reviving wetlands – sustainable management wetlands and

1Global Nature Fund – Living Lakes

Reviving Wetlands –

Sustainable Management of

Wetlands and Shallow Lakes

Guidelines for the Preparation of a Management Plan

2

Imprint

Global Nature Fund (GNF)Fritz-Reichle-Ring 478315 Radolfzell, GermanyPh +49 7732 9995-0Fax +49 7732 9995-88E-Mail: [email protected]

© GNF 10 / 2004, All rights reserved

Editorial Team Marion Hammerl-Resch, Udo Gattenlöhner,Sabine Jantschke

with support of Eleni Daroglou, Michael Green, Antonio Guillem, Bettina Jahn,Hans Jerrentrup, Fernendo Jubete

Design/Layout Didem Sentürk

Printed by Druckcenter Bodensee

Photographs GNF-Archive, GNF Project Partners

Cover photo Fundación Global Nature (La Nava)

If author is not indicated, the texts are written by the Editorial Team.

Special thanks to: Fleur Bradnock, Aitken Clark, Rosanne Clark, Maria Conti, Polly Kienle, Julia Masson, Eduardo de Miguel,Gudrun Schomers and Ellen Zimmermann.

Recommended citation: U. Gattenlöhner, M. Hammerl-Resch, S. Jantschke, Eds. (2004). Reviving Wetlands – SustainableManagement of Wetlands and Shallow Lakes.

The project is co-financed by theEuropean Union

EU LIFE ProgrammeDG Environment


Reviving Wetlands –

Sustainable Management of

Wetlands and Shallow Lakes

4

Contents Preface

Introduction

Initial Situation: LIFE Project Areas

Who these Guidelines are destined for

The Management Plan: Need and Background

Participatory Approach

Vision

Legal Responsibilities and the Protection of designated Sites

How to evaluate the Resources

Resources

8.1 Hydrology: Water quality and quantity, water management

8.2 Ecosystem, flora and fauna

8.3 Aspects of cultural landscape

8.4 Architecture, customs and traditions

8.5 Science and research

8.6 Educational facilities and programmes

8.7 Industry and commerce

8.8 Land use and traffic

8.9 Agriculture and forestry

8.10 Fishery

8.11 Tourism and recreation

Action Plan

Examples of Measures

10.1 Measures to improve the water quality

Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment

Installation of constructed wetland buffer zones at the Vassova Lagoonin the Nestos Delta

Phosphorus removal from Barton Broad, UK

New floating macrophyte green filters

10.2 Examples of restoration measures for wetlands

The Trinity Broads

EU LIFE project "Untersee life"

Reforestation at La Nava

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10.3 Examples for vegetation management

Burning as a management tour for reed beds and fens

Vegetation management in La Nava

Vegetation mapping at Villacañas shallow lakes

Management of wetland vegetation with water buffaloes in Greece

Management of water plants

10.4 Examples of agricultural extensification

Restoration of Upper Swabian lakes

Model Project Constance Ltd - farmers' markets at Lake Constance

LIFE project: Restoration of the Villacañas wetlands, Spain

10.5 Examples of visitor management

Lake Constance trail

Nature trail Laguna Boada

Conservation Centre Eriskirch - experience nature at Lake Constance

Visitor trail: Heron Carr Boardwalk in the Broads

10.6 Examples of environmentally sound tourism development

10.7 Examples of environmental education

EPO’s environmental education activities in the Nestos area

Floating Class Room at Lake Constance

Workcamps in La Nava

Summer Camps with DaimlerChrysler and Lufthansa

Nutmeg Puppet Show tour of the Broads

Management: Structure, Documentation, Communication

Participation and Communication

Monitoring and Evaluation

Project Partners and Supporters

Living Lakes - An international Partnership for the Protection ofLakes and Wetlands

References and Links

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Preface >>

Wetlands reborn

Wetlands are fragile and vulnerable ecosystems. Across the planet for more than acentury they have been extinguished at an alarming pace with the relentless progress ofindustrial processes and intensive agricultural practice. Nowhere is the loss of these vitalwater bodies more acute than in this small intensively developed continent of Europe.

Global Nature Fund, through its Living Lakes partnership network, initiated an ambitiousdemonstration and recovery project in Greece and Spain with support from the EU LIFE-Environment programme, administered and funded by the European Commission.

A key component of the project is this Manual of Sustainable Management of Wetlandsand Shallow Lakes, which offers practical advice on the recovery of lost or severely

damaged wetland ecosystems.

The manual sets out clear steps on the preparation of a management plan for wetlands, through an inclusiveparticipatory process involving local communities as well as the many stakeholders whose active support is vital to thesuccessful adoption and implementation of the plan.

The first discernible signs of recovery in the degraded wetlands, Nestos in Greece and La Nava and Boada in Spain,is a positive and encouraging demonstration of what may be achieved through wise wetland management.

Much thought has been given to the preparation of this manual. It is intended to be of value and practical use to localcommunities who live and work in and around wetlands, as well as those whose primary interest is in the scienceinvolved in wetland restoration. I wish to express my warmest appreciation to everyone who has contributed to theproduction of the manual.

Prof Aitken Clark

Vice President of Global Nature FundVice President of BTCV

Prof Aitken Clark


Water Framework Directive

"Water is not a commercial product like any other, but, rather, a heritage which must beprotected, defended and treated as such." (EU Water Framework Directive)

Europe’s citizens are increasingly interested in their waters, as part of their local, regionaland European environment. It is against this background that the European Union hasexpanded its water protection policy by the Water Framework Directive (WFD):

> An ambitious and binding objective - protecting all our waters, and achieving ‘goodstatus’ for all these waters (rivers, lakes, groundwaters and coastal waters)

> A holistic approach – good status defined, beyond traditional chemical parameters: forsurface waters also in terms of biology (microflora, microfauna, fish fauna) and

morphology, for groundwaters also in terms of quantity (balance between abstraction and recharge)

> Addressing interaction between waters, wetlands and other water-dependent ecosystems

> Ensuring river basin solidarity – thinking, planning and acting in river basins and sub-basins, across borders in aco-ordinated river basin management plan

> Getting the citizens involved – providing for broad participation of citizens, NGOs and stakeholders, municipalitiesetc. in the development of river basin management plans

Implementing this new EU water policy is a major challenge for all involved, at local, regional, national or Europeanlevel. I am therefore particularly glad that it has been able to establish a broad co-operation in implementing the WFD,the Common Implementation Strategy. It is bringing together not only the European Commission, Member States andCandidate Countries, but also NGOs, stakeholders and the scientific community, thus reconfirming the broad andparticipatory approach. Looking back now at three years of experience with this strategy, it can already now beregarded as an example of good European governance – building on experience and information across Europe,shaping a network, delivering ambitious guidance documents, workshops and seminars. It has also deliveredcommon ownership by all involved, to the benefit of Europe’s waters.

The WFD is now at a first crucial stage of its implementation, from Estonia to Portugal and from Ireland to Cyprus:Following the formal transposition into national legislation, the first environmental assessment for each river basin willhave to be finalised by the end of 2004. There are even regions where such activity is going far beyond the borders ofthe enlarged European Union: for the whole of the Danube river basin, from the mountains of the Black Forest to theshores of the Black Sea, one co-ordinated assessment is being developed by the Danube countries, within theInternational Danube Protection Commission ICPDR. It will pave the way for implementing the WFD in this largest ofthe EU’s river basins.

In this whole process, at regional, river basin and European level, the role of informed citizens, of NGOs, water usersand stakeholders will be crucial. I therefore warmly welcome all the work done in the context of this LIFE project. It willhelp us achieve our common goal: getting Europe’s waters cleaner, getting the citizen involved.

Dr Helmut Blöch

European Commission*, Directorate General Environment

*This contribution reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the European Commission.

Dr Helmut Blöch

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Introduction >>

Introduction

LIFE project: Living Lakes -Sustainable management ofwetlands and shallow lakes

Background - problems -objectives

Since the beginning of the 20thcentury two thirds of Europeanwetlands have been lost due toengineering construction works,draining and conversion to arableland, exploitation of groundwaterand dumping of refuse. Furthermore,many have been degraded throughnutrient enrichment, the mainsources being sewage effluents andagricultural fertilisers. Sucheutrophication interferes with theimportant ecological functions ofwater bodies and is jeopardising theuse of water resources by man.

In July 2001 Global Nature Fundstarted an EU LIFE project for therehabilitation of wetlands in Spainand Greece with the title "LivingLakes - Sustainable Management ofWetlands and Shallow Lakes". Theproject areas are the wetlands of LaNava and Boada in the region ofCastilla y León in Spain, and theNestos lakes, lagoons and wetlandsin north-eastern Greece. The twowetland complexes are underconstant pressure from nonsustainable activities. The selecteddemonstration areas are typical of agreat number of wetlands andshallow lakes in Europe.

The main goal of the project was todevelop two management plans inco-operation with the respectivelocal communities, authorities andstakeholders focusing on therestoration and sustainabledevelopment of the wetlands whilebenefiting the social and economicneeds of the local population. Theconsequent next step is the

implementation of the measuresdefined in the management plan.This will be achieved by:

> Applying ecological restorationtechniques to two degradedwetlands, respectively todemonstrate how wetlands can bemanaged in ways that enhancetheir nature conservation valueswhile benefiting the social andeconomic needs of localcommunities.

> Developing appropriate proposalsfor the extensification of theagricultural land in the catchmentarea in order to reduce negativeimpacts.

> Providing opportunities todemonstrate and spread goodpractice in wetland managementthrough training courses, workcamps and knowledge exchange,using the Living Lakes network asa primary vehicle for thedissemination of results andexperiences. A central objective ofthe project is to use differentcommunication techniques inorder to address the broad publicas well as international experts.

> Developing a sustainable tourismconcept which includes thewetlands as a valuable asset of theregion and implementing somefirst infrastructure as a steptowards proper visitormanagement.

Technical and methodologicalsolution

The management plans weredeveloped through a participatoryprocess with the local stakeholdersin order to maintain the biologicaldiversity and productivity of thewetlands and to allow wise use oftheir resources by human beings.The structure of the plans wasdeveloped according to Ramsarguidelines for the development ofmanagement plans and the

requirements of the EU WaterFramework Directive.

In order to achieve an overallagreement between the variousstakeholders and decision makers,an iterative step by step approachwas carried out to finalise the planfor La Nava and Nestos. In a firstphase, a possible structure for themanagement plan was drafted andan analysis and assessment of theavailable data was carried out andintegrated into the structure. Thenext step was the preparation of themanagement plan on the basis ofregular workshops with the relevantlocal and regional stakeholders. Themembers of these working groupsdiscussed the content and focus ofthe management plan anddeveloped it in further detail. Inaddition public presentations andhearings took place. As a final resultconcerted management plans foreach project area covering a periodof five years were presented to thepublic and handed over to thecompetent administrations with thedemand to approve the managementplan officially and to start theimplementation.

Concerning the specificdemonstration measures to restoreand to protect the wetlands, theproject partner organisationsFundación Global Nature in Spainand EPO in Greece werefocusing on:

> A long-term installation of bufferzones by purchase or long-termlease of land in the case of LaNava and Boada in Spain.Because of the steppe characterof the wetlands La Nava andBoada, only a few buffer zones werenewly planted but the strategy wasto convert arable land in the directvicinity of the fragile ecosystemsinto set-aside areas. In the case ofthe Nestos lakes in Greece a landconsolidation process was inprogress and was used to acquire


appropriate plots for theimplementation of the measures.At one lagoon a large"constructed wetland buffer zone"with autochthonous plants, mainlybulrush and reed species wasinstalled, which quickly developedinto an interesting wildlife habitat.

> Installation of a green filter atBoada wetland. The advantages ofthis innovative filter technologywith floating aquatic macrophytesare the relatively low investmentand its effectiveness in purifyingthe water which flows into thewetland (estimated at 40-60% ofthe nutrients load). This waterpurification system requiresminimal maintenance, although atleast once a year a technician hasto review the water level, restoredead or lost plants and eliminatethe excess plant biomassgenerated by the filter. The linearform of this green filter iscompletely integrated into thelandscape, even creating aninteresting habitat for somevertebrate and invertebratespecies. Unfortunately, until theend of the LIFE project the filtercould not be installed, becausethe regional environmental

administration of Castilla y Leónwould not support itsimplementation.

> Plantations with different methodslike the planting of solitary treesand bushes as well as plantationsin groups and rows to create avariety of structures and habitats(La Nava, Boada and Nestos).Plantations of various teaselspecies (e.g. Cynara cardunculus)because these plants are perfectlyadapted to the dry climateconditions in the highlands ofPalencia.

In both project areas a number ofdemonstration measures for visitormanagement were carried out suchas the installation of interpretationtrails, observation platforms and thepublication of booklets describingthemed excursions, traditionalproducts or environmental friendlyaccommodation facilities. Some ofthe measures are included aspractical examples in this manual.

A very important target of the projectwas the exchange of experiencebetween the partners in the twoproject areas and the BroadsNational Park Authority in EasternEngland as well as the LakeConstance Foundation in Germany.

The exchange of know-how wasextended to include otherorganisations involved inmanagement of wetlands and lakesin Europe and at international level.

The Broads Authority is veryexperienced in the restoration ofhighly eutrophic lakes,environmental education and long-term management of protected areasand lakes. The Lake ConstanceFoundation has worked mainly in thefields of organic and environmentallysound agriculture, sustainabletourism and environmentalmanagement systems. Both partnersassisted in the development of themanagement plans as well as theplanning and implementation of therestoration measures. Two interna-tional training courses wereorganised by both of them with afive-day programme focusing onhow to put theory into practice andthe opportunity to visit several casestudy examples.

Expected results andenvironmental benefits of theLIFE project

Forty months is a relatively short timefor the realisation of such a complexmodel project and some of the

Project Team at Boada Lagoon

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Introduction >>

specific environmental benefitscould not be evaluated within theproject duration. Based on the firstproject results the partnerorganisations made a tentativeassessment of the environmentalbenefits that can be expected.

Results and environmentalbenefits at local level

Integrated management plans

As a result of the project, integratedmanagement plans for the tworepresentative wetlands in Spain andGreece have been developed tomanage a wetland zone with a sizeof over 1,000 ha in La Nava, Boadaand the Nestos area. Themanagement plans include aconcept for the extensification of8,000 ha agriculturally used landand a concept to foster sustainabletourism in the region. Aims andspecific measures of themanagement plans are the result ofan iterative and integrative processinvolving the relevant stakeholdersof both areas.

The central role of the projectpartners Fundación Global Natureand EPO in their capacity as NGOswas to develop the managementplans and concepts in co-operationwith all relevant stakeholders. Theformal approval and implementationof the measures proposed in theplans lies within the responsibility ofthe regional Environmental Authorityof Castilla y León in the case of LaNava, and the national Ministry forthe Environment and the RegionalAuthorities in the case of the NestosLakes.

In both cases the co-operationbetween an NGO and the authoritieswas difficult. There are variousreasons for these problems: limitedresources (funds and labour),conflict of expertise, differentpriorities and objectives with respectto nature and the environment or

even misunderstandings in the pastor aspects of competition.

At the end of the LIFE project it wasnot clear whether or not the twomanagement plans would be usedand implemented - fully or partially -by the authorities in charge.

Pilot restoration and managementmeasures

The installation of buffer zones on57 ha of which 20 ha are newlyplanted will contribute to the removalof nitrogen and phosphorus loadsfrom concentrated effluents. AtNestos in total an area of 19 ha ofvaluable biotopes was cleaned fromrefuse. In total an area of 5.9 ha wascleared form rubble and heavy litter,the old lake banks were restored ornew water banks installed.

Visitor management

The installation of visitor infrastructuresuch as an interpretation trail, anobservation platform and brochuresin different languages is an importantstep in order to foster sustainabletourism development in the areas.It will help reduce negative impactsof visitors on sensitive zones aroundthe wetlands. Visitors and natureconservation will benefit from thesemeasures as this infrastructure willmake it easier to experience naturewhile visiting the wetlands and theirsurroundings.

Lobbying and environmentaleducation

As a result of the lobbying activitiesof Fundación Global Nature (FGN),La Nava was accepted as a Ramsarwetland in November 2002. LagunaBoada also fulfils the criteria of theRamsar treaty. FGN has submitted allnecessary data to the environmentalauthority of Castilla y León with therequest to apply for Ramsar status forthis wetland as well.

In the Nestos area the LIFE Environ-ment Project upgraded the work of

the regional NGO EPO and the skillslearned helped to prepare andimplement a large LIFE NatureProject that continued to practicallymanage and protect the Nestoswetlands by reconnecting fourdifferent old Nestos branches withthe main river course, restored morethan 60 ha of riparian forests,constructed 8 new floating breedingrafts for terns, initiated two newvulture feeding sites and installedthree more nature trails with 7 ob-servation platforms in the area. TheLIFE Environment Project achieved amajor benefit through participationon the board of the newly createdNational Park Management Body ofthe wider Nestos Wetlands Park.

Media work, information panels andthe presentation of two new mobileexhibitions, lectures at schools, insurrounding communities and onsite have environmental educationeffects on local residents (especiallyyoung people and pupils) as well asnational and international visitors.

Results and environmentalbenefits at international level

The exchange of experience andinformation was an importantobjective of the project. More than100 managers and decision-makersparticipated in the four trainingcourses on wetland restoration andmanagement carried out at LakeConstance (Germany, Austria andSwitzerland) and in the BroadsNational Park in East Anglia (England).90 young people from six Europeancountries participated in the interna-tional workcamps and activelysupported the nature conservationorganisations with practical workand at the same time gained variousexperiences and insight into theculture and nature of the regions.Another important measureregarding environmental educationwas the work with school classes atthe regional schools around Nestos


and La Nava. In Spain, the team ofthe Fundación visited 17 classes toexplain the importance and functionof La Nava and Boada wetlands. Sixother school classes came to theInformation Centre in Fuentes deNava and spent a day at thelagoons.

From the beginning of the LIFEProject in June 2001 until June2004, 52 schools have been visitedfor environmental presentations withmore than 2000 pupils and 119teachers, most of them also partici-

pating in field excursions. In the neigh-bouring town of Xanthi a major eventfor the presentation of all environmentalwork of the basic schools wasorganized in the central square ofthe town at the end of the schoolyear 2003 (see also chapter 10.7).

This manual "Reviving Wetlands -Sustainable Management ofWetlands and Shallow Lakes" and ademonstration video are outcomesof the project and are used todisseminate the results and theexperiences obtained in the project.

The manual explains the content of amanagement plan for wetlands andshallow lakes and describes thenecessary steps of its participatorydevelopment. All steps are illustratedwith clear and specific examplesand results from the LIFE project aswell as other projects and casestudies. The manual is published inEnglish, Spanish and Greek; aGerman version can be found on aCD ROM as well as on the website

www.livingwetlands.org.

Coordinator

Global Nature Fund

Project Partners

Laguna La Nava; Spain

> Fundación Global Nature España

> Ayuntamiento de Fuentes de Nava

> Ayuntamiento de Boada deCampos

Nestos Lakes; Greece

> EPO-Society for Protection ofNature and Ecodevelopment

> AENAK: Development Agency ofthe Prefecture of Kavala

Lake Constance; Germany,Switzerland, Austria

> Lake Constance Foundation(Bodensee-Stiftung)

Norfolk & Suffolk Broads; England

> Broads Authority

We would like to thank the membersof the Project Advisory Board for theintensive support and consultation ofthe project team.

Advisory Board

Prof Dr Gerhard ThielckeHonorary President of GNF, Germany

Prof Aitken ClarkVice President of Global Nature Fund,Vice President of BTCV, England

Dr Tobias SalathéEuropean Coordinator of Ramsar-Convention, Switzerland

Dr Argiris KalianiotisDirector of the State Fishery InstituteINALE, Greece

Dr Santos CirujanoCSIC Real Jardin Botanico Madrid,Spain

For further information andaddresses see Chapter 14 ProjectPartners and Supporters.

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European Greylag Geese

Project areas of the

EU-LIFE project are the

lagoons La Nava and

Boada in Spain and the

Nestos Lakes and

Lagoons in

North-eastern Greece.

LIFE Project Areas

Wetlands and shallow lakes areamong the most important and mostthreatened ecosystems on earth.They provide habitat for a richdiversity of animal and plant life. Butpeople need wetlands as well - formany reasons - they provideproducts from fish to reeds and helpprevent floods. Furthermore they playan important role in filtering andcleaning water thereby reducinglevels of pollutants.

Nevertheless, wetlands are verysensitive and vulnerable systems andover 60% of the European wetlandshave been destroyed by mankindsince the beginning of the 20thcentury. Many of the remaining areasare imminently threatened by nutrientenrichment and water abstraction.Global Nature Fund has started thispilot project in order to demonstratethat it is possible to manage wetlandsin ways which enhance their naturalvalue while benefiting the social andeconomic needs of the localcommunity.

Project areas of the implemented EULIFE project are the lagoons La Navaand Boada in Spain and the NestosLakes and Lagoons in North-easternGreece.

The wetlands La Nava and Boada inSpain represent typical steppe lakes,ecosystems of which two thirds havebeen destroyed during the past 50years. Steppe lakes are extremely

important for flora and fauna becausethey are located in arid areas. Oftenthey represent the only remainingnatural ecosystem amidst intensivemonocultures. As a consequence fartoo much water is extracted and thegroundwater is depleting. Due to thelimited water resources massiveconflicts between agriculture andnature conservation often arise.Sustainable integration of the wetlandsinto the land development plans atlocal level is almost non-existent.

In the 1950s, politicians had a dreamof a blooming landscape reaping richharvests in the La Nava region. Theconstruction of 15 large and manysmall canals and ditches nearlydrained Lake La Nava, but theexpected success failed.

In 1990, the Spanish "FundaciónGlobal Nature" brought Lake La Navaback to life. The sister lake Boada, in14 km distance, was restored in1996. After a remarkably short periodof time, waders and other waterfowlre-discovered the lakes. At presentthe lakes cover over four squarekilometres and are classified as twoof the three most important winterresting places for central and northEuropean greylag geese.

Today, the main problem of theSpanish wetlands is the poor qualityof the inflowing water as some of thetributaries are polluted withinsufficiently treated sewagecontaining nutrients and othersubstances e.g. from small-scaletanneries.

Polluted water in La Nava tributaries

La Nava in spring

Initial Situation: LIFE Project Areas


La Nava and Boada in Spain

Location North-western Spain on theTierra de Campos Plateau, Province of Palencia

Inhabitants 840 in the municipality of Fuentes de Nava,28 in the municipality of Boada de Campos

Wetland type Shallow steppe lakes with an average depth of 0.5 m,located in low precipitation areas

Size Original size 25-50 km2, today only 4 km2

Fauna 300 species of vertebrates, 225 bird species (Greylag Geese 15,000 individuals, mallards25,000 individuals, teals, shovelers, lapwings, whiskered terns, stilts, avocets),23 mammal species, 7 reptile and 5 amphibian species

Flora The flora is characterised by seasonal flooding of the wetlands. Typical species are sedges(Carex, Cladium sp.), Iris and Water Buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), Purple Moor-Grass(Molinia caerulea), cattail (Typha sp.) and reed (Phragmites australis).

Legal Protection Natura 2000, Ramsar site

Threats Groundwater pollution, groundwater exploitation, insufficient waste water treatment systemsin small communities and industries, intensive agriculture, conflicts concerning the use ofwater, lack of management, lack of integration in local and regional landuse planning.

>>

Aerial view of La Nava Wetland

La Nava & Boada

Palencia

Madrid

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11111 Initial Situation: LIFE Project Areas

Some parts of the riparian

forest in the Nestos Delta

are still used for dumping

refuse. 120 truck loads of

rubbish were collected

and removed from

30 ha biotope.

The Nestos lakes and lagoons arepart of the Nestos Delta, located innorth-eastern Greece. Starting in the1950s large-scale drainagemeasures were carried out in thedelta and the River Nestos wasenclosed between flood protectiondykes. Thus, large parts of the deltabecame available for intensivemodern agriculture and the area wasliberated from malaria. Today theNestos is flowing at a length of 30 kmfrom the end of the Nestos Gorge tothe Mediterranean Sea in a naturalriver-bed between dams of 1-1.5 kmwidth. From the original 550 km2

large Nestos delta, today only about80 km2 show a natural charactercomprising the following mainecosystems: coastal lagoons andsand dunes, lakes and ponds, theriverbed with riparian forests.

