Transcript Grasp too much

Danube Region
Strategy – nature
conservation
aspects
Gábor Figeczky, acting director
WWF Hungary
© Michel Roggo / WWF-Canon
Danube Region Strategy Conference,
04 March 2011, Budapest
Horizontal aspects
• Preserve the ecological status and
ecosystem services of the Danube;
• Handle the effects of climate change;
• Social, economic and ecological demands
are in balance in all projects;
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
Strategic goals
• Preserve and develop the status of
– Nature conservation
– Water management
• Climate change: mitigation and adaptation
• Sustainable economic development
• Co-operation along the Danube
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
Ecological values, water management
•
Conservation and sustainable management of Natura 2000 habitats, least
human impact possible and man-made infrastructure in nature protection
zones;
Plans not in line with this principle:
• development of navigation route
• river engineering works
• other infrastructure projects
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
Plans in line with this principle:
• ecological restoration along the
Danube using Water Framework
Directive recommendations;
• giving more space to the river;
• restoration of habitats with high
conversation value and of protected
species populations
Navigation
• One single SEA for the inland navigation
plan on the Danube. Transboundary effects
should be assessed with a harmonised,
basin-wide methodology
• Research and development of ships for the
Danube river - feasibility studies, build and
test prototypes of such ships
• Sustainable Danube navigation should
include adapting the fairway to the natural
profile and dynamics of the river, improving
information and forecasting systems, fleet
modernisation programmes
Grasp too much
© Barabás, Bényi
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
Demands for river engineering projects
to improve Danube waterway
• Maintain functioning ecosystem processes (water and sediment flows)
• socio-economic needs of regional and local economies
respected
• all legal requirements met,
– Water Framework Directive: Danube RBMP
– Natura 2000 sites mgmt plans
• no need for new dams or barrages
on waterways which prevent
longitudinal connectivity
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
17 August 2010 - 6
• Specific issues for Hungary:
– Give real alternatives for the Government before any decision – less
structural works, narrower navigation route
– Cost-benefit analysis – Analysing cost-effectiveness is not enough
– Ecological compensation measures are not good solutions - we
need more data to estimate the effects of navigation and
maintenance of waterways
• It is never too late to find alternatives
Nature conservation
• Nature conservation areas to be in a network
• Common nature conservation principles among Danube
countries – common targets of restoration
• Common vision for preserving biodiversity (based on
WWF’s Living Planet Report)
• Less infrastrucure in restoration works
Water management
• Common projects for the implementation of WFD
• Common solutions for floods and draughts
• Find solution for transboundary effects:
– Sediment transport
– Water supply, water retention (Szigetköz)
– Longitudinal connectivity of dams (Iron Gate)
• Reducing water footprint
Presentation to Company Name
17 August 2010 - 9
Water quality
• Reduce nutrient emissions from the agricultural sector. Nutrient
waste is a major challenge for water quality and health of
ecosystems in the river and the sea.
• Promote a legislative ban on phosphate containing detergents in
Europe. Phosphates have a major impact on the health of river and
marine ecosystems, but could be replaced relatively easily and
cheaply.
• Continue investment in sewage treatment.
Promoting a low-carbon economy
• Promote energy efficiency, particularly in buildings, which
account for 40% of energy used, and
• Promote development of an interconnected, “smart” grid
for the region. Increasing the interconnectivity of the
regional electricity market is key to the expansion of
localised energy
• production as well as for “smarter” control of demand and
decentralised supply.
• Plan the development of the renewable energy sector
carefully and basin-wide, in order to optimise renewable
energy production.
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
Thank you for your attention!