© michel roggo / wwf-canon danube region strategy conference, 04 march 2011, budapest danube region...
TRANSCRIPT
© M
ich
el R
ogg
o /
WW
F-C
anon
Danube Region Strategy Conference,
04 March 2011, Budapest
Danube Region Strategy – nature conservation aspects
Gábor Figeczky, acting director
WWF Hungary
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation 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;
Horizontal 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;
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
Plans not in line with this principle:
• development of navigation route
• river engineering works
• other infrastructure projects
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
17 August 2010 - 6
• 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
Demands for river engineering projects to improve Danube waterway
• no need for new dams or barrages on waterways which prevent longitudinal connectivity
Danube Region Srategy – Nature conservation aspects
• 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
Presentation to Company Name 17 August 2010 - 9
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
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!