The lake area covers roughly 20 km2

and consists of 18 freshwater lakesand ponds. The Nestos Lakes are

precious pieces in a more complexmosaic that includes wetlands, drymeadows, hedges, smallMediterranean bush forests, andsmall-scale agricultural fields. Thelagoons are situated in the north-western part of the delta and coverabout 10 km2. They are surroundedby a coastal strip of sand dunes andextended salt marshes, reed bedsand tamarisk bushes.

Intensive agriculture is one of thegreatest threats to the lakes andlagoons. Due to agricultural EUsubsidies more and more land iscultivated and intensively used.Farmers pump off large quantities ofwater from the lakes to irrigate theirfields. The excessive use offertilisers and pesticides in the deltaregion is causing severe problems tothe lakes and lagoons such aseutrophication. The quantity andquality of the groundwater has alsodeteriorated.

The Curlew is common in the Nestos Delta

Waterlilies in the Nestos lakes

Illegal rubbish dumps


>>

Nestos Lakes and Lagoons

Location Nestos Delta in north-eastern Greece, about 200 kmEast of Salonika

Inhabitants 32 communities in the Delta with about 50,000 inhabitants

Wetland type Brackish-water lagoons and several freshwater lakes

Size and depth "Nestos Delta" covers an area of 550 km2 of which 80 km2 are wetlands. The depth ofthe water bodies varies between 0.5-1.5 m (lagoons) and up to 3.5 m (lakes)

Fauna Over 35 species of mammals (otter, wild cat and golden jackal)More than 320 birds species, of which 110 are breeding species, 2 species of tortoises,2 terrapins, 2 sea turtles, 9 snakes, 2 lizards, 2 geckos and the glass lizard.8 species of amphibians and 8 further species of reptiles in the bordering mountains

Flora The area is characterised by sub-Mediterranean vegetation. Along the lagoons there areextended salt marshes, wet grasslands, reed and tamarisks. The ponds and lakes aresurrounded by reed and cattail, and the water’s surface is partly covered by waterlilies

Legal Protection Ramsar site, Natura 2000, SPA Area under Bird Directive, Important Bird Area (IBA) andtwo large non hunting areas, National Park under constitution

Threats Intensive agriculture, water distraction, ground water deterioration, industries, illegalhunting, littering

Aerial view of Nestos Lakes

Nestos DeltaKavala

Athens

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2 Who these Guidelines are destined

Who these Guidelinesare destined for

The present manual describes thecontents and the process ofpreparing a management plan forwetlands or shallow lakes. The targetgroup are technicians, stakeholdersand decision makers involved inmanagement of these sites orinfluencing the ecosystem with theiractivities. The publication givesanswers to questions about why andhow a management plan has to beestablished. Useful information fromother manuals has been included -in order that the wheel is notcontinually reinvented. Practicalexperience and examples out of theLIFE project "Sustainable Manage-ment of wetlands and shallow lakes"and from various Living Lakespartners will facilitate the practicalimplementation.

The structure of the manual reflectsthe elements of a management plan.

Principal questions

The development andimplementation of a managementplan is a time consuming taskinvolving financial and personnelresources. Take your time forreflection and answer the followingquestions carefully:

> Is a management plan for the sitereally needed? Why?

> Is the need of a management planonly seen by yourself or yourorganisation? What about theother stakeholders, what aboutthe expert administration?

The elaboration of a managementplan is not a one-man show - least ofall its implementation. It is absolutelylegitimate that the initiative todevelop a management plan comesfrom an NGO or another stakeholdergroup. But it is necessary to look forpartners, especially if similar initiati-

ves were not successful in the past.

> Who will be responsible for theimplementation of themanagement plan?

Check which administrations andprivate institutions as well aspersons have expertise andresponsibilities within themanagement of the area. How willthey be involved in the process? Doyou have convincing arguments tomotivate them towards a positiveattitude, e.g. general legal conditionswhich have to be fulfilled, answers toserious conflicts of interests, projectsto augment the image of politicians?Would your organisation be acceptedas co-ordinator of the process?

> Have you identified all relevantlocal actors?

How will they be involved in theprocess? Do you have convincingarguments to motivate them towardsa positive attitude, e.g. interestingfinancial funding and subsidies,advantage for tourism development,answer to serious conflicts ofinterests, serious involvement andconsideration of the differentinterests etc.? Would yourorganisation be accepted as co-ordinator of the process?

> Does your organisation have thenecessary personnel and financialresources to lead the process ofthe elaboration of a managementplan?

A management plan requires theresearch of existing data andinformation to analyse the actualsituation. It is easy to design aparticipatory process on paper, butto work it out, as many as necessarytalks and meetings need to becarried out and a high portion ofdiplomacy and patience is required.Did you agree in your organisation toassign sufficient dedication andresources to this objective? Do youhave the professional background toco-ordinate this process?

The goal of nature conservation work: astable ecosystem

Normally, an

environmental NGO

defends the highest

standards of nature and

environmental protection.

But in the end a

management plan

approved by all

stakeholders is always a

compromise.


for >>

> Do you know successful examplessimilar to your situation?

It is not necessary or useful to re-invent the wheel. Other examplesand positive - or also negative -experiences are very helpful toprepare a coherent and realisticmanagement plan. Get in contactwith other initiatives! Invite them tothe meetings and ask them for adviceand feedback. Practical experienceis much more convincing thantheoretical planning.

> Is your organisation able andwilling to accept a compromise?

Normally, an environmental NGOdefends the highest standards ofnature and environmental protection.But in the end a management planapproved by all stakeholders is alwaysa compromise. Where are the limitsof acceptance within your organi-sation? Are you flexible enough tobring the process to a successfulresult acceptable to all stakeholders- including your own organisation?

If, after these reflections, you are stillconvinced, then please go ahead.An exciting and challenging target iswaiting for you and yourorganisation. Knowledge andprofessional work are importantingredients for success. We wishyou good luck - because this is alsoneeded!

Participatory Approach Vision

Description of the area(geographic and physical data)

Legal responsibilities andprotection status

Monitoring and Evaluation

Action Plan

Management Structure,Documentation / Communication

Evaluation of natural, socio-economical and cultural resources

HydrologyEcosystems, fauna and flora

Cultural landscapeArchitecture and traditions

Science and researchEnvironmental educationIndustry and commerce

Land use and trafficAgriculture and fisheryTourism and recreation

Continuousimprovement

ofenvironmental

quality

Manual structure

Partipication and Communication

18

3 The Management Plan: Need and

The ManagementPlan: Need andBackground

The term management derives fromeconomics and describes the cycleof planning-implementing-controlling-adapting.

During the past ten years, themanagement idea has found its wayinto ecology, among other thingsthrough the voluntary Europeaninstrument "Environmental and AuditManagement Scheme EMAS" andISO 14001 for companies, localauthorities and other organisations.Different EU directives, ahead of allthe EU Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC(Managing Natura 2000 Sites) andthe EU Water Framework Directive(River Basin Management) postulatemanagement plans. The newdirective 2001/42/EC on StrategicEnvironmental Assessment foroptimisation on planning processes,especially within the range of landuse planning, transport planning andwaste management planning,requires different elements of amanagement system: environmentalreports with specific environmentalaims and monitoring.

The management plan for anecosystem or an area is part of adynamic and continuingmanagement planning process. Theplan should be kept under reviewand adjusted to take into account themonitoring process, changingpriorities, and emerging issues.Management planning must beregarded as a continuous, long-termprocess. Planning should begin byproducing a minimal plan that meets,as far as resources allow, therequirements of the site and of theorganisation responsible formanaging the site. It is important torecognise that a management planwill grow as information becomesavailable.

Most important functions of aManagement Plan are:

> To identify the objectives of sitemanagement

> To identify the factors that affect, ormay affect, the features

> To resolve conflicts

> To define the monitoringrequirements

> To identify and describe themanagement required to achievethe objectives

> To maintain continuity of effectivemanagement

> To obtain resources

> To enable communication withinand between sites, organisationsand stakeholders

> To demonstrate that managementis effective and efficient

> To ensure compliance with local,national, and international policies.

Environmental and AuditManagement Scheme (EMAS)and ISO 14001

The EU Eco-Audit, also called EMAS,is a voluntary management systemfor businesses and organisationsthat wish to improve their operationalenvironmental protection measureson a continual basis beyond thepractices called for by law.

EMAS stands for "Eco-Managementand Audit Scheme". The revisedEMAS II includes all the aspects ofthe international ISO 14001, but insome respects has higherrequirements, for example employeeparticipation and the publication ofan environmental report.

All organisations participating inEMAS regularly draw up anenvironmental statement for thepublic. In it the organisationalenvironmental policy and itsenvironmental programme withconcrete measurable environmental

The management plan for

an ecosystem or an area

is part of a dynamic and

continuing management

planning process. The

plan should be kept under

review and adjusted to

take into account the

monitoring process,

changing priorities, and

emerging issues.

Cover page of the Broads Plan 2004


Background >>

goals are established. All therelevant environmental aspects thatthe company or organisation is ableto influence must be taken intoconsideration. Among these are tobe numbered indirect aspects aswell, such as investments, admini-strative and planning decisions,products or services of suppliers etc.

Each environmental statement mustbe evaluated by an independent,government-certified environmentalverifier or auditor. If it meets therequirements of EMAS, theenvironmental auditor declares theenvironmental statement to be valid.

The ISO 14001 is a world widerecognised environmentalmanagement scheme, administeredand further developed by theinstitutions responsible for industrialstandards in each country. EMASand ISO 14001 are very similarsystems; in certain aspects EMAShas even higher requirements.

EMAS II provides structure andelements for environmentalmanagement, and is therefore alsointeresting for the management ofwetlands and shallow lakes.Currently, industry, communities,service providers, e.g. hotels andtravel agencies, and even natureand biosphere reserves, apply forEMAS certification. According toEMAS criteria a managementstructure for a wetland and lakeregion should be established whichwould also appear in themanagement plan.

Further information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/emas/

Where is a management planrequired?

Managing Natura 2000 Sites

The EU Directive on theConservation of Natural Habitats andFauna and Flora provides thelegislation for the protection of

habitats and their species and therestoration to favourableconservation status. The Directiveestablishes a community widenetwork of Special Areas ofConservation (SACs) which form partof Natura 2000. Also SpecialProtected Areas (SPAs) establishedunder the Birds Directive (1979) areincluded within Natura 2000.

Article 6 of the Habitats Directiveplays a crucial role in themanagement of the sites that makeup the Natura 2000 network. It setsout the framework for siteconservation and protection, andincludes proactive, preventive andprocedural requirements. It isrelevant to special protection areasunder Directive 79/409/EEC as wellas to sites based on Directive 92/43/EEC. The framework is a key meansof achieving the principle ofenvironmental integration andultimately sustainable development.

The necessary conservationmeasures can involve "if need be,appropriate management plansspecifically designed for the sites orintegrated into other developmentplans". Such management plansshould address all foreseen activities,unforeseen new activities beingdealt with by Article 6 (3) and (4).

Further information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/art6_en.pdf

EU Water Framework Directive

The Water Framework Directive(WFD) expands the scope of waterprotection to all waters and setsclear objectives that a "good status"must be achieved for all Europeanwaters by 2015 and that water usemust be sustainable throughoutEurope.

The Water Framework Directiverequires that all partners in a givenriver basin manage their waterstogether in close co-operation. Itstipulates that countries set up a

common River Basin ManagementPlan with measures to ensure thatthe ambitious objectives of theDirective will be met within the givendeadlines. These plans will bedesigned and implemented by riverbasin, the natural geological andhydrological unit which bringstogether upstream and downstreaminterests: local, regional, nationalauthorities as well as stakeholders,including NGOs.

In essence, the WFD aims to createnew solidarity around watermanagement within river basins andaims to prevent pollution at sourceand sets out control mechanisms toensure that all pollution sources aremanaged in a sustainable way.

In terms of pollution control, theDirective combines two approaches- the best possible reduction ofemissions and a minimum qualitythreshold - to ensure that theobjectives of "good ecologicalquality" of water are met by 2015.This must be achieved by theMember States. The EuropeanCommission is preparing"environmental quality standards"defining "good chemical status". Atthe same time, emission controlmeasures are being prepared whichwill range from reduction to phaseout of releases into the aquaticenvironment within a period of 20years for the worst pollutants inEuropean waters, the "priorityhazardous substances".

The WFD encourages, and in somecases requires, the integration ofpolicies and actions that cancontribute to improve water quality,whether it be farmers who changeagricultural land-use practices toreduce nitrate leakage intogroundwater, or industrial producerswho invest in new technologies toreduce emissions, or consumerswho buy environmentally-friendlyproducts such as biodegradabledetergents.

20

3

Just as different countries will haveto co-operate to protect waterresources, so will various actorsfrom different sectors. The Directiveencourages all those with an interestto actively participate in watermanagement activities. This co-operation amongst stakeholderssuch as NGOs, local communitiesand various levels of publicauthorities during all phases of theimplementation is crucial to ensurethe whole process is carried outefficiently and transparently. And thisinvolvement must continue so thatthere is a balance of interestsbetween the environment and thosewho depend on it.

Important deadlines of the Directive:

December 2003: National andregional water laws were adapted tothe WFD. River Basin co-operationwere made operational.

December 2004: An analysis ofpressures and impacts on watershas to be completed including aneconomic analysis.

December 2006: Monitoringprogrammes have to be operationalas a basis for the watermanagement.

December 2008: River Basin Ma-nagement plans presented to thepublic.

December 2009: Publishing firstRiver Basin Management Plans.

December 2015: Waters to meet"good status".

Further information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-framework/index/

EU Directive on StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA)

With an average population of 117.5inhabitants per km2 in the EU it iseasy to see why land use planningand management is such animportant environmental issue for the

Union. The way we use our landspace can have major impacts onenvironmental conditions. Thesecan be direct, such as thedestruction of natural habitats andlandscapes, or indirect, such asincreasing the amount of traffic onour roads leading to morecongestion, air pollution andgreenhouse gases. Land useplanning and managementdecisions are usually made at localor regional level.

To devise methods andenvironmental tools to analyse theimpact of proposed development,the Directive on Environment ImpactAssessment (EIA) for projects andthe Directive on StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA) forplans and programmes are the twomain tools used in this task. Thesemake sure that significantenvironmental impacts are identified,assessed and taken into accountthroughout the decision-makingprocess.

The purpose of the SEA Directive isto ensure that environmentalconsequences of certain plans andprogrammes at regional and locallevel are identified and assessedduring their preparation and beforetheir adoption. The public andenvironmental authorities can givetheir opinion and all results areintegrated and taken into account inthe course of the planningprocedure.

By July 2004, the SEA Directive mustbe integrated into federal legislation.At the heart of SEA lies theenvironmental report, whichestablishes, describes and analysesthe environmental impact of a landuse plan on regional level, or a planor project in the field of communalurban land use - and its reasonablealternatives.

Annex 1 of the Directive specifiesthe information that has to be

provided in the Environmental Reportand calls on information thatconcentrates on issues related to thesignificant effects on theenvironment of the plan orprogramme. Information on therelationship with other plans orprogrammes should also beincluded.

According to Article 10 of the SEADirective the significantenvironmental effects of theimplementation of a plan orprogramme should be monitored.The report should contain adescription of how that monitoring isto be undertaken. The descriptionshould refer to existing monitoringarrangements if these are to beused.

Further information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/eia/home.htm

The Management Plan: Need and


1 Environmental Aspects

Evaluation of natural, socio-economical and culturalresources(Chapter 7 and 8)

2 Environmental Assessment

(Performance Audit and LegalCompliance Audit)Evaluation of natural, socio-economical and culturalresources(Chapters 8 and 10)

3 Environmental policy and goals:

Vision (Chapter 5)Action Plan /Operational Manage-ment Goals (Chapter 9)

4 Environmental Programme:

Action Plan (Chapter 9 and 10)

5 Realisation of EnvironmentalProgramme

Examples of measures(Chapter 10)

6 Regular procedure check

Does the organisation work?Monitoring and Evaluation(Chapter 13)

7 Documentation

Written Management Plan,minutes of meetings, evaluationreports (Chapter 11)

8 Environmental ManagementStructure

Who is responsible for what(Chapters 6, 9, 11)Participation of stakeholders(Chapters 4 and 12)

9 Internal Environmental Audit

Monitoring and Evaluation(Chapter 13)

10Environmental statement

Participation and communication(Chapter 12)

11EMAS-Certification

By an accredited Auditor- at least every 3 years

Background >>

EMAS European ECO-Management and Audit Scheme

5 Realisation ofEnvironmental Programme

10 Environmental Statement

9 Internal EnvironmentalAudit

11 EMAS-Certification

4 EnvironmentalProgramme

1 EnvironmentalAspects

2 EnvironmentalAssessment

3 Environmental Goals

8Environmental Manage-

ment Structure

6Regular

procedure check

7Documen-

tation

22

4 Participatory Approach >>

Participatory Approach

Good management can onlysucceed if all stakeholders areintegrated and either agree on themanagement goals or at least on acompromise. For that reason, theparticipatory approach is given ahigh priority within the EU WaterFramework Directive.

"The increasing demand by citizensand environmental organisations forcleaner rivers and lakes, ground-water and coastal beaches isevident. This citizen demand is oneof the main reasons why theCommission has made waterprotection one of the priorities of itswork. A new European Water Policywill have to get polluted waters cleanagain, and ensure clean waters arekept clean. In achieving theseobjectives, the roles of citizens andcitizens’ groups will be crucial. Thisis why a new European Water Policyhas to motivate more citizens tobecome involved."

There are two main reasons for anextension of public participation. Thefirst is that the decisions on the mostappropriate measures to achieve theobjectives in the river basin manage-ment plan will involve balancing theinterests of various groups. Theeconomic analysis requirement isintended to provide a rational basisfor this, but it is essential that theprocess is open to the scrutiny ofthose who will be affected.

The second reason concernsenforceability. The higher thetransparency in the establishment ofobjectives, the imposition ofmeasures, and the reporting ofstandards, the greater care MemberStates will take to implement thelegislation in good faith, and thegreater the power of the citizens toinfluence the direction ofenvironmental protection, whetherthrough consultation or, if

disagreement persists, through thecomplaints procedures and thecourts. Caring for Europe’s waterswill require more involvement ofcitizens, interested parties, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).To that end the Water FrameworkDirective will require information andconsultation when river basinmanagement plans are established:the river basin management planmust be issued in draft, and thebackground documentation onwhich the decisions are based mustbe made accessible. Furthermore abiannual conference in order toprovide regular exchange of viewsand experiences in implementationshould be organised. Too often in thepast implementation has been leftunexamined until it was too late -until Member States were alreadywoefully behind schedule and out ofcompliance. The FrameworkDirective, by establishing very earlyon a network for the exchange ofinformation and experience betweenwater professionals throughout theCommunity, will ensure this does nothappen.

So much for the EU Water Frame-work Overview.

What applies to river basinmanagement plans also applies tothe management of wetland areas. Alarge number of examples in the pastdemonstrate that "Top-Down-management plans" failed onaccount of missing participation andlack of consensus.

However a participatory approach iseasier said than done. World WideFund for Nature (WWF) noted in itssurvey "WWFs Water and WetlandIndex" from November 2003 thatthere is still "a long way to go forpublic participation in watermanagement". In this survey, realisedwithin 23 European member statesand accession countries, WWFrevealed that public participation is

A new European Water

Policy will have to get

polluted waters clean

again, and ensure clean

waters are kept clean. In

achieving these

objectives, the roles of

citizens and citizens’

groups will be crucial.

Workshop with EPO in Greece

Expert team meeting at La Nava in Spain


poor or very poor in almost half of thesurveyed countries, especially inSouthern and Eastern Europe. Thepoorest aspects of publicparticipation are the lack ofproactive information provisions tonon-governmental stakeholders(poor or very poor in 35% of thesurveyed countries) and the qualityof the means to enable the activeinvolvement of interested parties indecision-making processes (poor orvery poor in more than 45% of thecountries).

The first step to enable a goodquality participation is information. Astakeholder can build up an opinionand participate in a decision only if

he receives sufficient proactiveinformation about legislation, resultsof ecological, economical andsocial analysis, specific projectsaffecting freshwater ecosystems,proposed aims and measures withinthe management plan and theprocedure of communication.

The second step is an adequatestructure of the participationprocess. Well moderated workshopsand sufficient space for discussionare important. All invitedstakeholders should receive the firstdraft of the management plan beforeany first meeting and be givenenough time to discuss this draft withtheir members or supervisors.

The points of view of stakeholdersneed to be taken seriously intoconsideration. They should not getthe impression of being involvedonly pro forma. Feedback from allparticipants should be treated in thesame manner. How were theircomments or suggestions dealt with?Were they included in themanagement plan and if not, whywere they discarded?

Transparency is a very importantquality criterion for a participatoryprocess. A management plan signedby all stakeholders in the end is agood result.

Example Broads National Park: Broads Plan 2004

Designing a participatoryprocessMaria Conti, Broads Authority

Independent consultants wereengaged early in the Broads Plan,considerable efforts were made toensure that the process wastransparent, participatory andinclusive from the outset. Thus, theprocess was designed to:

> Bring together a wide range oforganisations and individuals tocreate a common purpose andcollective responsibility for thefuture of the Broads

> Generate consensus around a setof objectives, based on a sharedvision for the future of the Broads

> Engender a strong sense ofownership amongst organisationsand individuals in the objectivesof the Plan.

Three main groups of stakeholderswere identified for close

involvement in the process:

> People with information or skillsrelevant to the Plan and itspreparation

> People affected by what happensas a consequence of the Plan

> People with authority or resourcesto help implement the Plan.

These groups comprised thefollowing types of stakeholders:

> Those who live or work in theBroads Executive Area

> Visitors to the Broads

> Partner organisations(governmental, non-governmentaland corporate)

> Local authorities and parishcouncils

> The wider public.

The different types of stakeholderswere able to participate in theprocess through a range ofmechanisms, as summarised in

Table 1. These included thefollowing features:

> The Broads Forum, whichcomprises a wide range oforganisations not represented onthe Broads Authority but with aninterest in the Broads, is wellplaced to contribute to and monitorthe development of the Plan

> Facilitated events to engagedirectly with key stakeholders onissues and desirable outcomes

> Community events held indifferent locations for those wholive or work in the Broads toinform them about the plan andsolicit their input

> Consultation on key documents,notably a leaflet about key issuesand a draft Broads Plan, that werewidely publicised anddisseminated, as well asavailable via the Authority’swebsite.

24

4 Participatory Approach >>

Example Broads Plan 2004

Mechanisms by which stakeholders were able to participate in the development of the Broads Plan

StakeholderStakeholderevents

Meetings CommitteesCommunityevents

LeafletDraft Plan

BA Staff

BA Members

Statutory

Non-Statutory

Public

Broads Forum

(Table 1)

Design of the process

In designing a participatory processit is important to be clear about thedifferent types of engagement withstakeholders, ranging frominformation provision with noopportunity for stakeholders toinfluence the outcome to opendialogue in which stakeholderaspirations can be met anddecisions shared (Table 2). Theprocess for developing a newBroads Plan was designed to be asopen as possible, beginning withdialogue bounded only by the legalresponsibilities of the Authority andother partner statutory agenciesand moving into consultation modeonce the Broads Plan had beendrafted.

The process for developing a newBroads Plan was designed at afacilitated workshop, involving aselection of members and officersof the Authority, and subsequentlyshared with key stakeholders forinformation and feedback. Importantfeatures of the process,summarised in Table 2, include:

> Engaging with some 80 keyorganisations and interest groupsthrough a series of facilitatedworkshops to identify key issuesand how they might be addressedthrough a set of 20-year aims and5-year objectives.

> Engaging with local communitiesthrough informal events to providean opportunity for people to ‘dropin’, meet members and officers,and record their interests andconcerns.

> Publicising and widelydisseminating consultationdocuments, specifically a leafleton key issues and the draftBroads Plan, and making themaccessible to all via theAuthority’s website.

> Establishing a Steering Group tooversee and guide the process,but NOT dictate policy.Membership comprised membersof the Authority’s Strategy andResources Committee and theChairman of the Broads Forum,serviced by officers of theManagement Team.

