
I
III III
II
IIIIV
I
(-)
(-) Release of nutrients from sediment
Is it possible to achieve the agreed target values in combination or do they contradict?
Do the set of target values reflect a Baltic Sea in ecological balance?
Ecological Balance?
Use of models to combine pressures with effects
So far mostly ecological models related to the assessment on the effect in the sea
HELCOM has decided to:• use models to assess the implications of different
policy scenarios on nutrient inputs and the resulting eutrophication status in the different sub areas of the Baltic Sea.
• to assess the possible impacts of agricultural policies, including the implementation of the reform of the EU CAP
Project for “Assessment of implication of different policy scenarios on nutrient
inputs”
• The basis of the effect models are the scenarios of activities at Land
• Link management scenario models with ecological models
• Aim is to:– to assess the impact of different agricultural policy
scenarios on the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea.
– identify cost-effective measures in the future in the different sub basins of the Baltic Sea
Steps in the project
• To develop scenarios for measures to reduce nutrient losses from agriculture for the chosen years (e.g. 2005-2010-2015).
• MARE to evaluate the effectiveness regarding inputs to, concentrations of nutrients and selected biological quality parameters reflecting the good ecological status– Costs, timelag
• Assessment of impacts • Identification of cost-effective measures
Top-DownTop-Down
Top-Down
Bottom-upBottom-up
Bottom-up
A. B. C.
Stakeholderunderstanding/
participation
Building a foundation of understanding:
the “top-down” and “bottom-up” process…
For more information
Please contact:
Helsinki Commission
Secretariat
Katajanokanlaituri 6 B
FI-00160 Helsinki
Finland
http://www.helcom.fi