> Establishing an Expert AdvisoryGroup to provide external adviceon the process, strategies andpotential resources for address-ing key issues. Members arenoted national experts anddecision makers within sectorsrelevant to the Authority’sinterests, the Chairman and ViceChairman of the Authority, andofficers of the Management Team.

Joint business planning

Given that the Broads Plan is aboutcollaborative working, meetingswere set up with key partnerorganisations during theconsultation phase (Table 3) toshare business plans for thecoming year. This provided anopportunity to agree priorities andresources to be allocated to them. Itis anticipated that this process willbe repeated annually.


As a non-governmentalorganisation you may be initiatorof a management planningprocess as well as stakeholder atthe same time. This can lead to

Advice

conflicts about the goals to bepursued. To mitigate the risks youshould engage an experienced,neutral moderator to guide throughworkshops for voting on a

management plan. The money forhis honorarium is a goodinvestment!

Example Broads Plan 2004

Spectrum of engagement with stakeholders and their respective potentials for influencing decisions (Table 2)

Type of Engagement Features Stakeholder Response

Open dialogue

Bounded dialogue

Consultation

Information gathering

Information giving

Decisions shared by stakeholders

Decisions influenced by stakeholders

Stakeholders have limited influence

Stakeholders provide information to informdecisions - no influence

Stakeholders have opportunity to react

Needs/Aspirations

Options

Reactions

Summary of the two-year process to produce a new Broads Plan (Table 3)

Period Key Stage Broads Authority Key stakeholders PublicLocal Communuties

Initial planning

Design process

Identify key issues

Develop aims andobjectives

Draft Broads Plan

Consult on draftBroads Plan

Finalise Broads Plan

Launch Broads Plan

Committee

Committee

Committee

Committee

Committee

[1,200 copies disseminated for consultation; also available via Authority’s website.]

Committee

[Public event and widespread dissemination of Broads Plan]

Broads Forum

1st workshop

2nd workshop

Broads Forum

Broads Forum

Feb.-June

July-Aug.

Sept.-Oct.

Nov.-Dec.

Jan.-Apr.

May-July

Aug.-Dec.

Jan.2004

Annual meeting

Issues leaflet5 drop-in events

26

5 Vision >>

Vision

The South African Zulus considerwater as a living entity with soul andmemory. And the indigenous peopleHuichol from Lake Chapala inMexico believe that lakes are themirror of ourselves.

What should a lake or wetland looklike in five or ten years? What aboutthe water quality and ecologicalbalance of the different naturalhabitats? Sustainability? Is it morethan just a buzzword? How can theprinciples of sustainabledevelopment be implemented?

The vision as general target goal forthe management plan should be thebasis for joint actions of the differentdecision makers and stakeholders -an outlook for the future everybody isapproving and ready to support.

Restoration of ecosystems alreadydegraded as well as the commitmentto the "Precautionary Principle" inorder to avoid pollution have theirplace in the vision. The sevenprinciples of the World Lake Visioncan be used as guidelines for yourwork to establish a vision for thewetland/lake in your region.

Frame

In co-operation with the Japanesefoundation ILEC, the InternationalEnvironment Technology CentreUNEP-IETC, LakeNet and otherorganisations Living Lakes and GNFtook part in the preparation of theWorld Lake Vision. The World LakeVision is an important call forsustainable use of lakes andunderlines the great importance oflakes for man and ecosystems. Itprovides a set of guiding principlesfor developing and implementingeffective management programmesfor the world’s lakes. Theseprinciples augment those alreadyarticulated in the World Water Vision,but focus specifically on lakes, theirunique characteristics and uses,and the threats they face. It alsodescribes promising strategies toaddress these threats, whichindividuals and organisationsworking at the local, national, andglobal level can undertake over thelonger term.

The seven principles detailed inWorld Lake Vision provide a roadmap for achieving the transition tomanaging lakes for theirsustainable use.

The World Lake Vision was prepared by GNF, ILEC, UNEP-IETC, LakeNet and other organisations

Mahakam Lake, Indonesia

Pantanal, South America

Milicz Ponds, Poland

The World Lake Vision is

an important call for

sustainable use of lakes

and underlines the great

importance of lakes for

man and ecosystems.


Principle 1: A harmonious relation-ship between humans and nature isessential for the sustainability oflakes.

Principle 2: A lake drainage basin isthe logical starting point for planningand management actions forsustainable lake use.

Principle 3: A long-term, proactiveapproach directed to preventing thecauses of lake degradation isessential.

Principle 4: Policy development anddecision making for lakemanagement should be based onsound science and the bestavailable information.

Principle 5: The management oflakes for their sustainable userequires the resolution of conflictsamong competing users of lakeresources, taking into account theneeds of present and futuregenerations and of nature.

The Dead Sea, Middle East

Principle 6: Citizens and otherstakeholders must participatemeaningfully in identifying andresolving critical lake problems.

Principle 7: Good governance,based on fairness, transparency andempowerment of all stakeholders, isessential for sustainable lake use.

Further information: http://www.ilec.or.jp

28

6 Legal Responsibilities and the Protec

Legal Responsibilitiesand the Protection ofdesignated Sites

There is no standardised EUregulation regarding theresponsibilities for nature andenvironmental conservation. Thesevary across the countries within theEU. As for wetlands, all politicallevels normally have to assumecertain responsibilities:

> The local level (city or municipality)is often the landowner. In mostcountries they are responsible forland use or development plans, aswell as wastewater treatment.

> At the regional or federal level, inmost countries responsibilities fornature and environmentalconservation have been transfer -red to regional authorities, with afew exceptions. The countries areresponsible for the designation ofprotected areas.

> The national level is the contractingparty for the EU to translateEuropean Directives into nationallaw, as well as havingresponsibilities for implementingobligations from internationalconventions. The national level isresponsible for the designation ofNational Parks, and variousinternational protection categoriessuch as UNESCO World HeritageSites, MAN Biosphere Reservesand Ramsar wetlands.

In most EU countries there areindependent water authorities,divided into catchment areas, whoseresponsibilities for groundwater,flowing and still waters also have tobe taken into account.

One crucial element of amanagement plan is an outline of alllegal responsibilities, which willinfluence the subsequent actionplan. Each measure should have aresponsible organisation or

institution named. As well as politicalresponsibilities, the privatelandowners of the areas have to beincluded. Public-privatepartnerships, where regionalauthorities assign certain tasks (e.g.restoration, maintenance,management) to privateenvironmental organisations, withoutlosing political responsibility, havebecome increasingly important.

This chapter cannot present acomprehensive overview of thesituation within the European Union;for that, a separate review would benecessary. However, the examplesof outline protection categories inSpain and Greece, given below,illustrate the range of politicalresponsibilities for protected sites ineach country.

European protection categories

Natura 2000 and Birds Directive:"Special Areas of Conservation"(SAC) under the Habitats Directivewith "Special Protected Areas" (SPA)under the Birds Directive, bothdesignated by Member States of theEuropean Union, together form theEuropean network for protectedareas Natura 2000. Primaryobjectives for designated sites arethe conservation of species andhabitats listed in the appendices.

Bern Convention: This internationaltreaty, signed by 40 nations, cameinto force in 1982. It is formallyknown as the "Convention on theconservation of European wildlifeand natural habitats. Bern/Berne19.IX.1979". Its stated aim is to"conserve wild flora and fauna andtheir natural habitats". TheConvention requires parties to givespecial attention to the conservationof species listed in the treaty’sappendices numbered I, II and III.

Bonn Convention: The Conventionon the Conservation of MigratorySpecies of Wild Animals (also known

One crucial element of a

management plan is an

outline of all legal

responsibilities, which will

influence the subsequent

action plan. Each

measure should have a

responsible organisation

or institution named.

Boada Lagoon, Spain

On regional level, La Nava is designatedas a Catalogued Wetland


ction of designated Sites >>

as CMS or Bonn Convention) aims toconserve terrestrial, marine andavian migratory species throughouttheir range. It is an inter-governmental treaty, concludedunder the aegis of the UnitedNations Environment Programme,concerned with the conservation ofwildlife and habitats on a globalscale. Since the Convention cameinto force, its membership has grownsteadily to 86 (at 1st June 2004).Parties are included from Africa,Central and South America, Asia,Europe and Oceania.

Migratory species threatened withextinction are listed in Appendix I ofthe Convention. CMS Members strivetowards strictly protecting theseanimals, conserving or restoring theplaces where they live, mitigatingobstacles to migration andcontrolling other factors that mightendanger them. Besidesestablishing obligations for eachState joining the Convention, CMSpromotes concerted action betweenthe States covering the range ofmany of these species.

European Diploma: The EuropeanDiploma is a prestigious designationawarded by the Council of Europe inStrasbourg. It is awarded toprotected areas, which are ofspecial European importance fortheir ecological, scientific, cultural orrecreational value. The Diploma isawarded for five years, but can beextended if all regulations arecomplied with.

The European Diploma is awardedin three categories

1 Category A: Area for the protectionof the European flora and faunaand their habitats

2 Category B: Area to conservelandscape characters and habitats

3 Category C: Protected Area topreserve landscapes for seminatural recreation.

International categories forprotected areas

Convention on Wetlands of Internati-onal Importance (Ramsar): TheConvention on Wetlands (also

known as The Ramsar Convention)is an inter-governmental treatyproviding the framework for inter-national co-operation and nationalaction for the conservation and wiseuse of wetlands and their resources.It was adopted in the Iranian city ofRamsar in 1971 and came into forcein 1975 following Greece’s signatureas seventh country to theConvention. The Convention’smember countries cover all geo-graphic regions of the planet. Thereare presently 141 Contracting Partiesto the Convention. 1387 wetlandsites, totalling 122.7 million ha, aredesignated for inclusion in theRamsar List of Wetlands of Internati-onal Importance.

A wetland area is selected usingcriteria, such as those having a rareor unique wetland type within thesite, or the site has to be of inter-national importance for conservingbiological diversity, relating toecological communities or species,especially waterfowl and fish.

Information What are wetlands?

A definition by the RamsarConvention

Wetlands occur everywhere, fromthe tundra to the tropics. They arecharacterised by water as theprimary factor affecting theenvironment with associated floraand fauna. How much of the earth’ssurface is presently composed ofwetlands is not known exactly. TheUNEP World ConservationMonitoring Centre (WCMC) hassuggested an estimate of roughly6% of the earth’s land surface.

The Convention on Wetlands ofInternational Importance (Ramsar

Convention, Article 1.1) defineswetlands as "areas of marsh, fen,peatland or water, whether naturalor artificial, permanent or temporary,with water that is static or flowing,fresh, brackish or salt, includingareas of marine water the depth ofwhich at low tide does not exceedsix metres“.

Five types of wetland are generallyrecognised:

> Marine (coastal wetlandsincluding coastal lagoons, rockyshores, and coral reefs)

> Estuarine (including deltas, tidalmarshes, and mangrove swamps)

> Lacustrine (wetlands associatedwith lakes)

> Riverine (wetlands along riversand streams)

> Palustrine (meaning „marshy“ -marshes, swamps and bogs).

In addition, there are human-madewetlands such as fish and shrimpponds, farm ponds, irrigatedagricultural land, salt pans,reservoirs, gravel pits, sewagefarms and canals.

30

6

IUCN (1994)

The World Commission on ProtectedAreas (WCPA), one of the sixCommissions of the IUCN (Internati-onal Union for the Conservation ofNature and natural Resources), isthe only body working worldwide forthe protection of important natureareas. IUCN categorises protectedareas by management objective. Ithas identified six distinct categoriesof protected areas:

1 A-Strict Nature Reserve/B-Wilderness Area: Protectedareas are mainly managed forscience and wilderness protection.No direct human interference,tourism or recreation allowed.

2 National Park: Relatively largeareas managed mainly forecosystem protection andrecreation at a level whichmaintains the area in a natural orsemi-natural state.

3 Natural Monument: One or morenatural features of outstandingnational interest protectedbecause of their uniqueness or

rarity. Areas may have recreationalor tourism value.

4 Habitat and SpeciesManagement Area: Protectedareas managed mainly for theconservation of habitats, such asbird nesting areas. May requiremanagement intervention(mowing, animal grazing, etc.).

5 Protected Landscape andSeascape: Includes landscapeswhich result from a traditionalinteraction between man and land(or water). Primarily natural areas,managed intensively by man forrecreation and tourism.

6 Managed ResourceProtected Area: Areas mainlyprotected for sustainable use ofnatural ecosystems. Underconsiderable pressure forcolonisation or greater utilisation.

UNESCO

Biosphere Reserve ("Man andBiosphere Programme" from 1970):Biosphere Reserves are areas ofterrestrial and coastal or marine

ecosystems, where the conservationof ecosystems and their biodiversityare combined with the sustainableuse of natural resources for thebenefit of local communities. Thisincludes relevant research,monitoring, education and training.Thus, the three functions of abiosphere reserve are Conservation,Development and Logistic Supportfor research and monitoring.

World Heritage Site: The internatio-nal World Heritage programmenominates specific sites ofoutstanding importance, eithercultural or natural. Listed sites canobtain funds from the World HeritageFund under certain conditions. Theprogramme was founded with theConvention Concerning theProtection of World Cultural andNatural Heritage that was adoptedby the General Conference ofUNESCO on 16 November 1972.

Links: www.ramsar.org; www.iucn.org;www.unesco.org; http://europa.eu.int

Example Legal protection of Laguna La Nava in Spain

Level Responsible AdministrationLegal Protection Status

International

European

Regional

Regional

Spanish State (Estado Español)

Government of Castile-Leon,Regional Authority of Environment(Junta de Castilla y León, Consejeríade Medio Ambiente)



Ramsar site

ZEPA Campos-Norte(Special Protected Area under theBird Directive, Natura 2000)

Zona Húmeda Catalogada, CatálogoRegional (Catalogued Wetland)

Legal Protection planned

Reserva Natural, Red de EspaciosProtegidos (Network of ProtectedAreas)

Legal Responsibilities and the Protec


Example Responsibilities of administrations in Spain

Level of Responsibility ResponsibilityAdministration

Local

Local

Provincial

Regional

Regional

National

National

Owner and lessor of the wetlandssurface

Owner and lessor of the wetlandssurface

Advisory Function concerningEnvironment Laws and Regulations

Administration and Protection of theNatural Resources and Environment

Agricultural Production andRural Area Development

Ramsar-Wetlands, Water Protection

Ramsar-Wetlands Water protectionand other hydrological aspects

Municipality Fuentes de Nava

Municipality Boada de Campos

Provincial Representation(corresponds to the German County)

Environmental Agency of theRegional Government

Agricultural Authority of theRegional Government

National Ministry of Environment

Water Authority (ConfederaciónHidrográfica del Duero)

Example Legal protection of the Nestos Delta in Greece

Level Responsible AdministrationLegal Protection Status

International

European

European

National

National

Regional

Regional

International / National

Greek Ministry for the Environment,Planning and Public Works (YPEXODE)



Ministry for Agriculture

Signed by several ministries, GreekMinistry for the Environment, Planningand Public Works (YPEXODE)

Kavala and Xanthi Regional ForestServices

Kavala Regional Forest Service

Greek Ministry for the Environment,Planning and Public Works (YPEXODE)and Greek Ministry for Agriculture

Ramsar site

SPA - Special Protected Area (BirdsDirective)

iSPA - Natura 2000 (FFH Directive)

National Law No. 486/B/80

Ministerial Decree of 16 September1996

Non-hunting zone river Nestos bed

Non-hunting zone Thassopoulaisland

Planned Legal Protection

National Park


32

6

Level of Responsibility ResponsibilityAdministration

Local

Prefectural (Kavala)





Region (Periphery of EasternMacedonia & Thrace)



Region (Periphery ofEastern Macedonia &Thrace with local services)



National

National

Owner and lessor of small surroundingareas of wetlands, not the waterbodies

Agricultural land use, management of"common land" for grazing and short-term agricultural use

Management and maintenace ofirrigation & drainage canals, river waters,land reclamation and reorganization

Management of lagoon waterbodies andlakes (if characterised as "fishinggrounds")

Land use characterisation,Environmental Impact Assessment,Implementation of environmental laws

Management of Livestock, free grazingand animal health

Renting and using rights of "commonpublic ground"

Administration & Protection of NaturalResources & Environment, Decisionsabout Environmental ImpactAssessments and their regulations

Selling of public ground

Forest protection, reforestation, hunting,

Advisory function concerning Environ-ment Laws and Regulations


Ramsar-Wetlands, Natura 2000 Sites, EUBirds Directive, Water FrameworkDirective

Washington Convention (CITES) - thetrade in endangered species of wild floraand fauna

Municipality of Hrysoupolis

Department for Agriculture(Ministry for Agriculture)

Land Amelioration Service (YEV,Ministry for Agriculture)

Department for Fishery(= Epoptia Alias; Ministry forAgriculture)

Department for Planning and Environ-ment (several sections; Ministry for theEnvironment, Planning and PublicWorks YPEXODE)

Department for Livestock (Ministry forAgriculture)

Department for AgriculturalDevelopment (Ministry for Agriculture)

Environment Department (Ministry forthe Environment, Planning and PublicWorks YPEXODE)

Public Ground Service (KED)

Forest Service (Ministry for Agriculture)

Provincial Representation(corresponds to the German County)

Water Authority Committee

National Ministry of Environment,Planning and Public Works

National Ministry for Agriculture

Example Responsibilities of administrations in Greece

Legal Responsibilities and the Protec


Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V.

Gruppe Konstanz e.V.

Information NGOs responsible for nature reserves

Concept for the managementof the nature reserve andprotected landscape"Wollmatinger Ried-Untersee-Gnadensee"

Harald Jacoby, NABU

For decades, nature conservationorganisations have been involvedin the maintenance andmanagement of nature reserves. Anexample of well functioningcollaboration between an NGO andan environmental authority is theprotection and maintenanceactivities in the Wollmatinger Ried.Since 1991 NABU Germany(German Association for NatureConservation) has beenresponsible for this most importantGerman lakeshore nature reserve,comprising more than 800 ha. Theactivities are being defined in acontract between NABU and theDistrict Office for NatureConservation and LandscapeManagement in Freiburg.

Goal

Maintenance and promotion oftypical landscape ecosystems andtheir biological diversity.

Principles and focal points of themanagement and maintenanceactivities:

> Management measures andassociated research linked totheory and practice to achieveoptimum biotope management

> Reduce deficiencies in researchknowledge by zoological andbotanical monitoring and surveyprogrammes

> Develop the best possibleprotection through regularmonitoring and sensitive PR workwhich recognises speciesprotection requirements.

Scope of activities

> Monitoring animal and plantpopulations at regular intervals(some permanent observation ofcertain indicator species) as basisfor all management measures

> Elaboration and optimisation ofmanagement and developmentplans. Implementation ofmanagement and landscapemeasures

> Biotope management maintenanceactivities taking into considerationscientific aspects (preliminarysurveys, application of results)

> Organisation of guided tours on afixed route with a limited numberof participants

> Monitoring the reserve

> Preparation of annual reports.

Conditions for qualifiedmanagement of a conservation area

> Full time expert staff, additionalexternal staff members

> Administration building withresearch and maintenancefacilities, PR department

> Appropriate technical equipmentfor administration, managementcare of biotopes andaccompanying research

> Clear defining of responsibilitiesbetween nature conservationauthorities and practicalmanagement organisations

> Adequate financial governmentsubsidies for the managementmaintenance costs.

Tasks of the NABU NatureConservation Centre WollmatingerRied

> Management and maintenanceof the Wollmatinger Ried and otherconservation areas on behalf ofthe District Office for NatureConservation and LandscapeManagement in Freiburg

> Information and expert advice forlocal people and visitors about therich valuable biodiversity of theLake Constance area andpromotion of environmentallyfriendly behaviour

> Production of expert opinion andreports concerning planningpermissions and other plansrelated to the environment

> Provision of ecological advice toauthorities and initiatingconservation-related ecologicalresearch.

NABU-NaturschutzzentrumWollmatinger Ried

Kindlebildstraße 8778479 ReichenauPh +49 (0) 75 31-7 88 70Fax +49 (0) 75 31-72 38 3NABU.Wollried@t-online


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7 How to evaluate the Resources >>

How to evaluate theResources

If management and a managementplan are intended to improve theenvironmental situation of a site, it isnecessary to record and analyse theinitial status of the natural, socio-economic and cultural resources.The first step is to define the outlineof the project area and to gatherreliable background information. Itmay be necessary to check infor-mation in the field before it is used todescribe the state of the projectarea. Information should be collectedboth on the area as it is, and ondevelopments that may affect thearea in the future. A short summaryof all information gathered could beincluded in the Management Plan.

An objective and comprehensiveevaluation of the present statusprovides a basis for the definition ofgoals, the control of measurements,and long-term monitoring.Environmental assessment orperformance audit normally takes atleast four key areas intoconsideration:

> Current situation of naturalresources

> All activities that have substantialeffects on the environment

> The legal, administrative, andother regulations that need to beaccomplished

> The administrative structure withresponsibilities and influenceon management.

Evaluating data and informationon the environmental situation:SWOT analysis

A SWOT analysis is a useful tool foran assessment of the situation.SWOT stands for Strengths,Weaknesses, Opportunities andThreats. Strengths and weaknessestake account of internal resourcesand capabilities, whereasopportunities and threats refer toexternal factors - environmental,social and economic - which mayimpact upon the situation. A SWOTanalysis is a good method forconducting a qualitative evaluationof the data on relevant naturalresources and on aspects whichmay have substantial effects on theenvironment. Priorities are setaccording to which aspects aredetermined to be significant.

The data and information arepresented and discussed in thecourse of a SWOT workshop. Theresults are to a certain extentsubjective, as the starting points are

An objective and

comprehensive

evaluation of the present

status provides a basis for

the definition of goals, the

control of measurements,

and long-term monitoring.

Black-winged Stilt

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

SWOT means

Four BlocksS StrengthsW WeaknessesO OpportunitiesT Threats

Upper and Lower Rows Currentsituation (upper row) is separatedfrom expected conditions (lower row)

Two Arrows> Evaluate strengths with reference

to dangers> Approach weakness on the basis

of opportunities.

S

T

W

O


not available for all naturalresources and for the direct andindirect environmental aspects, andbecause very few standards ofcomparison can be brought into thediscussion on how to evaluate thelocal data. The final results will alsodepend upon the characteristics ofthe people who participated in theworkshop.

Collecting base data, indicatorsand reference figures

To realise a SWOT analysis or anyother kind of evaluation, all relevantdata and information are needed.Very often this is the most timeconsuming part of the developmentof the management plan. This maybe because there is no centralinformation point for the dataneeded, or because data is eithernot comparable or not credible.

Base data are usually statistics thatmeasure land, population, use ofland, water quantity, bird population,etc. They establish the status quo forthe area. Data regarding land andpopulation can be obtained fromfederal, state and municipalstatistical offices.

Indicators are often two or morebase data in relation to each other.They can, for example, disclose how

the environment is being harmed, orhighlight a possible development ortrend and its effects on theenvironment. A typical indicator ispopulation density (inhabitants perhectare or square kilometre ofsurface area), which shows theextent to which the availablelandscape is used for settlement.

Standards

Are nitrate values of the wetland highor low? Is the proportion of sealed-upsurface area large or small? Has thepercentage of biological agriculturereached its maximum or can it beincreased? Comparing data withthose from preceding years canreveal a continuous amelioration (orthe opposite). Comparing data withthose from other areas with similarbasic parameters or standards canidentify whether a particular aspectof the site is situated above or belowthe average, where its strengthshave to be preserved, and wherepriorities have to be set to improve oreliminate weak points. The EuropeanUnion sets standards for health andenvironmental protection as well asfor the improvement of livingstandards in terms of EU directives.In addition, voluntary regulationsfrom institutes, economic lobby andpressure groups, social

organisations, citizen and consumerinitiatives exist, generally shown byconsumer labelling or by customerinformation and orientation.

Core reference data

For evaluation and monitoring it isimportant to agree on a set of corereference data. These data shouldbe meaningful and relatively easy toobtain during a long-term period.They should cover all relevantenvironmental aspects. Most of thereference data indicate a status quoand must be adapted to serial dataor a benchmarking system so thatthe improvement in environmentalperformance can be shown.

A range of base data and indicatorsis included in chapter 8. Some ofthem are identified as core referencedata. It is necessary to choose themost appropriate set of corereference data - if possible adjustedto the data which are used for themanagement of comparable wetlandareas to permit a regular exchangeand benchmarking.

Advice Direct and indirect environmental aspects

The EU EMAS Directivedifferentiates between direct andindirect environmental aspects.This distinction is useful for theelaboration of a managementplan, especially within thedefinition of responsibilities.

Direct environmental aspects aredefined as those aspects under

the direct supervision of theorganisation, and as a wholedependent on the influence of thesupervisory entity. Indirectenvironmental aspects are related tothose activities of the organisationwhich it does not control completely,but which it can influence to acertain extent. Indirect

environmental aspects can resultfrom a regional or nationaladministration with superiorresponsibilities, but also relates toaspects such as the behaviour oflocal population and tourists.

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7 How to evaluate the Resources >>

Example Relevant data and sources

Source of informationData

Statistic Services, Environmental Agencies, Ministries, Universities andAcademies, Land Survey Offices, Authorities, Federal and RegionalOffices for Environmental Protection, Federal and Regional Departmentsof Nature Conservation

Regional Service of Infrastructures andLand Use Planning (Consejería deObras Públicas y Ordenación delTerritorio)Territorial Environmental Service(Servicio Territorial de Medio Ambiente)National Institute of Meteorology(Instituto Nacional de Meteorología)National Geographic Institute(Instituto Geográfico Nacional)

River Duero Water Authority(Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero)Territorial Environmental Service,Government of Castile-Leon(Servicio Territorial de Medio Ambientede la Junta de Castilla y León),National Institute of Meteorology(Instituto Nacional de Meteorología)

National Geographic Institute(Instituto Geográfico Nacional)Agriculture, Livestock and FisheryService, Government of Castile-Leon(Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería yPesca de la Junta de Castilla y León)General Directorate of Traffic(Dirección General de Tráfico)Regional Office of Industry and Trade(Consejería de Industria y Comercios)

Regional Authority of Environment(Consejería de Medio Ambiente)

General

Greece Spain

Geographical andgeological data

- Origin/Formation- Geology- Geomorphology- Geographical Maps- Climate and soils- Size

General hydrologicaldata

- Depth- Water quality- Average temperature- Nutrient budgets

Current land use of thearea

- Agriculture- Forest- Settlement- Traffic- Industry- Fishery

Conservation

Service of Geological Exploitation,Ministry of Agriculture,Topographical Service,Meteorological Service,Department of Agriculture

State Amelioration Service, NationalHealth Service

Department for Agriculture, StateForest Service, Department forPlanning and Environment,Department for Traffic, Department forIndustry, State Fishery Service

Department for Planning and Environ-ment in the Prefecture and Region;Ministry for Environment, Planning andPublic Works; Forest Service


Geology

The plain of the delta is of alluvialorigin. The bordering mountainchain that expands its foot into thedelta, is tertiary limestone with largewhite marble intrusions and mixedconglomerates. The catchment areaof River Nestos is the central andwestern part of the RhodopeMountains, of Palaeozoic age, andconsists of metamorphic rocks,gneisses, granites, plutonites andamphibolites.

Soils

The delta soils show a character-istic mosaic pattern for coastalregions, which is small and veryvariable. Soils are basically sandyand on top with higher silt or claycontents. Totally sandy expansescan be found at the river bed, theriver branches and its mouth. Thesesandy areas have large depth andare infertile. The sand is a result ofthe erosion of the mountain lands,since the River Nestos comes to thedelta straight from the mountainstransferring huge amounts of sandygrains. Because of over salinisationnear the lagoons and coast and dueto the high groundwater level a

characteristic stratification is found,typical for clay and marsh soils,developing towards salt marsh.

Climate

Characteristic Mediterraneanclimate during summer months, hotand dry without rain for severalmonths and very continentalconditions in winter with very lowtemperatures and strong northernwinds. The average yearly rainfall isabout 580 mm, recently gettingfewer and the average yearlytemperature 15°C. Minimum airtemperatures occur in January (4°C)while maximum temperatures occurin July (26°C). November, Decemberand January are the wettest monthsand July the driest. The coldestperiod is December-February withan average number of 11 days offrost. The temperature rarely fallsbelow -20°C. Even the brackishcoastal lagoons freeze, killing largenumbers of fish. In short, the climatecan be described as fairlycontinental.

The climate has changed noticeablysince the Second World War,according to the older inhabitants of

the Nestos Delta. The summerthunderstorms, so important foragriculture in the area, often nolonger occur. There is evidence tosuggest that this is connected withthe large-scale clearance of vaststretches of the Kotza Orman forestin the second third of the 20thcentury. Today, only artificialirrigation can guarantee the harvestto farmers.

Hydrology

The entire catchment area of RiverNestos is 5,751 km2 of which the2,314 km2 lie in Greece. The RiverNestos has high water levels inwinter and spring with an averageannual discharge of 58 m3/s. Anirrigation dam has been operatingsince 1966 in Toxotes. Two verylarge hydroelectrical dams havebeen constructed in 1996 and 1999causing serious changes in thewater flow regime and thesediments. The lagoons are shallowwith a maximum depth of 1.8 m andhave high water levels in thesummer and autumn. The lagoonsare quite eutrophic, and the tidalvariation is very narrow (25 cm).

Example Physical description of the Nestos Delta

Example Map of precipitation in La Nava and Boada

Precipitation (mm/year)

300-400 mm

400-600 mm

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8 Resources >>

Aerial view of the Broads

Spanish exhibition panel on water quality

The critical locations for

substance loading into

the water tend to be

easier to identify from

point sources, such as

sewage treatment works,

rather than from diffuse

sources, for example from

agricultural land, which

could arise from a number

of unspecified locations.

8.1 Hydrology: Waterquality and quantity,water managementJulia Masson, Broads Authority

Water quality

Freshwater wetland systems are notisolated or self-contained. Materialsand substances enter wetlands fromtheir catchments and others exit viathe streams that drain them.Substances such as carbon andnitrogen are processed within thesystem, thus water quality within awetland system is critical, as theconcentrations or presence/absence of nutrients, substancesand compounds will influence thefloral and faunal composition of theaquatic community.

How do you gather the informationto determine water quality?

Who could carry out the work?

> Statutory Agency

Generally, statutory agencies carryout water quality data gatheringand analysis. In England andWales this is carried out by theEnvironment Agency. Watersamples taken from the Broads areanalysed locally at HaddiscoeLaboratory or by the NationalLaboratory Service.

> University Researchers

University research departmentscould carry out specific researchinformation about water quality orquantity. Depending on thecomplexity of the work, projectscould be carried out byundergraduates through to PhDstudents, taking three or moreyears. Many universitydepartments have associatedconsultancies.

> Consultants

Taking on a consultant, orcontracting a university, will

require a budget. With sufficientfunding for a contract, considerletting to a consultant withexpertise in a particular field or toa consortium of variousconsultants for a more complexissue. The costs of employing aconsultant usually require atendering process to ensure valuefor money, and contracting themost suitable contractor.

> Staff

Staff with the ability to carry outsurvey work are invaluable andcan become a source of expertiseand knowledge on a subject area.Annual survey and monitoringwork on water quality indicators,such as macrophytes and macroinvertebrates, will build a valuabledatabase to use with water qualitydata.

> Volunteers

Local people may have skills andknowledge to assist with waterquality measurement andmonitoring, such as taking pHreadings, basic nitrogen andphosphorus monitoring.

What substances are important tomonitor in a wetland and where dothey come from?

Thousands of different substancesare dissolved in natural water. Mostof these substances will undergosome degree of transformation asthey enter a wetland or lake system.Some may be nutrients supportinggrowth of aquatic organisms; othersmay enter into reactions thatmaintain less soluble nutrients insolution. Others may be lightabsorbent and affect the growth ofplants and algae. Of all these the keynutrients present in aquatic systemsare the compounds of nitrogen andphosphorus.

Nitrogen and phosphorus aredescribed as limiting components,because their natural supply is lower


than the amounts organisms need.These elements enter the aquaticsystems as ammonium or nitrate ionscontaining nitrogen, and asphosphates containing phosphorus.Clay colloids and iron minerals alsocarry adsorbed phosphate anddetritus containing nitrogen, into theaquatic system. These forms ofnitrogen and phosphorus maybecome available for algal or plantgrowth directly, by simple chemicalreactions or by action from bacteria.These amounts are referred to asTotal Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus.

For stable, aquatic plant communitieswithout the threat of domination byphytoplankton, phosphorus levelsshould be around 25-50 mg/l of totalphosphorus per litre, and nitrogen at250-500 mg/l per litre. The presenceof nutrients above these levels willeventually switch the system ‘forward’from aquatic plant domination tophytoplankton domination. Other‘forward switches’ include herbicides

and pesticides, increased salinity,mechanical or boat damage, exoticvertebrate grazers and loss ofpiscivores. Methods used to reversethe switch include adding piscivoresor carrying out biomanipulation.

Sediments

One of the key questions is whereare sediments coming from?

For example, sediments entering thesystem arise from soil washed fromland or eroded from river banks, orfrom organic matter arising fromdead algae, leaves and other plantmatter. The source of sediment canaffect water quality as it brings innutrients and pollutants causingeutrophication and toxic effects,whilst in suspension. The sedimentitself also affects the availability oflight. Deposition of sedimentscauses rivers and lakes to silt up andcan lead to closure of navigationchannels. Sediment quantities canimpact on fishing interests particularly

where changing patterns of sedimentdeposition alter fish spawningsubstrates. Variations in water depthcan change the growth of aquaticplants and their rooting substrates.

Where are the critical locations forloading nutrients?

The critical locations for substanceloading into the water tend to beeasier to identify from point sources,such as sewage treatment works,rather than from diffuse sources, forexample from agricultural land,which could arise from a number ofunspecified locations.

The key point sources for phos-phorus inputs tend to be fromsewage treatment works, industrialprocess effluents and from domesticseptic tanks or smaller wastewaterdigesters. Phosphorus also entersthe aquatic system via soil lossthrough erosion containing phos-phates bound to soil particles.Chemical processes within lake

Information Water quality testing

Analytical chemistry can becarried out by staff and trainedvolunteers using a Photometer,which measures the colourintensity of water samples treatedwith reagent tablets. Light is

passed through a test tube containinga sample solution. The wavelength oflight detected by a photocell isproportionate to the concentration ofthe substance being measured, suchas phosphorus. The final result is

obtained by comparing the lightreading against a calibration chart.Further information about equipmentcan be found on the internet, forexample at

www.palintest.com

Information Monitoring of nutrients

In England and Wales, the Environ-ment Agency monitors nutrientloadings of nitrogen andphosphorus, salinity, andpesticides. This information isstored on a National databaseproviding data on chemical andbiological river quality and nutrient(nitrate and phosphate)

concentrations of monitored rivers.River water quality is one of the UKGovernment’s 15 indicators ofsustainable development. This is auseful starting point for gatheringdata as it can be found on theinternet at

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/inlwater/iwnutrient.htm

Data on pesticides in freshwatersare also prepared by the Environ-ment Agency. About 100 pesticidesare commonly detected, but in verysmall quantities. Two mostfrequently found pesticides insurface waters are isoproturon andmecoprop - both agriculturalpesticides.

40

8 Resources >>

sediments can lock up the phos-phorus, removing it from the over-lying water body. However,phosphorus is still available toaquatic plants, which obtain phos-phorus through roots and rhizoids.

Nitrogen has been identified as thekey nutrient to reduce from aquaticecosystems. Nitrogen mainly entersthe aquatic system as nitrate fromagricultural fertiliser inputs via landdrains or soil leachate. These diffusesources are difficult to remove wherethey enter the watercourses. Achanged approach to agriculturalland management within wetland

systems will be needed to reduceinputs by use of buffer zones anddifferent practices.

Pesticides

The presence of herbicides andpesticides can have a profoundimpact on water quality and thehealth of the wetland. Even at lowconcentrations, pesticides canaccumulate through the food chainand remain in sediments for manyyears. Decades of pesticide inputsinto aquatic systems have shownthat pesticides can build up in thefood chain, such as one of the most

potent, the organochloride DDT. Thiscauses infertility in top predators,such as otters.

Several thousand new chemicalsare introduced into the environmentevery year through industrial deve-lopments. Linking these substancesto effects in lakes usually requiresintensive research.

Water quantity

Where is the water coming from?

Water on the Earth’s surface movesin a cycle through rivers, oceans,clouds and rain. This cycle is

Substance

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Pesticides

Sediments

Summary table showing key substances to monitor in a wetland system and their sources

Source

- Nitrates from agricultural fertilisers- Fertiliser run off through land drains- Leaching through soils- Sewage treatment works

- Sewage treatment works- Domestic septic tanks and soakaways- Detergents from boats- Large bird roosts

- Agricultural- Antifoul on boats, e.g. TBT- Sewage treatment works

- Upstream river erosion- Soil run off- Erosion through boat traffic- Organic sources, such as leaves, algae, slurry

Example Use of biomanipulation

A technique known asbiomanipulation has been used tofurther the establishment of clearwater. This technique involves thetemporary removal ofplanktivorous fish to one side of anartificial barrier. Numbers of

zooplankton on the other side of thebarrier build up with the predationpressure removed. Zooplankton,particularly water fleas Daphnia sp.,graze algae, so promoting improvedlight conditions within the water andencouraging aquatic plant growth.

Experiments using giant ‘cobweb’brushes, acting as artificial plants,have shown that providing predator-free refuges for zooplanktonenhances the return to clear waterand establishment of aquaticmacrophyte communities.


powered by the sun, which causesevaporation of water from the oceans.Condensed water vapour blows overthe land as clouds, where rain andsnow fall. This precipitation runs offthe land into streams and rivers,which flow down to the sea tocomplete the cycle.

Water resources are greatlyinfluenced by the interplay of rainfallpatterns and seasonal losses throughevaporation. Rivers are sustainedand reservoirs replenished, by thebalance between rainfall and eva-poration loss. Evaporation can occurdirectly from the soil, from open watersurfaces or as transpiration fromplants. Abundant water resources canlead to flooding, too little rainfall todrought conditions. Records for thelast decade show great variability inriver flows and groundwater levels,and underline the vulnerability ofwetland systems to extreme weatherconditions.

What systems are in place thatimpact on the water supply?

A constant water supply is demandedfor domestic, agricultural andindustrial use, which can putpressures on natural freshwaterwetland systems.

Methods of acquiring water includestoring water in reservoirs, extractingfrom groundwater or damming riversand streams. Water is removed fromthe system by abstraction for domesticor agricultural use. In England, theEnvironment Agency issues waterabstraction licences, which permitagricultural businesses to abstractspecific volumes from rivers orgroundwater sources. In agriculturalsystems pumping can impose lowerwater levels in ditches and drains.So, in areas where the land is locatednear to the sea, pumping can drawsaline water into the groundwaterand into the wetland system.

How can water be managed forbetter ecosystems?

Water management is the control ofthe water supply, which is influencedby rainfall, surface flows, ground-water and evapo-transpiration.

Controlling the water supply to andwithin a site can be carried out usingsluices, dams and bunds. There arenumerous different designs for thesestructures, which can be employedin isolation or in combination. Someof these can be found in books listedunder further reading, or see theRSPB Reedbed Handbook.

Consideration of the followingquestions will help to determinewhich to use:

> Are there any legal requirements,such as licences required, forholding up and releasing water?

> Are there any limitations on thevolumes of water that can be used?

> Should a levelling survey becarried out before planning watermanagement on site?

> Should the site be managed in aseries of hydrological units so thatfiner water level controls can be inplace?

> What management practices arerequired after installing watercontrol structures?

> Could the units be interconnectedusing a series of sluices and pipes?

Careful design and quantitymeasurement work will be required,to ensure that the volumes of waterare reaching the right areas and inthe expected quantities. Overflooding or too much draw downshould not be part of the result.

Water distribution can becontrolled by:

Sluices

Sluices conduct and control waterflow. They can be self-contained or

part of larger dams/bunds or weirswhere the aim is to regulate, as wellas impound water.

Designs for sluices can include:

> Pipes - swivel, flexipipe

> Dropboard

> Lifting gate eg penstock.

The type of sluice used is influencedby the precision of water controlrequired, range of depths required,labour available to operate andmaintain structures, extent ofvariation in seasonal flows, anyvandalism problems and sus-ceptibility to blockage from debrisand plant growth.

Water control structures - dams andbunds

These are structures/barriers used toimpound water, and are not usuallyused for overtopping onto wetlands,except where an overflow/spillway isincorporated into the design.

The disadvantages of installing adam or bund are that they:

> Require water control equipmentwhich must be installed andmaintained

> Inhibit movement of aquaticspecies eg fish.

Pumping

Water pumps can be used to drawdown or raise water levels in ditches,reedbeds and other water featureswhere levels may have fallen due toabandoned sluices, diversion ofsupply or water abstraction. Raisingwater levels can impact on thehydrology of a site. Raising waterlevels will encourage reedestablishment, and preventcolonisation by scrub although well-established willow and alder maytolerate flooding.

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8 Resources >>

Information Water quality legislation

In developing a management plan toinclude measures for water qualityfirst set the site in the context of legis-lation that applies to water quality.

What legislation applies to the site?

European Directives set the frame-work for establishing water qualitymeasures across member states.

The most influential piece oflegislation is the Water FrameworkDirective, and a number of areas oflegislation relate to this Directive.


The Water Framework Directiveestablishes a list of priority hazardoussubstances which are of concern forfreshwater, coastal and marineenvironments. These substances willbe removed from discharges and

emissions within the next 20 years.Heavy metals, pesticides and organiccompounds are included.

Nitrates Directive

Implementation of the NitratesDirective is the culmination of twentyyears of European Communitymeasures concerned with nitrogenpollution in waters. This Directiveadds to the emphasis placed on theenvironmental effects of excessnitrogen, in particular eutrophication.Two key actions will be extensiveNitrate Vulnerable Zones and Codesof Good Agricultural Practice, such asbuffering, good soil management andappropriate applications of nitrogen.

Urban Wastewater Directive

The objective of this Directive is toprotect the environment from the

adverse effects of discharges ofurban wastewater and of wastewaterfrom industrial sectors of the agro-food industry. In particular thisprescribes the phosphorus limits forsewage treatment works discharginginto susceptible waters - that is thosewater bodies which are eutrophic.

Habitat Directive

The Habitats Directive relates to siteswith communities and species ofEuropean importance.

The Habitats Directive imposes therequirement for sites designated asSACs to meet favourable conditionand EU member countries set theirown criteria for meeting favourablecondition. Criteria set can be ameasure of water quality.

Example Case study

The shallow lakes in the Broads areclassified as hard, oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthicvegetation of stonewort Charaformations. The measure of waterquality measure is given as the‘absence of algae and unicellularalgal blooms’. The total range of

phosphorus is established byquarterly measurements over a threeyear period and then annually in July/August. The target set for a Charalake is 30 mg per litre total phosphorusor below. In eutrophic conditionsabove 30 mg per litre should not beprevalent. Applied on the ground this

criteria for favourable condition hasbeen developed into a workingcriteria for one of the shallow lakesin the Broads, Hickling Broad, to35 mg per litre mean summer totalphosphorus.


Example Water management of La Nava and Boada

Fernando Jubete, Fundación Global Nature

The steppe lakes La Nava andBoada belong to the lagooncomplex "Mar de Campos" within thecatchment of the river Duero. Due tolow precipitation and rapidevaporation in the summer monthsthere are few large rivers, which aregenerally canalised.

Water catchments in Spain

Natural water bodies in this area areclassified in three groups:

> Rivers and streams, whichpermanently contain water, e.g.the river Carrión

> Rivers and streams with variablewater levels (short length, widecourse, low gradient), e.g. therivers Valdejinate, Retortillo, Salón

> Natural reservoir without outflow,formed by geological processesin clayey, permeable soil.

The natural reservoir La Nava

In the Tierra de Campos region thereare two catchments for naturalreservoirs, from which two lagooncomplexes originated: Mar deCampos near Palencia with thesteppe lakes La Nava and Boadastill present, and the salt lakes ofVillafáfila in the region Zamora.

Mar de Campos, located at about760 m above sea level, used to havea catchment area of 864 km². Inautumn and winter the originallagoon was fed by a number of smallstreams which flooded the shallowdepression and formed the lagoon.In summers, due to clayey soils, lowprecipitation, and hot and dryweather, the water disappearedexcept for a few patches. The areawas then used as grazing land bythe surrounding municipalities.

These pastures showed fresh growtheven in August and were in highdemand.

Water Management in La Nava

Canalisation of rivers, intensiveirrigation of agricultural areas, anddifficult ownership structures com-plicate the water management of thesteppe lake La Nava. Also, a numberof drainage channels still exist onprivate land around the lake. Thus,the natural cycle of flooding anddesiccation has to be maintained bymanagement measures. As the rain-fall in autumn and winter is notenough to fill up the lake, additionalwater from the nearby Canal deCastillo is fed into the lagoon inOctober. The water from the canal isof good quality and mainly used foragriculture. With the help of sluices,the water feeds into the steppe lakevia the streams Retortillo andCarrepadilla, until an average depthof 40 cm is reached.

With increasing temperature fromthe middle of March, almost theentire water surface is colonised bysedges and rushes (Carex andJuncus) within a short time. Only thedeepest areas remain open at first,but by the end of April they arecovered with water buttercup(Ranunculus sp.), laying a whiteflower carpet across the surface.Other water plants, such as stoneworts (Chara spp.) or pondweed(Potamogeton spp.), follow and byproducing oxygen ameliorate thewater quality. Moreover, they are animportant part of the diet for breedingbirds at La Nava.

Water Management of Boada

The steppe lake Boada is located ina depression of the plains of Tierrade Campos, which are dominated by

grain production. Restoration mea-sures returned the lake, which haddisappeared completely, back to twothirds of its original size at 65 ha.

Analyses of the chemical compo-nents of the water showed a slightlysaline character, with a pH of 9.8.The lagoon has no outflow and informer times was fed solely by theriver Lobera and by rainfall. Today,water has to be supplied to reach anaverage depth of 40 cm. Water fromthe Canal de Castilla reaches thelake through the river Lobera, butuntreated wastewater from themunicipality of Villaramiel (1,200inhabitants) with eight small leatherproduction enterprises, isdischarged into the river Lobera aswell. Additional impacts result fromdiffuse nitrate and phosphate loadsfrom agriculture, which alsoconcentrate in the river Lobera. Theleather industries have ignored legalrequirements so far and dischargetoxic substances containingaluminium, chrome and sulphides inlarge amounts. This has aconsiderable affect on water quality,with negative consequences forwater plants.

Catchment of the river Duero

Water catchment of the river Dueroin Spain

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8.2 Ecosystems, floraand faunaSantos Cirujano,

Real Jardin Botánico Madrid, CSIC

Evaluation of ecosystems:Aquatic plants as indicators

The aquatic plants that live in steppeponds and the emergent plantsfound at the water’s edge or inshallow areas offer valuableinformation about the state of conser-vation and ecological characteristicsof the aquatic ecosystem.

There are two fundamental types ofaquatic plants, emergent and strictlyaquatic. The strictly aquatic plantsare most sensitive to environmentalchanges and provide the bestinformation about what is happeningin the aquatic habitat. It should notbe forgotten that these plants, knownas aquatic macrophytes, completetheir biological cycle in the water.

A well conserved aquatic ecosystemusually contains both aquatic andemergent plants, and the aquaticflora differs depending on theecological characteristics of theaquatic ecosystem. The plants in aseasonal pond, like most of thesteppe ponds, are different fromthose that colonise permanentponds. In addition, if the waters arebrackish we will find halophilicplants that have adapted to twoselective ecological factors:seasonality and an increase insalinity as the annual cycleprogresses.

Thus, wetlands of different typeshave different aquatic flora. In orderto analyse the changes that occur ina wetland in response to a variety ofreasons, it is essential to know whatplants are characteristic of eachtype of aquatic habitat.

Although it is difficult to define ageneral scheme for steppe ponds,the main aquatic plant formations

present can be analysed. These canbe summarised as:

> Submerged algae formations(stoneworts, or charophytes)

> Flowering aquatic plant formations

> Emergent plant formations

> Filamentous algae.

Submerged algae formations

Stoneworts, or charophytes, areadvanced algae that live underwater. This means that they dry out incontact with air, as usually occurs insummer when the water depthdecreases due to evaporation.

These formations are constituted bydifferent species and varieties thatcolonise from fresh waters with scantmineral content to continentalbrackish ponds with saltconcentrations that greatly surpassthose of seawater.

In any case, the presence ofcharophyte meadows indicatesgood water quality and the absenceor only a low level of pollution. Theseformations are the first to disappearwhen effluents enter the pond,regardless of origin. They are a goodindicator of the environmental qualityof aquatic ecosystems. In the IberianPeninsula, 45 charophyte taxa havebeen identified, belonging to thegenera Chara, Nitella, Tolypella,Lamprothamnium, and Nitellopsis.On the other hand, these greenalgae contribute to water trans-parency because they keep bottomsediments from being disturbed andthey produce oxygen that diffusesthrough the water and enhances thebiotic potential of the wetland.

Flowering aquatic plant formations

This section includes a number ofaquatic plants that may growcompletely submerged, others thathave floating flowers and leaves,and a few that float freely on or nearthe water surface. Some, like

Aquatic buttercup formations in La Nava lake

Details of hornwort leaves

Diverse types of vegetation in a healthy wetland

A well conserved aquatic

ecosystem usually

contains both aquatic and

emergent plants, and the

aquatic flora differs

depending on the

ecological characteristics

of the aquatic ecosystem.


buttercups (Ranunculus peltatus, R.trichophyllus) or most species ofZannichellia, live in shallow seasonalwaters. Others, like duckweed(Lemna minor, L. gibba), float on thesurface of polluted water. Hornwort(Ceratophyllum demersum, C.submersum) lives on muddy pondfloors rich in organic matter. Ruppiadrepanensis is found only inseasonal and highly brackish waters.

About one hundred different speciesof aquatic plants constitute theIberian water flora, although some ofthem, like water lilies (Nuphar luteum,Nymphaea alba) or pondweeds(Potamogeton lucens, P. natans),only live in permanent waters.

Depending on the nature of thewaters and degree of pollution,different species will be present,offering information about thecharacteristics of each wetland andits state of conservation.

Emergent plant formations

Marginal or emergent plants are alsoan important component of wetland

vegetation. Their presence usuallyprovides less information than strictlyaquatic plants, but it is also usefuland advisable to be familiar withthese plants.

Generally, in seasonal wetlands thelargest emergent plants, likebulrushes, or cattails (Typhadomingensis, T. latifolia), andsoftstem bulrushes (Scirpus lacustris)colonise zones where water remainslonger. Smaller emergent species,like saltmarsh bulrush (S. maritimus)or spikerush (Eleocharis palustres),live in enclaves with shorter periodsof flooding. Consequently, emergentplants offer information about thepermanence of water, since mostplants of this type not only toleratewater pollution but often grow morerobustly and abundantly in pollutedecosystems. In the Iberian Peninsu-la, 225 species of emergent plantsare recognised.

Filamentous algae

Filamentous green algae are not anessential component of aquatic

ecosystems. These formations areinitially submerged but rise to thesurface as the waters warm, forminglarge floating masses. They appearand develop exuberantly in thepresence of excess nutrients, asusually occurs when wetlands arepolluted by effluents, especiallyurban wastewater.

Filamentous algae are always goodindicators of pollution and theirdevelopment is inversely related tocharophyte growth. If we visit awetland and see that it is covered byfilamentous algae, usually of thegenera Cladophora, Spyrogira, orOedogonium, it is a clear sign thatthe ecosystem has an excess ofphosphorus, an unequivocalsymptom of eutrophication.

Each of the plants in these groupshas its own ecology. Some are moreabundant than others, but all of themprovide information about what ishappening in the wetlands that theycolonise.

Abundant filamentous algae is an unequivocal sign of pollution

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Phases of wetland eutrophication

A The system is balanced and biologically diverse, with

charophyte meadows covering the pond floor and a

variety of aquatic plants. B The entrance of polluting

effluents alters the ecosystem; the charophyte cover

decreases and some aquatic plants disappear;

filamentous algae and duckweed appear; the marginal

vegetation changes; organic matter in sediment and

water turbidity increase. C The wetland is hypertrophic;

charophyte meadows have disappeared and there are

abundant filamentous algae and duckweed; there are

no other aquatic plants and the marginal vegetation is

monotonous and intensely developed; sediments

contain a large amount of organic matter; waters are

turbid, poorly oxygenated, and foul smelling.

1 Charophyte meadows 2 other aquatic plants,

Zannichellia, Potamogeton 3 Typha latifolia 4 Phragmites

australis 5 Typha domingensis 6 Lemna gibba

7 filamentous algae 8 organic matter and sediments

Diagram of aquatic vegetation in a well conservedwetland (Arcaute pond in Vitoria, Spain)

1 Chara fragilis 2 Chara vulgaris 3 Chara hispida var.

major 4 Potamogeton berchtoldii 5 Potamogeton

pectinatus 6 Polygonum amphibium 7 Ranunculus

trichophyllus 8 filamentous algae 9 Typha latifolia

10 Iris pseudacorus 11 Eleocharis palustris 12 Scirpus

maritimus 13 Juncus effusus


Experience Bird censuses and ringing in La Nava and Boada

Since their restoration ten yearsago, the steppe lakes La Nava andBoada have become one of themost important wetlands in northernSpain. Currently 43 bird specieswinter or rest in the lagoon complex.Waterfowl are the most widespreadbird species: up to 30,000 GreylagGeese, thousands of ducks, amongthem Common Teal (Anas crecca),Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Wigeon(Anas penelope) and Pintail (Anasacuta).

Whilst many of the wintering birdsmove on in spring to breeding areasin Central Europe, breeding birds

return and enjoy the short period ofwater-filled lagoons. Black-wingedStilt (Himantopus himantopus),Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Coot(Fulica atra) and Marsh Harrier(Circus aeruginosus) nest in thereed areas and raise their young.

During the summer months and inautumn, the steppe lakes are dryand appear more as a desert than awetland. Helophyte vegetation andbushes which survive the drysummers offer food for birds feedingon insects and shelter on their wayto the wintering area, among themWillow Warbler (Phylloscopus sp.),Black Cap (Sylvia sp.), Reed

Warblers (Acrocephalus sp.),Flycatcher (Ficedula andMuscicapa), and GrasshopperWarblers (Locustella sp.).

Since 1991 Fundacíon GlobalNature España has carried outregular bird counts at the steppelakes of La Nava and Boada. Wintercensuses are carried out fromOctober to January. In the summerbreeding sites are monitored andbirds ringed. Experiencedvolunteers ring about 10,000 birdsannually at a specialised ringingstation. The data is beingexchanged between other ringingstations in Europe.

Development of the number of Greylag Geese (Anser anser)in lagoons La Nava and Boada (censuses in January)

Comparison of the monthly bird censuses in the lagoonsLa Nava and Boada, October 1999 - September 2002

Birds BirdsBoadaNava

BoadaNava

Warbler (Acrocephalurs sp.) after ringing

years months

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Research and managementproposals for their conservationand restoration

G. Sylaios, National AgriculturalResearch Foundation

V.A. Tsihrintzis, Democritus University of Thrace

H. Jerrentrup, Society for Protection of Natureand Ecodevelopment (EPO)

Coastal lagoons are complexecosystems, which are in a state offragile natural balance. Environ-mental degradation caused bypollution and other human activitiescan easily cause deviation from thisnatural balance. In general, they areephemeral coastal features of recentorigin, where intense mixing of freshand saline water takes place. Coastallagoons occupy 13% of the world’scoastline and have a number ofcommon characteristics. Theyappear in all continents from thetropics to polar regions, but they areparticularly prominent in the lowlatitudinal zone. They usuallyoccupy coastal shallow depressionsand are separated from the opensea by a natural barrier. Coastallagoons exhibit salinities that rangefrom completely fresh to hypersaline, relating closely to the localdominating climate andhydrographical conditions.

Importance of lagoons

As coastal lagoons are important forfisheries, aquaculture and wildlife ona global level, and for Greece inparticular, research is directedtowards the study of the relationshipbetween the various environmentalfactors and biological production ofthe lagoon. Environmental para-meters may directly influence thefishery production dynamics of theecosystem. Therefore, water, salt,nutrients and heat balance arecentral to understanding the

biological, chemical and physicalprocesses of coastal lagoons; basicrequirements for their managementand conservation.

Management goals

As coastal lagoons are linked toadjacent land and ocean eco-systems, the exchange of water, salt,nutrients and heat between thesesystems plays a major role indetermining the processes in thelagoon. Water and materials enterthe lagoon via stream run off orgroundwater flow, react in thelagoons and accumulate in thesediments, or are removed to theocean without reaction.

This land-lagoon-ocean systemlinkage is complicated, but un-ravelling the complexity brings aboutan understanding of the lagoonproductivity patterns. Water fluxescontrol the lagoon flushing and helpto maintain water quality. This alsoprovides a mechanism for planktonicinward/outward transport, andmaintains the lagoon’s function as afisheries nursery. Salt fluxesdetermine the estuarine characteris-tics of the lagoon and define floraland faunal community structure aswell as the spatial distribution of fish.Dissolved inorganic nutrients providethe raw materials for the marinetrophic chain as lagoons serve asthe main routes for nutrient fluxescoming from continental (landward)drainage into the marineenvironment.

The integrated management of thecoastal Nestos Delta lagoonsfocuses on:

> The quantitative and qualitativecharacteristics of lagoon water

> The exchange dynamics of lagoonwater with the adjacent coastal sea

> The mechanisms stimulatingprimary production (phytoplankton)in the lagoon

> The growth and distribution ofmacrophytes and other benthicorganisms

> The species composition andpopulations of wildlife

> The existing fishery andaquaculture activities.

Research results

A series of studies have focused onthe estimation and quantification ofwater, salt and nutrient fluxesbetween the land-lagoon boundaryand the lagoon-ocean boundary.These studies have alsoinvestigated the influence of thehuman activities (agriculture,livestock, domestic and industrial)on the whole drainage basin of thelagoon. Sylaios and Koutroumanidis(2002) carried out a theoreticalevaluation of nutrient loads byinvestigating the different sources ofnutrient losses in the Nestos Deltalagoons. Nutrient sources weredivided into point sources (generallyman-made such as urban, industrialor animal wastes) and non-pointsources (generally derived fromlosses from cultivated anduncultivated land, precipitation orurban run off). To theoreticallyestimate nutrient loads it wasnecessary to collect dataconcerning land use, population,agricultural, industrial activities andanimal wastes and to factor them byapplying an appropriate effluentdischarge coefficient. Thisevaluation gave an indicativeestimate of nutrient loadings, as itwas based on generalised effluentdischarge coefficients for a singlesource of release, calculated without

Example The ecosystem of the Nestos Delta lagoons


taking into account the differencesbetween drainage basins. Followingthe LOICZ (LOICZ, 1996),methodology the amounts of totalnitrogen and phosphorus(in kg/yr) entering the Nestos Deltalagoons were expressed in terms ofdissolved inorganic nitrogen anddissolved inorganic phosphorus (inmol/yr).

For the measurement of fluxesbetween the lagoon-oceanboundary, intensive monitoring at thelagoon mouth has to take place inorder to quantify the amounts ofwater, salt, nitrogen, phosphorus,chlorophyll-a and suspendedsediments that are exchangedbetween both systems. Such studiescan lead:

> To calculating pollutant loadingsto and from the open sea, thusidentifying sources of pollution

> To assessing the ‘return flowfactor’ (e.g. the amount of waterreturning back into the lagoonduring flood) at the lagoon mouth

> To the estimation of the lagoon’sflushing time under various tidal,hydrological and meteorologicalconditions.

Sylaios et al. (2002) presentedresults from an intensive monitoringprogramme at the Vassova lagoonmouth, and quantified the

mechanisms responsible for water,salt and nutrients exchange betweenboth systems.

Proposals from the research

The results of this research suggestthat the increase in agriculturalactivity in the wider lagoon region,and the cultivation of water andfertiliser demanding crops (rice, corn,cotton) have led to the degradation ofthe ecological condition of theVassova lagoon. Even in micro-tidallagoons (lagoons forced by tidalamplitude less than 0.5 m), tidesprovide the principal mechanism fortransporting water and substances atthe mouth and the inner channels ofthe lagoon. Superimposed on thetidal circulation is wind influence andthat of freshwater input. In Vassovalagoon we have found that wind-induced exchange may equal thelevels of tidal exchange whenassisted by the effects of wind on aninclined surface. Southerly summerwinds transport water inwards, whilenortherly winter winds have only asmall impact on the overall transportmechanism. Freshwater inflowappeared suppressed, due to limiteddirect freshwater imports, andprecipitation only plays an importantrole in the lagoon flushing. Thus theimprovement of water circulation andflushing conditions of Vassova lagoonhas naturally led to the consideration

and speculation about dredging theexisting entrance canal (increase ofwidth, depth or both), or opening asecond entrance canal. The aims ofthese suggestions are to improvewater exchange with the adjacentsea, reduce the observed nutrientbuffering capacity of the system, andultimately improve lagoon waterquality.

To supply relatively unpollutedfreshwater at the lagoon’s easternshore, a vegetated buffer filter strip ofabout 6 ha was created to removenitrogen and phosphorus loads fromconcentrated effluents in thedrainage canals. In this zone, morethan 50,000 water plants (Typhaangustifolia, Typha latifolia andPhragmites sp.) were planted in threebasins in succession. More than770 m of old drainage canals werefilled with excavated materials tobring controlled water flow into thethree basins. Between the last basinand the lagoon an overflowcontaining an additional earth-gravelfilter was constructed. The filter stripwas flooded and drained with freshwater three times to wash out surfacesalt. Afterwards it was floodedpermanently and first measurementsshow that at least 60% of thephosphorous and nitrogen loads arefiltered out already in the first year bythe planted water plants.

Example The ecosystem of the Nestos Delta lagoons

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8.3 Aspects of culturallandscape

Cultural landscapes are broughtabout by human influence; they arelandscapes with a human imprint.Important factors in the developmentof cultural landscapes are existingnatural aspects such as thecharacter of the area, the originalfauna and flora, human influencesand needs, as well as interactionsbetween these factors. Culturallandscapes reflect the exposure ofnature to humans in many ways.

Traditional agricultural managementhas mainly formed central Europeanlandscapes. By developing variety instructure, this traditional land usehas created habitats richer in

species diversity than some of theoriginal natural landscapes. Manyspecies therefore depend ontraditionally managed habitats.However, since the beginning ofagricultural intensification foreconomic reasons, this variety hasincreasingly disappeared.

If nature conservation work focuseson protection of areas includingparticular species which only existdue to human activity, it is essentialto define the "preferred" status of thearea and the most importantconservation goals before carryingout any management work.

Wetlands and lakes, whether naturalor man-made, are important parts ofthe cultural landscape. In order todescribe the interactions andinterdependencies between

wetlands and other aspects of thecultural landscape a systematicassessment of the history of origin,status quo and future development isrequired.

The purpose of a cultural landscapeassessment is to enable a wetlandmanager to identify, evaluate, andmanage the cultural resourcesinventory. Collection of appropriatedata provides the basis for assessingthe significance of various elementsof the cultural landscape. Once thesignificance of the property hasbeen established, however, theintegrity of the property must beassessed. The aspects of integrityare: location, design, setting,materials, workmanship, feeling andassociation.

Example Orchards at Lake Constance

The Lake Constance region is wellknown for its fruit production. Untilabout the 1950s orchard meadowshad been the traditional way of fruit-growing in Germany. Thesemeadows with scattered fruit treestypically consist of mature, tall-growing trees which have not beentreated with fertilisers or pesticides.They provide habitats for up to5,000 animal species, and containa wide range of ideally adapted fruitspecies and varieties of regionaland local origin. With theemergence of modern productionmethods, increasing costs forlabour and competition from foreignproducers, traditional practiceshave proved to be inefficient. Thus,orchards have been abandonedand many areas cleared in favour oflarge, highly productive plantationswith small, but fruitful trees. The useof inorganic fertilisers andpesticides, as well as the lack ofstructure and variety in modern

plantations, has reduced thenumber of species living on andaround the trees.

Orchards can only be managedextensively and perform theirecological function if they are inuse and being maintained. Toenable this, the harvest needs to besold for an economic price for theproducer. If a sufficient supply ofhigh quality fruit for juice producerscan be guaranteed, adequateprices can be gained via juicemarketing.

A good example of a marketinginitiative for orchard products is thejoint project "Apple Juice", whichwas initiated in 1991 byorganisations like Friends of theEarth (BUND), Lake ConstanceFoundation, Model ProjectConstance, and regional producersand farmers.

The farmers commit themselves togrow their fruit without using

pesticides or fertilisers and replanttrees to avoid obsolescence. Inreturn they get a fair, fixed pricethroughout the year. The pressinghouses produce unfiltered juice,without preservatives, sugar orwater. Fruits, trees and juiceproducts are tested for any pesticideresidues, on a regular basis.

Since 1994 a register of all presshouses is available. Furtherinformation has been produced,promotion and tasting takes placeat fairs and festivals. In 1996marketing was widened torestaurants and cafés, canteenkitchens and schools.

Today, about 8,000 tall-growingtrees on 410 ha are protectedthrough the project without causingadditional costs.

Further information: www.streuobst.de(in German)


8.4 Architecture,customs and traditions

Aitken Clark, Vice President of EUROPARC

Wetlands are special sparklingfragments of the fragile mosaic ofEurope’s protected areas.Traditionally, buildings in wetlandshave used local natural materialssuch as reed and sedge in theirconstruction. Thus the distinctiveform and character of suchstructures has been rooted in localcustoms and practice. The meetingpoint of land and water hasgenerated a range of buildingsdesigned to fit these specialconditions. The thatched boat-houses illustrated on page 54 are aclassic example of a structure whichis both part of, and in harmony withits natural context. The boathousesappear to emerge as natural forms ina living wet landscape, bothfunctional for their purpose andaesthetically appropriate.

This part of chapter 8 draws on ideasand discussion which formed the

basis of a seminar which exploredhow buildings within a protectedarea such as a designated wetlandcan be designed to fit within theirnatural and cultural setting, whilstdemonstrating principles of lowenvironmental impact andsustainability.

The seminar looked at how torecognise and define the specialqualities of local building in areassuch as wetlands and consideredthe opportunities for taking aninnovative approach to design in thefuture.

Key principles

James Simpson is an architectwhose day to day practice in hishome city of Edinburgh is engagedin the conservation of historicbuildings and in sustainablebuilding. The following is a summaryof his views on the need for asensitive and responsible approachto the conservation of buildings inspecial places such as wetlands.

"Nothing stands still. Communities,local economies, transport and

communications all change. Envi-ronments, landscapes, settlementsand buildings must also change. Butthey don’t have to change for theworse. Within a specially protectedwetland, change should bemanaged with particular care, with aview to ensuring that the essentialqualities and characteristics of thearea are properly understood andvalued, and that their survival isensured. Managed change shouldbe respon-sible to social andeconomic needs, ensure thepreservation of what is best, permitthe destruction and replacement ofwhat is worst and promote thepositive management and enhance-ment of everything in between. It iseasy to say, not easy to achieve.

Heritage and tradition are not finitecommodities. As we conserve thebest of what we have inherited fromthe past for the benefit of futuregenerations, so should we create fortheir benefit as well. This is theessence of sustainability.

‘Vernacular’ and ‘traditional’ are notstyles that can be copied, but ways

Flowering apple tree in the Lake Constance region

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of building unique to a place.Vernacular means literally ‘of thecountry’. Most of the buildings wecommonly call vernacular would bebetter called ‘artisan’, in that theywere built by tradesmen in localmaterials according to local ways ofbuilding.

The traditional buildings of an areaare rooted in its physical geographyin a way that modern structures arenot. By contrast, 20th centurystructures frequently seem to bealien, insensitive, intrusive, cheap,and as diminishing the sense ofplace. This is the dilemma withwhich we are now faced. How do webuild, not just in nationally protectedareas, but in the countrysidegenerally today, in thesesophisticated and prosperoustimes?"

James poses the question withconsummate accuracy. How toconserve what is best of the past andecho the traditions in building for thefuture in areas which have a specialsense of place and identity?

Robin Snell in the followingpassages offers an answer with anapproach to contemporary designwhich draws inspiration and cluesfrom the past.

Aiming high

Robin Snell is an architect whopractices in London. Robin arguesthat while the designs from hispractice are unashamedly modern,he feels that a sense of continuity isvital. The following is a summary ofthe approach to design taken by hispractice. The case project is for aVisitor Centre in the Broads, UK.

I would like to focus on the design ofnew buildings in sensitive locationsby using a current project to illustrateour design approach. I want to talkabout continuity, aspiration,searching for clues and findinginspiration. For us, with a sensitive

site, design is a conversationbetween the past and the present. Itis also a collaboration between theindividuals involved, the client, theusers and designers, to uncover thepossibilities of the site.

Good buildings need good clients aswell as architects. I wouldencourage all clients to ‘aim high’and to foster their vision. We have aparticular interest in the materialsand the brief, and of the fineengineering of how to make thedetail work. This helps us developthe way we make our buildings. Theprocess of designing is under-standing, describing, persuading -and building a momentum for thebuilding. The architect has tounderstand the psyche of where thebuilding is. For us it is not an interna-tional universal architecture whichcan be placed anywhere, it has tocome from the place and beparticular to that place.

One example of a simple building weare making in a contemporary modernway, is a visitor centre near Norwich,within the Norfolk Broads. Our briefwas to provide shelter and amenity;basic facilities for visitors. We startedby finding clues from the site.

Part of our intention for the area is tomake a series of modern pavilions,each with a different set of identities,which might be used to create theform and materiality of theenclosures.

The building for the visitor centrealready exists in the form of atraditional Norfolk long barn, asimple single cell building with aroof, which we will re-model. Thenew design for the adjacent cafébuilding will be a modern version ofthis traditional barn. The inspirationfor the design of the roof is takenfrom the site - in particular from anavenue of Lime trees.

Local materials are used throughoutin traditional Norfolk solid masonry

Our architecture comes

from the surroundings,

from the nature

of the place.

Eric demonstrating reed

Marshman’s cottage "Toad Hole"

Model of planned visitor centre near Norwich

Horsey windmill in Norfolk


construction as part of the passivesolar approach to the design toassist in our sustainable approach tothe buildings.

Nearby, our second project in thePark is a new water activity centre orsailing club. The building form isderived from the imagery of a restingbird drinking by the edge of thewater. The roof is made from ‘winglike’ fabric sails stretched out tocover the building. The constructionof the floor of the building and all therooms are inspired by a ship’s deckwith timber cabins made rather likeboats, alluding to traditional Norfolktimber sea-side chalets. We havealso designed the pavilion so that itcan be built in phases, as fundsbecome available.

Our architecture evolves through thedesign process. Designdevelopment is part of an ongoingconversation. Our architecturecomes from the surroundings, fromthe nature of the place.

The principles for conserving andenhancing the built environment,together with the design approachillustrated above, are commendedas models of good practice forbuilding sustainably in areas ofspecial sensitivity such as fragilewetlands.

The main ideas which emerged fromthe seminar are:

> Conservation and change are notmutually exclusive: they mustcoexist

> Local can be sophisticated

> Design costs - but it pays as well

> Constraints such as limitedbudgets can inspire creativity.

Life on the marshes is interpreted inthe Broads in a small thatchedMarshman's cottage known as‘Toad Hole’ cottage. This tinycottage shows how a marshmanand his family lived over a hundredyears ago. A marshman’s calendarexplains the seasonal tasksundertaken by the whole family.Toad Hole cottage is not a listedhistoric building, yet is important inthe wetland history of the marshes.

Eric is living history! Eric Edwards israre - an endangered species. Ericgrew up on the marshes. Helearned the skills of reed and sedgecutting from a long line ofcraftsmen. Harvesting the wetlands,keeping the intricate hierarchy ofwater channels clean and clear,maintaining the boats; grey ones forthe narrow dyke passages; greenreed lighters wider and stackedhigh with reed bundles moving

along the main channels to theriver. Reed and sedge bundlesstacked on the ‘staithe’, thetraditional mooring and collectionpoint. Transport is now by road,previously by ‘wherry’ when riversformed the transport highways.Wherries were the shallow draughthuge sailed trading vessels whichnegotiated the waterways inland toand from the villages and towns tothe seaports carrying cargoes.

Wherries may be seen as ‘historicbuildings afloat’. Hundreds of thesedistinctive vessels plied thewaterways of the Broads. Now onlyseven remain. Four within ‘Trust’care, requiring restoration andmaintenance as do historicbuildings. Keeping such vesselssailing and accessible to visitorsand local people is a vital part ofinterpreting and understanding thespecial quality and character of the

wetland. Keeping the skills ofsailing and restoring these historiccraft is vital if they are to keepsailing long into the future. TheTrusts which care for the wherrieshave a team of volunteers, someskilled, others willing to learn thetraditional skills needed. Engagingthe public in such enterprises ispromoted and encouraged bypolicies in the management plan.

Eric interprets the ‘wetland harvest’cycle for visitors to the Broads,particularly to parties of schoolchildren. His demonstration of theart of bundling reed and sedgebrings alive the special wetlandhistory and traditions. Themanagement plan includespromoting traditional skills by theprovision of apprenticeships intraditional wetland skills such asthose demonstrated by Eric.

Experience Keeping traditional skills alive!

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Experience Listing of buildings of historic value in the Broads

A management plan will list anddocument the range of buildingswithin a protected wetland. Theinventory will rank the importance ofhistoric buildings in the areaaccording to the Nationalclassification system which isdetermined by the appropriategovernment agency; usually theMinistry for Environment. It isimportant that buildings andarchitectural features which are noton the classified list, yet are ofarchitectural merit or distinctivecharacter are also documented and‘protected’ as adding to the specialcharacter and identity of the wetland.

In the case of the Broads thethatched boathouses illustratedabove are not ‘listed’ buildings.They are nevertheless significantfeatures of distinctive wetlandcharacter and are important andmerit protection by the NationalPark management authority.

The practical task of assembling aninventory and technical assessmentof the importance of the historicbuildings is usually undertaken byan architect who has specialistknowledge of the subject withadvice from the regional office ofthe national government agency.

Grant aid may be provided fromboth the national agency and themanagement authority to assistprivate owners of historic buildingswith their care and maintenance.Any alterations or changesproposed for ‘listed’ buildingsrequire special permission inaddition to the normal ‘planning’controls placed on development.

Special building features in theBroads include drainage mills, nowredundant from their originalfunctions of controlling water levelsacross the vast marsh landscape.These ‘sentinels’ remain aspowerfully evocative heritage

features and as symbols of winddriven sustainable power. Many ofthese distinctive elementsdeteriorated and disappeared.Twenty years ago the Broadsmanagement authority undertook asurvey of the remaining seventy andset in train, in the managementplan, policies for their protectionand a practical programme for theirrestoration. While some were on the‘listed’ programme, many wereunlisted yet important in thelandscape. Many were giventemporary forms of cover from theweather in order to halt theirdeterioration, while funds wereassembled from a variety of sourcesto begin full or partial restoration.The management authority for theBroads worked in partnership with aspecial Trust to a programme setwithin a carefully prepared strategyset out in the management plan.

Thatched boathouses in the Broads


8.5 Science andresearchDr Andreas Bally, BiCon AG

Before starting a project on theconservation or restoration ofshallow lakes or Ramsar sites, anyexisting scientific background willprovide invaluable information andinsight. Consideration of recenttechnology and results from previousstudies ensures that research andmanagement proposals are up-to-date. This helps save time andmoney and avoids repetition ofresearch. The information might bepublished in scientific journals or asreports or articles collected byspecific governmental agencies,museums of natural history,technical schools, NGOs or localauthorities. Gathering informationcan be difficult and may requirepersonal contact and knowledgeabout what resources are alreadyavailable.

Scientific publications

Officially published articles in peerreviewed journals are relatively easyto find. For registered memberslibraries of universities or museumsprovide access to scientific journals.Depending on the local situationdatabases such as Web of Science,BIOSIS (Cambridge ScientificAbstracts), Water Resources Ab-stracts, ASFA (Aquatic Sciences inFisheries) etc. can be searched forspecific authors, keywords andyears. Employees of libraries canhelp with the search. After finding thereferences the original article can belooked up in electronic journals,hardcopy journals, or ordered via thelibrary. This information is mostly ayear old from the date of publishing.Building up a personal computer-based databank of existing articlesand reports (software like Endnote)will save time in the future and

facilitates the organisation ofcollected information. Scientificbooks, also accessed from universitylibraries or museums, will give abetter overview about a specific fieldof interest rather than using articlesalone. However, the information isusually a couple of years old.

Access to grey literature

The so-called ‘grey literature’ thathas not been published in peerreviewed journals is much harder tofind. Local experts could beapproached to obtain contactinformation about relevant peopleand institutions, the history of thearea, historical traditions ofmanagement techniques etc.Information that has never beenpublished could be obtained bypersonal communication.

In searching for such ‘grey’ studiesor data, contact with institutions andagencies may be able to providesubstantial help for the project,saving money and manpower. Thismight range from providinginformation, data, computerprogrammes or even activeparticipation in the project (field

work, data or chemical analysis).Authorities and technical universitieshave to demonstrate the publicrelevance of their work because theyare financed by tax money. Hencethese institutions may be interestedin collaboration, if this fits the scopeof their work. The interest andwillingness for co-operation is oftenincreased if the project attractspublic recognition and will bementioned in the press or TV. Theinstitutions may even have studentsor volunteers who could participatein field or laboratory work for theproject.

The first step is to work out whichrelevant institutions are present inthe region: e.g. authorities forenvironmental protection or natureconservation, technical schools,museums for natural history,environmental consultancies,departments in environmentalsciences, ecology or fisheries atuniversities. Nowadays muchinformation is available on-line usingsearch engines such as ‘Google’.Telephone numbers and e-mailaddresses are often provided onwebsites.

Water analysis at Nestos Lakes

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Make contact with these people bysending an e-mail with a shortdescription of the project and anyquestions. The e-mail should saythat a follow up call will take place afew days later to discuss the request.Building up a network of contactsand personal relationships withmembers of agencies andgovernmental institutions might bethe secret to finding out importantinformation, fruitful co-operation andfuture projects.

8.6 Educational facili-ties and programmesBettina Jahn, Global Nature Fund

Agenda 21 has consistentlyhighlighted the essential role ofcitizen involvement at all levels ofenvironmental decision-making inguaranteeing the success ofsustainable development. Europeancitizens have shown time and againtheir concern for environmentalprotection and their empathy withsustainable development. Education

should be a priority first step towardssuch citizen involvement. Informa-tion, communication and educationare three increasingly sophisticatedand complex steps of one majorprocess: the involvement of citizensin this decision-making process andtheir role in sustainable development.

One objective of the managementplan should be the improvement ofquantity and quality of theenvironmental information andeducation. When people have anunderstanding of how the natural

The scientific institutions that havecollaborated with this project were:

> The University of Coruña whichhas carried out a total of fivewater analyses between October2001 and July 2003.Dr Santos Cirujano working forthe Real Botanical Garden ofMadrid of the Superior Council ofScientific Investigations (CSIC)has interpreted the results of

these analyses. He concludedthat the quality of the water thatflows into the wetland of Boadashould be improved to guaranteethe conservation of the wetlandas an area of biological interest.

> The public authorities involved inthe project are the City Councilsof Fuentes de Nava and Boadade Campos, as landownerswhere the wetlands are located,

giving technical support as wellas providing land for the lagoons.

> The Department of Agriculture ofthe Autonomous University ofMadrid designed the Green Filterproject and the buffer zones,advising on the type of plants touse and giving seeds of thistles(Cynara cardunculus) used in thebuffer zones.

Example Spanish partner institutions

> National Agricultural ResearchFoundationFisheries Research Institute(INALE)Dr A. KallianiotisNea Peramos, GR-640 07 Kavala,GreeceE-Mail : [email protected]

> Democritus University of ThraceSchool of EngineeringDepartment of EnvironmentalEngineering

Laboratory of EcologicalEngineering & TechnologyProf Dr V. A. TsihrintzisGR-67100 Xanthi, GreeceE-Mail: [email protected],www.duth.gr

> Technological EducationInstitute - TEI of KavalaEconomics and Business SchoolDepartment of BusinessAdministrationDr A. KarasavvoglouPO Box 1194, GR 65404 Kavala,Greece

E-Mail: [email protected],www.teikav.edu.gr

> Fachhochschule BrandenburgFachbereich WirtschaftProf Dr Ulrich BrascheMagdeburger Strasse 5314770 Brandenburg, GermanyE-Mail: [email protected]

Example Greek partner institutions


world works, then they will be ready tocontribute to its protection.Environmental information andeducation is a long-term process,which should follow a long-termstrategy. It should not be based onshort-term activity.

Environmental education comprisesa great variety of possible activities.These range from working withchildren and pupils, right through toadults, from theoretical indooractivities to practical outdoor work.Over the past years there has beenprogress in integrating the environ-ment into all levels of education andfurther training.

Nevertheless, additional offers toprovide environmental education,especially in schools and kinder-gartens, are welcomed. It is importantto involve partners with expertise inorder to adapt the environmentaleducation programme not only to theexpectations of the target groups, butalso to the needs of the organisers.

Environmental education foryoung people

Environmental education lessons inschools and nurseries

In co-operation with the teachers,instruction and lessons can beprepared. The subject matter shouldbe adapted to the pupils’ age andgrade of school. The lesson topicshould deal with an interestingproblem related to the local wetlandarea. Lessons should be as inter-active as possible with objects to lookat and touch from the natural world.Things that are difficult to understandneed to be explained in a simple way.

School trips, youth vacation andexcursions

Wetland areas are an excellentdestination for school trips, holidaysand outings for young people. Theactivities planned for children and

young people should focus onenvironmental problems and therespective solutions. Practical work inthe natural area may be included inthe programme of several day trips.The young people learn "out in thenatural world" about different plantsand animals, and in particular, aboutendangered species. It is important toshow the causes of environmentaldamage as well as ways of findingsolutions to the problems.

Workcamps

Under the motto "learning by doing"school classes and youth groupslearn about nature conservation workand environmental problems. One tofour weeks camp is the best length ofvisit. The children stay in hostels ortents in the vicinity of the naturalareas. They undertake activities suchas management, cutting reed andbrushwood in order to keep areasopen, they collect refuse and helpinstall nature trails and constructvisitors’ facilities. This is an excellentway to teach environmentally friendlybehaviour and to raise the environ-mental awareness of young people.

Scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt can be preparedfor groups of young people. Thechildren have to find answers toquestions on the wetland area, plantand animal species living there aswell as threats posed to them. So theylearn in a fun way about differentissues for the natural area and itsconservation needs.

Holiday calendar

During summer break a variety ofoutdoor activities may be offered foryoung people, such as one-daynature tours, guided visits to infor-mation centres and organic farms.

Environmental quiz

An environmental quiz (leaflets orfrom the internet) can be offered to

schools and other youth groups.Questions about nature conservationand the natural landscape have to beanswered. A multiple-choice format isrecommended. The answers to thequestions should be included in textsand other information. This willencourage the young people tocarefully read all the informationprovided.

Environmental competitions

Environmental competitions can beoffered at schools and youth groups.The children could make a drawingor picture, something using handi-crafts, photography or sculpture toillustrate a topic concerning natureconservation.

Youth research

Under the theme "youth research"young people may present, maybe asa competition, their ideas for effectivetechniques in the fields of natureconservation, renewable energy orlandscape maintenance. Enoughtime and the necessary equipmentshould be provided for them to puttheir ideas into practice and toconstruct tools or machines.

Nature conservation on the Internet

A website for young people to exploreenvironmental topics may beinstalled. Interactive questions andanswers, a photo gallery and facilitiesto exchange their experiences andconcerns with other young people(chat site) could be provided. Thusthe children acquaint themselveswith modern media and learn aboutnature conservation topics. TheGerman Federal Agency for NatureConservation created an exemplarywebsite for children called "Naturedetectives" with a wide range ofinformation.

Further information:www.naturdetektive.de

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Regular youth groups

A regular environmental youth groupcould be established, along the linesof a Boy Scout or Girl Guide group.Different activities and topics may beoffered on a weekly or two-weeklybasis. The group should be open toall interested young people. Throughthe regular meetings the environ-mental awareness of the childrenwill continue to grow.

Environmental books for children

Text and picture books for childrenand young people may be providedcovering different natureconservation topics.

It is worth exploring whether regionalbanks or savings banks as well asprivate businesses can be involvedin environmental activities forchildren and young people andwhether any funding is available.

Information centres

An information centre may beestablished near the wetland area.Here an exhibition, informationmaterial and maps can be providedfor visitors. The centre and itsinformation should be attractivelydesigned for all ages. Guided tourswith further explanation could beoffered from the visitor centre. Acontact point on site with infra-structure combined with multiple usefacilities is an important contributionto successful nature conservationwork and implementation of themanagement plan.

There are advantages anddisadvantages in having aninformation centre and unfortunatelymany centres have had financialdifficulties or have been forced toclose. It is imperative to take adviceon legal regulations and standardsbefore constructing or converting abuilding, particularly whereenvironmental programmes forchildren and young people are to be

carried out or if accommodation isbeing offered. Financing informationcentres is a great burden for theoperators, and the better-fundedones tend to be those which arelocated in tourist areas and offerregional products and explorer trailsas well as environmental educationactivities. Currently, there are fewopportunities for co-financing theestablishment of an InformationCentre. This is worse if the on-goingcosts and activities for the next fiveto ten years are not being financed.

Financial resources

The following section listsfoundations and programmes wherefinancial support is available.

EU Youth Programme

The Youth Programme is the EUmobility and non-formal educationprogramme targeting young peopleaged between 15 and 25 years. TheProgramme is open to young peoplein 30 European countries. The YouthProgramme offers possibilities foryoung people to participate in groupexchanges and individual voluntarywork, as well as support activities.

There are five main Actions:

> Youth for Europe

> European Voluntary Service

> Youth Initiatives

> Joint Actions

> Support Measures.

Further information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/index_en.html.

European Youth Foundation - Grantsfor international youth activities

The European Youth Foundation(EYF) is a fund established by theCouncil of Europe to providefinancial support for European youthactivities. It aims to encourage co-operation amongst young people inEurope by providing financial

Field trip with children in England

School visit in Spain

One objective of the

management plan should

be the improvement of

quantity and quality of the

environmental information

and education.


support for youth activities. Itsupports activities which serve thepromotion of peace, understandingand co-operation in a spirit ofrespect for human rights,democracy, tolerance and solidarity.

The EYF provides financial supportto the following types of activityundertaken by youth NGOs ornetworks, or by other NGOs involvedin the areas of youth work relevant tothe Council of Europe’s youthpolicies and work:

> Educational, social, cultural andhumanitarian activities of aEuropean nature

> Activities aimed at strengtheningpeace and co-operation in Europe

> Activities designed to promotecloser co-operation and betterunderstanding amongst youngpeople in Europe, particularly bydeveloping the exchange ofinformation

> Activities intended to stimulatemutual aid in Europe and indeveloping countries for cultural,educational and social purposes

> Studies, research anddocumentation on youth matters.

Further information:http://galadriel.coe.int/fej/index.jsp

Environmental awareness raising

The Environmental Awarenessprogramme aims to improveinformation available for the generalpublic and to raise awareness levelsin relation to environmentalprotection. It also supports thecreation of partnerships at aEuropean level and aims to promotean efficient ecological approach toeconomic activities.

The four priority areas are:

> Climate change

> Nature and biodiversity

> Environment and health

> Natural resources and waste.

Projects should be aimed at:

> Integrating environmentalconcerns into all relevant policyareas

> Working closely with business andconsumers to identify solutions

> Ensuring better and moreaccessible information on theenvironment for citizens

> Developing a more environmentallyconscious attitude towards land use.

Further information: http://europe.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/general/index_en.htm

International Youth Foundation

The International Youth Foundationis an independent, international,non-governmental organisationdedicated to the positivedevelopment of children and youngpeople throughout the world. TheFoundation works with nationalfoundations and organisationscurrently operating in 31 countries.The IYF aims:

> To identify effective programmesand approaches for young people

> To advocate for improved policiesbenefiting children and youth

> To increase understanding ofothers by young people at localand international level.

The Foundation supportsprogrammes aiming at providing arange of support and services inareas such as: vocational training,health education, recreation, culturaltolerance, environmentalawareness, the development ofleadership, conflict resolution, anddecision-making skills.

The IYF also aims to increase globalawareness of children and youthissues, to strengthen the organi-sational skills of youth programmeleaders, and promote greaterknowledge and application of bestpractices for young people.

The aim of these efforts is to in-crease the effectiveness, scale andsustainability of proven approachesto meeting young people’s needs.

Further information: http://www.iyfnet.org

German Ministry of Culture, Youthand Sports, Baden-Württemberg

There are different programmes forinternational youth work:

Youth groups

> Emphasis on: politics, environment

Spanish Information panel of La Nava visitor centre

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8.7 Industry andcommerce

The presence of dangerous orhazardous substances in Europeanwaters is still a major threat to theaquatic environment and to humanhealth where surface waters areused for drinking water, abstractionor fishing. There are many knownadverse effects such as eco-toxicityto aquatic organisms, bioaccumu-lation in the food chain and toxicityto man through drinkingcontaminated water. Pesticides suchas lindane and atrazine affect waterplants and result in increasedrequirements for treatment if thewater is for drinking. Heavy metalssuch as mercury and organic metalcompounds like tributyltin (TBT)pollute water and sediments and arecurrently accumulating in theaquatic food chain. Populations ofmarine and limnic snails have beenfound to be endangered byincreasing concentrations of TBT.

95% of the industrial enterprises inthe Lake Constance area are smalland middle-scale businesses

employing more than 75% of thelabour force. There are only a veryfew large-scale companies withthousands of employees.

How do industry and commerceaffect the environment?

Often the designation of newindustrial estates leads to conflictswith nature protection, andparticularly if the estates are locatedaround wetlands and lakes, whichare densely populated. Substancescan be released (air emissions,infiltration through the soil, dischargeto water) during the ordinaryproduction process and in storageplaces but also as a consequence ofaccidents, technical troubles andbreakdowns. Industrial wastewatermay contain toxic substances whichcould disturb the functioning - thebiodegradation performance - of thecommunal wastewater plant. As aresult of new technologies, heavymetals that in the past mostly camefrom the industrial sector can beeffectively reduced. Today the inputof heavy metals into lakes is mostlyfrom diffuse sources. Other pollutionsources come from noise, odours,vibrations or turbulence.

Examples of harmful substances inLake Constance caused by industryand commerce:

> DTPA or EDTA: A complexingagent used in the paper and textileindustry, milk production

> Flame retardants used in theplastics and textile industry

> Phthalates used in the production ofplastics to make them flexible anddurable and in the dyestuff industry.

The national and European laws andguidelines concentrate on limitingemissions at source. By optimisingstorage and production techniques,recycling and environmental audit(EMAS, ISO 14001), the waterpollution load could be considerablyreduced.

Article 16 of the Water FrameworkDirective (2000/60/EC) sets out a"Strategy against pollution of water".In January 2001, the EuropeanCommission adopted an AmendedProposal for a European Parliamentand Council Decision establishingthe list of priority substances in thefield of water policy (COM/2001/17final). The list identifies 32 subs-tances or groups of substances,which are shown to be of majorconcern for European waters. Oncethe list of priority substances isadopted, the Commission willpropose community-wide waterquality standards and emissioncontrols for the priority substances.

Within the list of priority substancesthe Commission has identified thepriority hazardous substances,which are of particular concern forthe freshwater, coastal and marineenvironment. These substances willbe subject to cessation or phasingout of discharges, emissions andlosses within an appropriate time-table that shall not exceed 20 years.

Further information:

www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-dangersub/pri_substances.htm

Other related EU directives

> Urban Wastewater TreatmentDirective

www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-urbanwaste/index_en.html

> Drinking Water Directive

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-drink/index_en.html

> Directive on Bathing Water Quality

www.europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/index_en.html

> Discussions and workshops foryoung people from differentcountries.

Individuals

> International workcamps in thefield of environmental protection.

German Ministry for Family, Seniors,Women and Youth

Federal youth plan: supports interna-tional youth work (encounteringyoung people from differentcountries).

Similar programmes may beavailable in your country at anational, regional or local level.


8.8 Land use and traffic

Land use as an environmentalproblem

With 147 inhabitants per squarekilometre, the European Union isamongst the most heavily settledregions in the world. The amount ofbuilt-up surface area increases by2% every ten years (EuropeanCommission: Caring for our future,2000). The resulting impacts onnature and the environment include:the release of toxic substances intothe ground, air and water, increasingconcentration of traffic, increasingimpact of human inhabitants on thelandscape and natural areas.

Where settlements, traffic zones,industrial areas and otherinfrastructures already exist,measures will need to be taken toreduce the environmental pollutionand to put in place management torepair the environmental damage.Ideally environmental targets forsustainable settlement developmentshould be set during the planningstage and implemented to preventfuture environmental stress.

In most EU countries land useplanning is the direct responsibilityof local authorities. Legalrequirements are dealt with atnational and regional level but the

local community, in many countries,can decide on the use, settlementplanning and design of community-owned areas. Closely connectedwith land use planning are theaspects of ‘surfacing’ over open landand the use of green areas - both ofhigh environmental relevance. Asystem of land use planning canfurther influence other importantenvironmental aspects such astraffic/mobility, energy, water,landscape development and natureprotection.

Therefore it is important to considerland use planning and urbandevelopment as an element of thewetland management plan and todiscuss and fix targets andmeasures for sustainable land usewith local representatives (urbanplanning, mayor, municipal council)with responsibilities for sustainableland use and settlementconstruction.

The project areas La Nava/Boada inSpain and Nestos in Greece aresituated in regions with continuingmigration into cities. In this situation,land usage and traffic may not be ofprior importance. However, manyEuropean wetlands and shallowlakes are located in denselypopulated areas. Thus, a reductionof environmental impacts within thetowns and villages can also benefit

the wetland - especially if the town orvillage is situated in the immediatevicinity of the wetland or lake.

In Greece most wetlands aresituated in the coastal region. As thecountry consists of 73% mountains,large pressure exists on the coast fortourism development, agriculture,intensifying lagoon fisheries androad infrastructure. Developingcoastal roads for beach tourism withassociated recreation facilities, bars,parking, weekend settlements andeven military recreation sites, are amajor threat to the very sensitivecoastal dunes and marshes aroundthe lagoons.

What measures can a town orvillage take to reduce landusage?

Measures with direct influence

> Establish how much land isavailable for construction,maintain settlement borders

> Settlement development thatconserves surface area

> Optimise the relationship betweenland dedicated to transport and tosettlement

> Make an inventory of empty lotsand fallow areas within the city,town or village

Example Regulations at Lake Constance

In the Lake Constance catchmentarea the industrial and commercialdirect and indirect wastewaters areregistered in a special emissioninventory. For plants and industrieswith high risks there are specialregulations for breakdowns toprevent serious accidents and tolimit the consequences.

These regulations comprise:

> Obligations for the factory ownerto take all necessary measures toavoid serious accidents and limitthe consequences for man andenvironment

> Establishing an inspection prog-ramme by the authority to allow

systematic and regular surveyingof regulations compliance

> Establishing a central reportingpoint for serious accidents

In addition, all Seveso II guidelinesfor serious accidents withhazardous substances must berespected.

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> Retrospective consolidation: useof empty lots, additional storeys,extensions, combined types ofusage, allocating need for newhousing space within givendimensions, consolidation ofhousing and working spaces,raising occupation density.

Measures with indirect influence

> Decreasing further dispersion ofsettlement

> Avoiding fallow areas within thecity

> Conservative use of surface areain development and choice ofconstruction type

> Intensified usage of attractivelocations

> Quantitative and qualitativecompensation for loss of surfacearea for construction.

Supporting measures

> Managed city development policy,environmental management forurban development

> Integrated settlement andtransportation development

> Concentration of supply, adminis-trative and service facilities

> Choice of location, designation oftype of use according to criteria ofenvironmentally fitting usage

> Co-ordination of temporarybuilding usage (intermittent usage).

"Surfacing" over soil

When construction ‘surfaces’ oversoil, problems are created for theenvironment by disturbance to thelocal natural and water balance, theincrease in frequency of peak levelsof flood run off, and the resultingadditional burdens for the sewagesystem and water treatment plants. Inaddition, processes of exchangebetween soil and atmosphere arelimited or prevented altogether. With

this negative impact on themicroclimate the natural habitat forflora and fauna is destroyed.

The re-exposure of the soil can beaccomplished by completelyremoving the sealant, whetherconcrete, tarmac or some othermaterial, and changing the type ofcovering to create a permeableground surface where plants cangrow (partial re-exposure). Or non-essential sealed surface areas canbe transformed into green areas. Thefollowing surfaces come intoconsideration for partial re-exposure:

> All types of parking and storagesurface area, as well as accessroads and paths

> Sections of intersections that arenot driven over, centre areas oftraffic roundabouts

> Surfaces that do not have to beaccessible for traffic

> Schoolyards, market squares,paved courtyards.

Re-exposure can also beundertaken as a measure ofcompensation for other changes tothe environment or towards an "eco-account". In this way, such measurescan be made attractive to localgovernments from a financialperspective. Further positive aspectsare the relief to the sewage systemand water treatment plants fromexcess run off, the improvement tothe microclimate, as well as thesurroundings in which people liveand work. Just as important as re-exposure is to ensure that only verylittle new ground is sealed over.

Green areas

Everyone is aware that green areasplay a substantial role in improvingthe quality of life within settlements.They are immeasurably valuable notonly as green belts, but also in thecentre of settled areas. Park areas inthe heart of a town improve the

In Greece most wetlands

are situated in the coastal

region. As the country

consists of 73%

mountains, large pressure

exists on the coast for

tourism development,

agriculture, intensifying

lagoon fisheries and road

infrastructure.

Railway following Lake Constance's shoreline

Village around lakes in Upper Swabia


attractiveness of housing andservice centres located nearby, sothat the heightened value ofneighbourhoods with expandedgreen areas can create a focus fordevelopment in municipal centres.

A settlement area can be dividedinto a wide variety of different greensystems, such as parking facilities,planted areas, green plotsconnecting built areas with naturalhouse gardens. These improve themicroclimate and develop intovaluable habitats for a wide variety ofanimals and plants. Green areasoffer opportunities for leisure andrecreation, they are meeting-placesfor a neighbourhood and make amajor contribution to people’sassociation with their place ofresidence. Green connecting plotstake on a very important functionwithin a community.

Adorned with trees, hedgerows, andother elements of greenery, theyencourage "soft mobility" use bypedestrians and cyclists. A greenconnecting plot can be a footpathalready lined with trees. Similarly,roads connecting a settlement withthe surrounding natural landscapecan be treated in the same way.Along with their function for humanrecreation, the green corridors

represent an important contributionto the maintenance of biotopenetworks.

Traffic and mobility

Today, mobility is both a fundamentalhuman need as well as aprerequisite for our ability to copewith the demands of everyday life.However, at the same time, motortraffic causes particular harm tohuman health and to theenvironment.

In the year 2000, the surface areaused for transportation purposestotalled 17,280 km2 or 4.8% ofGermany’s surface area, increasingby 0.5% (81 km2) by 2002.Nonetheless, it is interesting to notethat the increase in problemscaused by our need for mobility andthe environmental problemsassociated with them cannot beattributed alone to an increase in thenumber of trips individuals undertakein their daily lives.

What causes the increase in harm tothe environment related totransportation are the ever-increasing distances people musttravel to work, to shop for theirneeds, and to reach recreationalareas, as well as the shift intransportation mode used in doing

so. Due to the increasing expansionof urban land use practices and thegrowing accessibility of privateautomobiles, cities are expandingoutwards into the surroundingcountryside. This leads to anincrease in traffic. This is the veryarea on which communal urban landuse planning can have fundamentalinfluence - communal transportationdevelopment planning and theenvironmental problems related to it.

What possibilities are there forregional and local government toinfluence and to reduce the negativeimpact of traffic in urban areas andtheir surroundings?

General:

> Combination of different types ofland use instead of separation intodistinctive use type districts

> Reduction of surface area used bycompacting settlement structureswith short distances betweendestinations instead of excessivelyextensive settlement and suburbanisation

> Optimal integration of areas newlyzoned for construction into theexisting development network

> Optimal integration ofneighbourhood centres into thelocal development network

Recent studies and projects haveproved that most cities andmunicipalities do not have centralstatistical offices that collect andevaluate all data relevant tocommunal administration. Althoughthe most important base data suchas on population density andsurfacing over soil are available,

they exist in varying formats:different collection years, refer todifferent areas, and vary thecategories of measurement. Basedata and indicators are the basis formonitoring, but to collect andevaluate data requires resources.Therefore it is preferable to limit thecollection of data to a few easy to

handle and meaningful key data.

Within the EU LIFE project"ECOLUP: Environmental Land UsePlanning" Lake ConstanceFoundation and the University ofNürtingen developed a "CoreReference Figures Set" for allrelevant environmental aspectsregarding land use planning.

Information ECOLUP

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> Differentiated development oftransportation surface area byusing terminal streets, courtyardhousing developments, short linkroads and residential streets inresidential areas instead ofallowing transportationdevelopment in residential areas

> Reduction and relocation ofparking spaces.

Specific:

> Designate Park+Ride parkingspaces

> Parking control systems andvehicle storage concepts

> Traffic calming, designation of30 km/h zones

> Expand existing cycle pathsand footpaths

> Reduce overall parking spaceavailable

> Construction to improve publictransportation access

> Increase frequency of publictransportation departures ontimetable

> Build roofed cycle parking lots

> Improve proportion of streets tocycle paths and footpaths

> Reduce noise resulting from traffic

> designation of surface areas forrequired protective measures

> reduce average distance tonearest public transportation access.

8.9 Agriculture andforestry

Current situation

Over three quarters of the surfacearea contained within the EuropeanUnion is used for agriculture orforestry (44% agricultural use, 33%forest). Agriculture and forestrydepend more than other economicsectors on intact natural resourcesas the prerequisite for theirsuccessful functioning.

Technical innovations, the increaseduse of new technology in farmingand the resulting changes toeconomic conditions, as well as thepolitical framework set by EUagricultural policy, have in recentdecades led to great losses invaluable cultural landscapes, whichhave been shaped over thecenturies by traditional farmingpractices. Landscapes managedextensively are particularly affected

by this development. In addition,structural changes in agriculturalpractice have led to an increase inorchards where fruit is sold atmarket, whilst at the same timepermanent grassland hasdecreased. Crop rotation has beensimplified (to monocultures), animalhusbandry has been concentrated inspecific areas by specialisation, andas a part of farmland consolidation,agricultural use of river flood plainshas increased, marshy areasdrained, and structures that hadpreviously linked biotopes (hedges,etc.) cleared away. Furthermore,irrigated areas have increaseddramatically (the EU has collectedrelated data since 1961).

Although the surface area of landused for agriculture has as a wholedecreased in the last 20 years,farming’s negative effects on naturehave increased markedly. This canbe attributed to the greatintensification of farming practicesas a result of the changed conditionsmentioned above, and to theresulting increased use ofproduction factors that raise cropyield such as fertilisers and plantprotecting agents e.g. pesticides.

Advice Key reference data settlement and traffic

Key reference data to measure /evaluate urban expansion

> Proportion of settled surface area(Settlement and transportationsurface area to surface area ofmunicipality)

> Settlement Density (Number ofinhabitants to settlement andtransportation surface area)

> Housing Density (Number ofinhabitants to structure and opensite surface area in ha)

> Surfaced transportation area inpercentage of total relevantsurface area.

Key reference data to measure /evaluate transportation /mobility

> General extent of development(Transportation surface area tototal surface area or municipalsurface area)

> Extent of development planned inproject (Transportation surface areato total zoned construction land)

> "Modal split" - choice of mode oftransportation (number ofbicycles, number of motorists andmotorcyclists, number of publictransportation users)

> Kilometres per person / inhabitant /day according to mode oftransportation (local statistics).


Legal situation

Within the European Union, a greatnumber of different directivesregulate agriculture’s access to anduse of water. These are intended tominimise negative impacts on thisresource. Among these are theGroundwater Directive (80/68/EWG),the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EWG),the Fertiliser Ordinance (FO), andthe Agri-Environmental ActionProgramme (2078/92 EEC). In orderto co-ordinate these usually veryinconsistent regulations, the WaterFramework Directive (WFD) waspassed in 1995 and came into effecton 22 December 2000. The aim ofthe WFD is to define unifiedprinciples for the entire field of waterprotection.

Around 60% of the phosphates in thewater supply and over 70% of thenitrates originate from diffusesources. For this reason, agricultureis seen as the main cause ofexcessive nutrients in bodies ofwater. The WFD therefore sets astrong focus on agriculture so thatwe can expect that regulations for

farming practice currently valid forwater protection areas will beextended to apply to all rivercatchment areas. By way ofexample, the WFD already containsa list of 33 priority substances, ten ofwhich are pesticides (e.g. Atrazine),the use of which is either to bereduced or to be eliminated withinthe next 20 years. In the comingyears, the Commission will introducequality norms and require regulartesting of limit values.

Advisable measures for the preventionof negative impacts of pesticides andfertilisers on water bodies are:

> Establishing protected shorelinestrips and buffer zones

> Raising minimum standards forwater quality

> Banning use of pesticides atproblematic locations, e.g. those indanger of erosion

> Employing modern applicationtechnology for pesticides, PSMand mineral fertiliser output

> Reducing the level of nutrients inbodies of water (reduction of

nitrate fertilisers, use of catchcrops featuring legumes only priorto crops with strong erosivecapacity, crop rotation that sustainsgroundwater quality, plantvegetation on fallow land, plantfield crops with minimal need fornitrates such as summer barleyor flax).

Many of these measures can atpresent only be realized within theframework of voluntary agreements.Their greater acceptance can onlybe achieved through compensationpayments or the goal-orientedsupport of new market strategies orsustainable production methods.

Sustainable agriculture in the EU

Integrated crop cultivation meansagricultural cultivation andproduction methods that meet bothecological as well as economicdemands. Factors such as croprotation, cultivation technology, plantnutrition, and crop protection areadjusted to fit natural conditions inorder to support environmentallyfriendly agricultural practices. These

Grain field in Spain

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measures will avoid the pollution ofgroundwater and surface water, aswell as the deposition of foreignsubstances into nearby biotopes.Since there is no standardisation formonitoring integrated production inthe EU, the benefits it brings to theenvironment are difficult to estimate.

One instrument of the EU agriculturalreform that both relieves economicpressures on the agricultural marketand avoids or reduces damage tothe cultural landscape is the Agri-Environmental Action Programme(2078/92 EEC), which, along with the

Early Retirement Regulation (2079/92) and the Forestry Regulation(2080/92), represents one element ofa set of complementary measures.The Agri-Environmental ActionProgramme is intended to makeproduction processes in agriculturemore environmentally friendly. Inorder to achieve this goal, variousenvironmental measures have beenlinked to funding available tofarmers. The implementation of thisprogramme lies in the hands ofnational or regional authorities.Examples for measures within the

Agri-Environmental Action Program-me are:

> Transformation of intensivelyused land such as arable farmlandinto extensive grasslands

> Reduction of the use ofnutrients and pesticides

> Continuation of traditional,environmentally friendly cultivationpractices in areas threatened bythe loss of this type of land use

> Creation of biotopes that arenot subjected to the productioncycle.

Total surface area farmed and crop production

> Farm land (FL) in absolute ha and in % of total surface area

> Farmed land (FdL) in absolute ha and in % of total surface area

> Division of FdL according to types of use (permanent grassland, ploughed fields, specialised crops andgarden areas, forest when present) and types of crops

> Percentage of organically farmed land and percentage of organic farms

Animal husbandry

> Animals according to species (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, fowl, others) in livestock unit (LU) orfertiliser produced per livestock unit (FLU)

> Average number of animals per farm

> Average number of animals per unit of surface area

Structure of farm businesses

> Number of farms and number of farms according to size

> Level of education of head of farm and plans for farm’s inheritance

Characteristics of the cultural landscape

> Percentage and quality of protected areas

> Variety of landscape structures (average size of field, variety of types of land usage, presence of smallerstructures within agricultural landscape, percentage of woods to open land)

> Cultural-historical characteristics (e.g. archaeological factors, as in Greece)

Additional factors

> Fertilisers: Mineral fertilisers N and P (e.g. in t N or P or ha FL and year), fertilisers produced by farm, sewagesludge, compost, other fertilisers)

> Pesticides

Parameters for evaluating agriculture


A much more effective step towardsenvironmentally appropriateagriculture is organic farming.Through organic farming, negativeimpact on the environment is greatlyreduced through extensivereductions in use of fertilisers andpesticides. Furthermore, the soilundergoes much less intensive use,thus preventing harmful side effectsto soil and groundwater.

Since the European Community’sagri-environment policy came out infavour of conversion to organicfarming methods, the acreage on

which organic farming is practisedwithin the EU has grown steadily.The highest percentages oforganically farmed surface area arefound in Austria (11.6%), in Italy(8%), and in Finland (7%) (source:SÖL, Feb. 2004).

Due to the fact that organic farmingprocesses not only have lessnegative impact on the environment,but also prevent the presence oftoxic residues in food, organicproducts generally bring highermarket prices. For this reason,organic farming and the respective

designation of organically grownfarm products and foods have beenmade subject to binding standards inthe EU by means of the OrganicFarming Directive (2092/91/EEC,dating from 24th June, 1991).

In this directive, both the cultivationas well as the processing of organicproduce are given an exact definitionand made subject to explicitlabelling. Consumers are able toidentify organically grown produceby means of the EU board of controlnumbers and the information on thepackaging to this effect. Although the

Authorities

> Communal authorities

> District authorities (District Council Office)

> Agricultural authorities

> Regional Council

> Ministry of Agriculture (federal state and national)

> State and federal statistical offices

Educational institutions

> Universities and other institutions of higher learning

> Agricultural schools

Agricultural federations and associations

> Co-operatives (e.g. ZG, WLZ)

> Farming co-operatives (e.g. apple culture federation, associations of organic farmers)

> Professional associations (AG Junge Bauern, AbL, Hauptverband)

Farmers

Dependent branches

> Processing (e.g. dairies, breweries, bakeries, juice production)

> Trade

> Gastronomy and cafeterias

Sources of information (example Germany)

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EU introduced a standardised logofor the designation of organicallygrown products in 2000, it did notfind acceptance in many EUmember countries. A few EUcountries (such as Germany, Austria,Denmark, and France) have for thisreason introduced their own nationalorganic labels which have in theirown right been met with varyinglevels of acceptance.

Indicators for the environmentalimpact of agriculture on lakes andwetlands

Agriculture has a great impact onmany lake and wetland regions.Because the conditions under whichproduction takes place (terrain,climate, availability of water, soilquality, etc.) are often quite good,many of these locations have beendrained and transformed intocropped land. On the other hand,this intensification of agriculture anda tendency towards extensivemanagement of areas with high cropproduction potential have resulted ingreater damage to neighbouringareas, among them wetlands, due toinfiltration of fertilisers and pesticides.

Nutrients

Fertilisers used in agriculturecontain nitrates, phosphates, andother nutrients that plants need.These contribute to theeutrophication of bodies of waterand as a result can lead toundesirable algae growth andchanges in the chemical content ofthe water, as well as to flora andfauna.

Parameters for evaluation:

> Nutrient balance of farm (N, P, K)

> Fertilisation schedule (when, howmuch)

> Livestock (livestock unit/ha, NH³emissions).

Pest management

Both chemical-synthetic as well asmineral plant protecting agents havea direct impact on the quality and thewell being of wetlands and lakes.Pesticides and heavy metalsdemonstrate a direct negativeimpact on a wide range of organismsand can accumulate in the foodchain as well as in soil sediments.

Parameters for evaluation

> Type and amount of pesticides used

> When used

> How up-to-date is applicationtechnology?

> Use of alternative pesticides.

Management of farm productionprocesses

The way in which farm productionprocesses are managed has a directimpact on wetlands and lakes.Through well-balanced crop rotationand the cultivation of regional crops,many negative effects thatagriculture may have on bodies ofwater can be avoided. Agri-environment programmes, forexample those encouraging theintroduction of buffer strips of landaround arable fields and alongshorelines and water courses, makeit possible to prevent or minimalise

the introduction of agriculturalsubstances into sensitive areas. If afarm participates in agri-environmentalprogrammes it is a good indication ofhow open the farm director is toenvironmental protection.


> Range of types of land use andcrop rotation

> Are genetically modified cropsgrown?

> Condition of grasslands (age,make-up, use for hay, when mowed)

> Measures to protect and maintainbiotopes (type, size, common oruncommon, endangered andstatus of protection of biotopes)

> Participation in programmes tosupport environmental protectionmeasures and in agri-environmentprogrammes

> Variety of species of domesticanimals and cultivated plants(particularly rare breeds andspecies)

> Biological parameters (e.g.endangered, rare or endemicspecies in the macroflora andmacrofauna, rare vegetativeecotypes, indicator species).

Soil cultivation

The way in which the soil iscultivated also has an impact onbodies of water. Inappropriatecultivation can lead to erosioncausing sedimentation and siltationin water bodies, and any agriculturalsubstances carried on soil particlescan impact on water quality.

Austria Denmark EU-Seal France Germany Netherlands

Selected "seals" of organic production in Europe



> Erosion due to water and wind

> General soil characteristics andreference values:Soil compaction, waterlogging ofsoil, potential yield, function asfilter, buffer and transformationagent, natural capacity for retention.

Water and energy balance of farm

Two thirds of the water used acrossthe world is needed for agriculture.In EC countries this percentage maybe significantly lower (in Germanyonly 3% of total water usage), butnevertheless effective watermanagement in agriculture is animportant starting point for thesustainable protection of water andbiotopes. Environmentallyappropriate plant species, organicfarming practices, and careful use ofirrigation and drainage can preventharm to rivers and groundwaterresources. Damage to waterresources arising from the use of

fossil fuels and lubricants inagriculture needs to be prevented.


> Absolute amount of water used(incl. irrigation and amount of waterdrawn from groundwater table)

> Relative water use per biomassproduced

> Water drainage (drainagesystems, water draining fromirrigation, water retention systems)

> Morphological parameters(structure of bodies of water, bufferzones, protective shoreline orwatercourse strips)

> Fossil sources of energy (oils,diesel, potential threat for bodies ofwater, gas)

> Material cycles.

8.10 Fishery

Fishery at Lake Constance

Understandably, the activities ofsubsistence and recreationalfishermen at Lake Constance aregeared towards catch yield. Underthe aspect of justifiable impact onnature, recreational fishery has to beput to the ecological test, especiallyintensive angling in nature reserves.It is not only the fundamental contra-diction between conservation andleisure activities, there are alsoincompatibilities in the exercise ofangling with regard to theenvironment: e.g. impact on animals,shore vegetation. The solution of theconflict could be authorizedrecreational fishery in ecologicallyless important areas only.

Fishery and nature conservationhave common goals especially inthe preservation of naturalresources. Fish species protection

Traditional way of sheep breeding in Spain

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A great fish variety can

only be achieved or

conserved by habitat

protection of many diffe-

rent natural habitats –

especially of the shallow

water zone, representing

the "nursery” of most of

the Lake Constance fish

species.

Predatory pikes can help to regulate fishpopulations

has to be taken seriously, about twothirds of the fish species of CentralEurope are considered endangered.That is why nature conservancyorganisations together with fisheryassociations have to fight for betterliving conditions of the fish fauna.

Sustainable fishery

Sustainable development of fisheryat Lake Constance requires astrategy combining ecologicalresponsibility (especially for thenatural biodiversity) with economiccarrying capacity, and seekingdialogue with the society. The goal ismeasured catch yield of wild fishand to achieve moderate added-value out of a seasonal high qualityregional product.

Generally, in nature reserves fisheryis allowed as a privilegedexploitation and considered aspractical nature protection. In view ofthe intensive exploitation mostnature reserves are subject to,fishery in the internationallyimportant nature reserves at LakeConstance is not compatible witheffective nature conservation.

Fish protection zones

A great fish variety can only beachieved or conserved by habitatprotection of many different naturalhabitats – especially of the shallowwater zone, representing the"nursery” of most of the LakeConstance fish species. Thereforefishing in the shallow zone andalong the shoreline should not beallowed, especially in alreadyrecognised protected areas wherefar reaching regulations have to beformulated in accordance with theNature Conservancy.

Fishery management in lakesand ponds

Lakes and ponds are mainly affectedby nutrient inputs from the catchmentarea and recreational use such asswimming, boating, angling, andfishing. Restoration measures chieflyfocus on the reduction of nutrientinputs from surrounding areas.Another helpful instrument isecologically-oriented fisherymanagement in accordance with thefollowing principles:

> Establishing and maintaining abalanced fish population adaptedto the local condition of fishingwaters

> Preservation of the waters andtheir environment as flora andfauna habitat.

Fish population

Usually high nutrient content ofwaters leads to high biologicalproductivity often resulting in massincrease of white fish (cyprinid). Theincreasing number of cyprinidscrowded together is responsible forthe decrease in zoo plankton thusprovoking excessive algae growth,low visibility depth and animal andplant species depletion.

The following measures can preventundesired fish stock development:

> Emptying of artificial ponds inwinter or summer allows controlledfish removal and fish stocking(new population). The drainingperiod varies depending on thewater conditions

> Stocking measures influence thenatural development and canbalance the fish population.Stocking should be implementedwith native fish species of youngage groups, adapted to the naturalconditions and in consultation withthe responsible fishery authorities

> Regular fishing of mass species as"biomanipulation” and regular


stocking with predatory fish canalso regulate fish populations.

Maintenance of water bodies

Lake shores rich in structures areextremely important for the entireecology of the water body.Appropriate measures are:

> Reduction of trees and scrubs infavour of reed plants

> Regular mowing of reed in wintersor summers

> Leaving or bringing in structures inthe water

> Designation of protected areas forbirds and fish

> Extensification of agriculturallyused areas near the lakes orponds.

Fishery management in coastallagoons

Dr. A. Kallianiotis, Fisheries Research Institute,National Agricultural Research Foundation

Lagoons are of the most productiveecosystems in terms of fisheries. Asan intermediate zone between thesea and the freshwater systems inthe mainland, they are inhabited byfish species able to adapt them-selves either to brackish or salinewater. Generally lagoons and mostother coastal wetlands are shallowand communicate with the sea bysmall channels, usually open duringthe rainy season in the northernhemisphere or by permanentbranches of the nearby rivers. Todayonly a few coastal lagoons andwetlands are still in a naturalcondition and often the hydrographicmorphology and topography of themain parts have changed afterseveral decades of human inter-vention. This includes attempts to drythem out completely or other lighterinterventions such as technicalworks to adapt lagoons to conditionsfavourable for extensive or semi

intensive aquaculture. In theMediterranean almost 10% of thegeneral fish production comes fromthe lagoons or other coastal shallowbiotopes. Fortunately only a few ofthem were transformed totally tointensive aquaculture units, allowingthe coexistence of the natural eco-system with the traditional fisherysystem. Fisheries is an important partof their management and thereforesome general rules should beapplied to allow their conservationand in parallel to maintain the localfishery communities.

Lagoon types

The most important element in awetland and particularly in thelagoons is the hydrological regime inthe area and its water quality. Thehydrology depends on the balanceof two opposite forces, where one isthe tide force coming from the seaand the second the influence of therunning freshwater from the nearriver or stream. The two forces are inrelation with the meteorologicalconditions in the area, and depen-ding on their equilibrium, there areseveral types of coastal lagoons. Onthe one hand there are the openlagoons where the continuous flowof a strong freshwater current ispresent, maintaining the opening ofthe channels. On the other handthere are the semi-closed lagoons,where the communicating channelsare closed during the dry season.Without any communication, thelagoons sooner or later turn intoshallow marshes, and in the dryseason, into flat salted areas.

Requirements for management

When we intend to apply a newmanagement system to a coastalwetland or lagoon, we need thefollowing data to define the localnatural regime. Some of these dataare essential and others can beoptional. The data needed for the

definition of the generalmanagement are the following:

Seasonal hydrological cycle in thearea, including data on the rainseason, the current direction andthe tidal regime. The nutrients inthe water depend on the currentforce and on freshwater quality.

Seasonal temperature profile in thewater, mainly during the winter andthe summer. Local data on the mainwind directions combined with watertemperature can explain easily thethermal situation in the water as forinstance anoxic situations, perma-nent water stratification and ice coverage of the surface, conditionsvery dangerous for fishery produc-tion. The water salinity and theoxygen depend partly on the tempe-rature and the main local wind.

These natural conditions influencethe primary production in the watersor in other words, the speed ofnutrient incorporation andtransformation inside the lagoon, thelocal food chain, on which the fishspecies that are able to inhabit theecosystem depend, and finally, theother vertebrates like birds andmammals depending on fish. Otheraspects like the bacterial activity, thelevel of photosynthesis, thepresence of plankton and sea weedsand the anoxic layer in the bottomare in direct relation to these primaryconditions. At the bottom of the foodchain there is the microbial activity,generally high due to the richness inorganic matter and at the top, fishsuch as the sea bass, some birds orthe otter are recognized as generalpredators at different levels.

Fish production

In a typical Mediterranean lagoon,there are some fish speciescharacterised by their permanentpresence in the ecosystemthroughout their whole life cyclewhile others are immigrants. The fish

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production depends on theimmigrants which are attractedseasonally by the water quality andthe temperature regime, inhabitingthe water for food, reproduction orsafety purpose. The term migrationdoes not reflect the real nature of thephenomenon. The movement of thepopulations of several euraline fishspecies could be described betterby the terms invasion and departure.The fish invade the lagoons duringspring and early summer, when theconditions are more favourable incomparison with the colder seawater and then depart when thetemperature starts to rise, as incases where the intercommunicatedchannels are open, or in late autumnor early winter, in cases where thelagoon is deep enough to maintain amore stable water temperature. Inboth cases permanent man-madeenclosures aim to maintain the fishpopulation under control, fishingthem in special traps according tothe season and the market demand.

Even if this human intervention isconsidered by some naturalists as aviolation of the natural ecologicalcycle, the local fishery communitiesand their extensive fishery systemare recognized as an essential partof these areas, ensuring the safetycontrol of remote areas, the decreaseof illegal hunting, the water equilibriumand on a long-term basis, theconservation of this fragile ecosystem.

In order to maintain a healthy exten-sive exploitation of the coastallagoons, the following requirementsare needed:

> A good water circulation regime isessential for good fish productionin euraline ecosystems, even if theconstruction of largecommunication channels is notrecommended due to their negati-ve influence on natural ecosystems.With the construction of smallinterventions the stabilization ofthe water circulation in the lagoon

can be guaranteed. Theseinterventions should be includedin a general management systemplan to be defined under thecontrol of the local experts.

> The good knowledge of the fishmigration seasonality, includingthe existing empirical informationfrom local fishermen, should beincorporated into the local man-agement plan and along with rulesto ensure stable fish production.

> The application of some generalrestrictions is necessary in theexploitation of the nearest coastalarea close to the lagoons fromwhere the local fish productiondepends. For the time being, thegeneral technical and legalmeasures applied in Mediterraneanfisheries seem to be sufficient toguarantee a minimum vital fishpopulation in the coastal areas.

> In many Mediterranean lagoons,fishermen seasonally introduceyoung fish for the enhancement oflocal fish production. In order tomaintain the autochthonousgenetic fish stocks intact, it isnecessary to avoid theintroduction of fingerlings ofunknown origin, keeping in mind,that in most cases the young fishborn in the big hatcheries aroundthe Mediterranean are of dubiousorigin. Recently the EuropeanUnion began to finance theconstruction of small localhatcheries for the purpose ofmaintaining local stocks.

> The coastal zone close to theinner part of the lagoon is essential,not only for local birds, but themany young fish which spend partof their early life in these areas forforaging. The good condition ofthis area is an important index ofthe lagoon’s health. Pollutedlagoons or eutrophic water bodiesshow a disturbed image with deadorganic matter in semi

ecomposition or concentration ofvarious pollutants.

> The natural fish populations insidethe lagoons include young andolder fish. As a general rule for allprofessional fisheries, selectivefishing gear should be used toavoid the capture of immature fish.If it is no possibility to maintainthe young fish during winter insidethe lagoon, it is much better toopen the traps and to facilitatetheir return to the sea. Many ofthem will be back in the lagoonduring the next year.

> Fishing with enclosures, trapsor installation of stable fishinggear is restricted to somedeeper areas of the lagoon.Usually piscivorous bird speciesavoid preying in these parts andthus conflicts with fishermen areonly occasional. There is nogeneral solution to avoid theseconflicts. Any case should beanalyzed and the possiblesolutions should be discussed withthe fishermen. Some technicaldevices able to discourage birdsto approach the fishing gear,could be applied, but onlytemporarily and in any case notduring the breeding period. Theeuraline fish in the Mediterraneanare caught mainly during theautumn, when most of the birdsconclude their breeding. Conse-quently the restricted use of thesedevices should not be a problem.

8.11 Tourism andRecreation

Sustainability - the challenge fortourism in the coming years

The typical European tourismproduct depends to a large extent onthe sustainable development ofdestinations. The vast majority oftourists are looking for intact nature,


In the course of the LIFE Visit-Project (Voluntary Initiatives forSustainability in Tourism), Friends ofNature International collected andevaluated an exhaustive list ofindicators used in different regionsor suggested by previous studies.The VISIT-experts identified thefollowing set of key indicators:

Sustainability concepts

Key questions for sustainability:

> Existence and evaluation of theeffectiveness of environmentalmanagement and monitoringtools for a more integrated tourismstrategy?

> Are different stakeholdersinvolved in the process?

Key questions for the quality of theregion:

> Is there a continuous reportingand monitoring system designedto improve or maintain thedestination’s quality?

Key indicators to measure/evaluatesustainability concepts:

> Existence of a local policy(strategy, action plan) forenhancing sustainability in thedestination

> Involvement of stakeholders

> Existence of an inventory of sitesof cultural interest

> Existence of an inventory of sitesof natural interest

> Number of eco-labelled tourismfacilities or facilities applyingenvironmental managementschemes (such as EMAS or ISO14000).

> Number of sites monitored withthe Blue Flag system and totalnumber of bathing sites.

Environmental performance

Tourism transport


> Is the amount of transportpressure caused by tourismdecreasing?

> Are tourists arriving by moresustainable means of transport?Current situation and evolution intime to see whether there ischange towards improvement.

> Is the length of stays decreasingor increasing? More same-dayvisitors or longer staying tourists?

> What are the main means oftransport tourists are using duringtheir stay at the destination?

Key question for quality:

> Impact of transport on noise andair quality, traffic jams?

Key indicators to evaluate tourismtransport:

> Share of environmentally friendlymodes of transport in all arrivals(car, aeroplane, train, bus, ship orbicycle)

> Number of same-day visitors perkm² (Monthly table of same-dayvisitors)

> Local mobility (Monthly table ofthe number of passengerstransported by local publictransport, percentage ofaccommodation, tourismfacilities and other touristattractions accessible by publictransport, extra means of transportespecially set up for tourists).

Carrying capacity


> How much land is taken up bytourism accommodation?

> What is the amount of areaoccupied by second homes?

> Does the destination try to protectand preserve natural areas?

> Impact of different tourismactivities on biodiversity?

Key questions for quality:

> Degree of urban sprawl whichreduces attractiveness ofdestinations?

> Number of natural areas whichenhance the attractiveness of thesite?

Coastal destinations

Key question for sustainability:

> What is the pressure on aquaticsystems (coastal destinations anddestinations to lakes)?


> Are coasts in danger of becomingovercrowded?

Mountain destinations

Key question for sustainability:

> Tourism pressure in mountaindestinations?


> Are mountain destinations indanger of becomingovercrowded?

Key indicators to measure /evaluatecarrying capacity:

> Maximum population density(peak season) per km²

> Beds in secondary residences(in % of total lodging capacity)

> Types of area of destination (builtup area, area reserved forbuilding, green land, forest, water,other) in km²

> Size of protected natural areas (in % of total destination area)

Advice VISIT - Indicators for sustainable tourism development

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> Evolution of different leisureactivities with intensive use ofresources (size of golf courses,size of areas covered withartificial snow, capacity of lifts,capacity of harbours andmarinas, number of hydrospeeds etc.)

> Percentage of natural coastline (if applicable).

Use of energy


> How effective is the use of energywithin the destination (totalamount of energy used fortourism and source of energy)?


> How can the effects ofclimate change, which may havea long-term impact on the qualityof the destination, be reduced?

Key indicators to measure /evaluatesustainable use of energy:

> Percentage of renewable energyin total energy consumption(entire destination, locallyproduced or imported)

> Energy use by type of tourismfacility and per tourist.

Use of water


> What is the pressure on the localwater resources?


> Is there enough water availablefor tourists?

> Are the water bodies(groundwater and surface water)of good quality and condition?

Key indicators to measure /evaluatesustainable use of water:

> Sustainable use of waterresource (ratio of water importedor coming from processed seawater to total water sources,average development of ground-water table in the last 5 years)

> Percentage of houses andfacilities connected to waste-water treatment plants.

Solid waste management


> Is there a system of effectivewaste management?


> Is waste illegally dumped innatural areas or the countryside,are there negative effects ofwaste treatment on health (e.g.waste incineration)?

Key indicators to measure /evaluatewaste management:

> Percentage of households wheresolid waste is separated forrecycling

> Total of solid waste land-filledand/or incinerated (in tonnes)

> Monthly table of waste production.

Social and cultural performanceindicators


> Development of living conditionsfor local population?

> Are developments driven byexternal influences?


> Do tourists feel accepted byresidents?

> General safety of tourists?

Key indicators to measure /evaluatesocial and cultural performance:

> Seasonal percentage of non-resident employees in totalnumber of tourism employees

> Average length of contracts oftourism personnel

> Percentage of land owned bynon-residents

> Number of recorded thefts

> Tourist/host population ratio.

Economic performanceindicators


> Economic viability of tourismsector?


> Dependence of economy ontourism sector?

> Seasonal variation of tourismincome?

Key indicators to measure /evaluateeconomic performance:

> Tourism-related employment inpeak season/low season to totalemployment in the destination

> Share of tourism in overalldestination GDP

> Seasonal variation ofaccommodation occupancy

> Total accommodation capacityper capita of resident population

> Average length of stay.

Further information

www.yourvisit.info.

Advice Indicators for sustainable tourism development


beautiful landscapes and a richcultural heritage. They want aclean and healthy environment andthey want to enjoy the ambientclimate. In fact there is a strong linkbetween sustainability and quality:most issues such as low noise, lesstraffic, clean air and water, rich bio-diversity, intact landscapes are allthe focal points of sustainabilitystrategies and crucial for the qualityof destinations.

As tourism by definition involves themovement of people from oneplace to another, it affects not onlylocal sustainability but alsosustainability at the regional oreven global level. In the past, thisproblem has not been coveredsufficiently either by tourismscience or by tourism policies.Whether a journey is organisedindependently or throughcommercial agents, the cycle of thetourism activity can be divided intothree stages:

> Access to the destination ordestinations and return to thepoint of departure

> Stay at the destination

> Activities at the destination (whichdetermine whether it is a tourismor a business trip).

Our wetland or lake is part of thetourism destination - or shouldbecome part of a sustainabletourism destination. Therefore themain focus within our ManagementPlan should be the stay andactivities at the destination.

Stay at the destination

> Construction of accommodation

> Maintenance and operation ofaccommodation

> Supply of food and other goods

> Disposal of waste.

Activities at the destination

> Construction of tourism facilities

> Maintenance and operation oftourism facilities

> Local mobility

> Tourism activities linked to facilities

> Tourism activities not needingspecial facilities.

Main problems concerning tourismand sustainable development

Tourism transport: Especially airtransport and the use of private cars,contribute increasingly to globalwarming and climate change, and tothe depletion of oil resources.Emissions, noise and congestion arealso growing problems at tourismdestinations and along the bigtourist routes. 90% of energy usedin the tourism sector is used foraccess and return travel. There is agrowing trend towards air traveland particularly short distanceflights, towards traffic intensiveevent tourism, larger destinationsand unsustainable vacationpatterns (more travels per year andperson, shorter stays, longerdistances, out-of-season activities,such as skiing in summer orswimming in winter), whichincreases the impact of tourismtransport.

Carrying capacity: Land use, bio-diversity, tourism activities. Tourismis a heavy consumer of land areaand nature at the local level.Negative trends are: increasingnumbers of secondary residencesor tourism activities with intensiveuse of natural resources (e.g. golf,skiing) or motorised activities innatural areas.

Use of energy: Tourism facilitiesare using more and more energyfor air-conditioning, transport or in-door activities so that the source ofenergy (renewable or non

renewable) is also becoming afocus of interest.

Use of water: Some destinations,such as islands or southerncoastal destinations, haveincreasing problems with thefreshwater supply and there iseven competition for waterbetween local economies (forexample agriculture) and tourism.Wastewater may also become aproblem for high-season masstourism destinations.

Solid waste management: Waste isbecoming a major problem fortourism destinations and ruralsocieties, which are overwhelmedby waste products but do not havesufficient capacity to cope with thisproblem.

Social and cultural development:Bad working conditions in tourism,seasonal employment and highdependence on the tourismindustry may create a negativesocial climate, detrimental to thequality of the entire destination.

Economic development: Highdependence on the tourism sector,high seasonal variation of tourismactivity or a high percentage ofday-visitors may also be harmful tothe community and have negativeeffects on economic development.

Institutional governance:Measures taken by local andregional institutions and theinstruments they have set up toimplement sustainability strategiesand to involve differentstakeholders in the process.

Recreation

Naturally, transitions betweentourism use and leisure activities aresmooth. Infrastructure and servicefacilities should ideally be used byboth tourists and the localpopulation.

76

8 Resources >>

Tourists enjoying the Broads

Negative impacts on

nature and environment

cannot be prevented

completely with creative

visitor management, but

at least it can be reduced

considerably.

Floating on Columbia River, Canada

A positive sign of acceptance andidentification is if locals spend theirleisure time within the wetland area,at the lake or its surroundings.Negative impacts on nature andenvironment cannot be preventedcompletely with creative visitormanagement, but at least it can bereduced considerably. But itbecomes a difficult issue if the lakeor wetland is located close to a largecity and serves as leisure park for allurban dwellers. How many visitorscan a site carry before its long-termdegradation starts? In this situation,the Carrying Capacity of the site hasto be examined carefully and in detail.

Carrying capacity

Carrying capacity is usually definedas the maximum population of agiven species that can be supportedindefinitely in a defined habitatwithout permanently impairing theproductivity of that habitat. However,because of our seeming ability toincrease our own carrying capacityby eliminating competing species,by importing locally scarceresources, and through technology,this definition seems irrelevant tohumans.

To determine roughly how manytourists or leisure activists arecompatible for an ecologicallyvaluable area, so called CarryingCapacity analyses are carried out. Ingeneral, ecological, physical, socialand economic influences areevaluated.

The following key figures orindicators for the analysis ofCarrying Capacity are examples,recommended by the SpanishMinistry for Environment toadministration departments ofNational and Nature Parks (based onHeberlein 1977).

Ecological carrying capacity

> Number of Species

> Ratio of surface area coveredwith natural vegetation

> Bio-Indicators

> Combining/sealing of surface area.

Physical carrying capacity

> Number of people per hectare orsquare kilometre

> Number of camping grounds andpitches

> Number of parking sites

> Number of bath-towels fitting on abeach.

Resources carrying capacity

> Number of people per bus

> Number of seats available in theroom where a video is shown

> Number of people that can beguided through the museumevery day

> Number of sanitary facilities

> Number of nature or city guides

> Reasonable waiting time.

Social carrying capacity

> Degree of contentment of visitors

> Sensation of mass tourism

> Distance between differentgroups of excursions (e.g. forguided climbing tours)

> Number of people encounteredon a nature trail.

The four sectors interact with oneanother. Heberlein distinguishesthree limit values indicating positivedevelopment - consistent situation -and negative development. Thedisappearance of an indicatorspecies (e.g. crayfish as indicator forgood water quality) meansexceeding ecological CarryingCapacity. Of course you shouldalways move within the range ofpositive development in order toprovide a buffer for events thatcannot be influenced bymanagement (e.g. drought period).


The carrying capacity of a particulararea can be increased bymeasurements such as:

> Enhancement of regeneration(measures against erosion,reforestation, e.g.)

> Geographical and/or temporalzoning of an area in terms oflimitations on access and/orlimitations on activities

> Entrance fees

> Supply of guided tours

> Reservation and booking systems

> Visitor guidance throughpathways, signposting, nature

trails, observation platforms,displays, barbecue areas, etc.

> Information and raisingawareness of visitors (leaflets,information centres, first handexperiences)

> Supply of public transport, etc.

In chapter 10.6 you will find anumber of instruments and positiveexamples of sustainable tourism.The fact that calculations of CarryingCapacities can only be guidelinesneeds to be taken into account.Furthermore, it is a dynamic processwhich can change over the years.The definition of critical values often

is a political issue and itsinterpretation can be too generous,especially if tourism development iseconomically successful and thearea is of high importance forrecreation. The capacity forregeneration of natural habitatswithout external support cannormally only be calculated afterperennial field studies. For this, timeand resources are needed whichshould be considered in themanagement plan.

55,000 boats are registered on Lake Constance

78

9 Action Plan >>

"A vision without action is

just a dream.

Action without vision is

a waste of time.

A vision with action is

able to change

the world!"

Nelson Mandela

Action Plan

Gaining the agreement of differentrepresentative interests on acommon vision or on general keymanagement issues is often fairlystraightforward; it is in the detail ofthe action plan - that is, the concretetargets and measures - thatproblems can be found.

"The Broads is subject to a numberof key external factors, many of apolicy or legislative nature, whichare driving change and will have amajor influence on its future. Under-standing and anticipating suchfactors is vital in order to managechange proactively rather thanrespond to it reactively." Broads Plan2004, Broads Authority.

As indicated in the above quote, thetargets and concrete measures of anaction plan should consider externalfactors, and the challenges andopportunities they present. Forexample:

> What are the consequences of theEU Environmental Directives withrespect to their adoption intonational legislation? Whatmeasures have to be adopted tocomply with the legislation? E.g.Habitats and Birds DirectiveNatura 2000, EU Water FrameworkDirective, Directive on StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA),EU Bathing Water QualityDirective, Nitrates Directive, UrbanWaste Water Treatment Directive.

> What demands arise from inter-national conventions? Whichmeasures in the management planare able to contribute to achievingtargets? E.g. Ramsar Conventionfor the Protection of Wetlands,World Heritage Convention,Biodiversity Convention, BonnConvention on Migratory Speciesand the Kyoto-Protocol.

> What changes and opportunitiesare there within European and

national economic policies,especially for agriculture andtourism?

> What measures have to beadopted for the wetland in order topromote positive developments?E.g. reorientation of the agriculturalsubsidies from productivity to areapayments, agri-environmentprogrammes for promotingenvironmentally friendlyagriculture, tourist demand forenvironmentally high qualityholidays, the growing target groupof active older people who enjoyculture, heritage and nature.

> What are the regional and localfactors influencing themanagement area? Whichmeasures in the management plancould respond to regional land useplans, transport developmentplans, regional initiatives for thedevelopment of rural areas,reduction of unemployment, thedesignation of industrial areas, orpoints of focus within the regionaltourism strategy?

Action plan - the concrete workprogramme

Five years is a realistic andachievable time frame for an actionplan. The targets should, if possible,be quantified, e.g. establishment ofnew buffer zones encompassing100 ha, reforestation 500 ha, 40%reduction of the nitrate content of thelake, installation of a Green Filter,extensification of 2000 ha agri-cultural areas, construction of a20 km cycle track.

It is not always possible to quantifytargets. This may be becauseinformation/data on the initialposition are lacking, and thereforepotential for improvement cannot beassessed, or because qualitativeimprovements are involved. In themanagement plan, the sectiondealing with raising people’s

Action is required to achieve goals


awareness and encouraging theirparticipation in developing the planshould use mainly qualitative,measurable targets. An example isgiven below.

Target

Improved knowledge and awarenessof the population of the fivesurrounding communities (in thesubject matter/s).

Measures

> Preparation of a travellingexhibition which will be presentedfor at least one month in each cityhall within the five communities.

> Development of a handoutexhibition brochure, 5,000 print run

> Informative material for at least 50lectures in the regional schools (atleast 1,200 children and youngpeople).

> Regional press coverage (at leastfive articles per year).

Feedback from the local populationon the various measures used willprovide a useful indication as towhether or not the target wasreached. An evaluationquestionnaire could be distributed,enabling local people to assesswhether the lectures and informationmaterial were helpful and to makeany suggestions for improvement.

Often there are different ways toreach the goal. It is thereforeimportant to carefully consider arange of alternatives before

determining which measures toinclude in the management plan.

All measures contained in the actionplan should be described in detailand contain the following elements:

> Reference to the target

> Description of the activity

> Place of implementation

> Time schedule

> Who is concerned

> Who has to be included/informed

> Institution/person responsible forimplementation

> Definition of the person chargedwith doing the legwork

> Budget (financial and personnelresources) - financing source.

Example Action file card

Objective Improvement of water quality

Priority High

Location Wetlands of La Nava and Boada and rivers

Start and end of measure Continuously, every month

MethodologyMonthly samples to be taken:

Laguna de Boada 1 Colector de Villarramiel 2 Canal de Castilla3 Arroyo Lobera 4 Desvío de aguas a la laguna 5 Laguna de Boada

Laguna de La Nava 1 Antes de la captación de aguas del Retortillo 2 La Cogolla 3 Corralillos4 El Prao 5 Arroyo del Canalizo 6 Arrollo de la Culebra

Analysis of PFQ, quantitative analysis of anions, quantitative analysis of cations, analysis of organic andinorganic carbon, PH, P reagent, N-ammoniacal, N-organic, P-total, BOD, QOD

Yearly report of results

Responsible Organisation Junta de Castilla y León for La Nava and Fundación Global Nature for Boada Lagoon

Costs €1,260/each analysis

Resources needed Subcontract of a laboratory to analyse samples

Evaluation Comparison of results of yearly reports to determine the efficiency of the implementedmeasures. Comparison of data of La Nava and Boada with valid standards, and withdata from the lagoon Villafáfila in Zamora.

Regular water analysis

Management plan of La Nava and Boada

80

10 Examples of Measures >>

The purification efficiency

of wetland treatment

systems is as good or

even better than the

performance of technical

wastewater treatment

plants, even in the cold

season.

Newly planted constructed wetlands

Established constructed wetland

10.1 Measures toimprove the waterquality

Constructed wetlands forwastewater treatment

Dr Andreas Bally, BiCon AG

Why constructed wetlands?

The world-wide trend over the past 70years in the construction of waterpollution control facilities has beentowards concrete and steel. These"conventional" treatment plants weredeveloped to provide the highestperformance on the smallest possiblesite; they are highly technicalinstallations, which are fullydependent on electricity, experiencedpersonnel and good maintenance.The disadvantages of such facilitiesare high construction and operationalcosts, a demanding maintenance, anda strong dependence on spare parts.

The "natural" way - treating sewage inartificial wetlands - is becomingincreasingly popular. Hundreds ofsuch reed bed treatment plants are inuse in the USA and all over Europe;their popularity is growing every year.Scientific research and an intensiveinternational exchange of experien-ces are the basis for this success.

Constructed wetlands are anappropriate technology for areaswhere inexpensive land is generallyavailable and skilled labour is lessavailable. Whether they can be usedessentially alone or in series with otherappropriate technologies depends onthe required treatment goals.Additionally, they can be appropriatefor onsite systems where localregulators call for and allow systemsother than conventional septic tankand soil absorption systems.

What are constructed wetlands?

Constructed wetlands are ecologicalsystems that combine physical,

chemical, and biological processesin an engineered and managedsystem. Successful construction andoperation of an ecological system forwastewater treatment requiresknowledge and understanding of thecomponents and the interrelation-ships that compose the system.

Constructed wetlands are artificialwastewater treatment systemsconsisting of shallow ponds orchannels filled with gravel, sand orsoil which have been planted withmarsh plants, and which rely uponnatural microbial, biological,physical and chemical processes totreat wastewater. They typically haveimpervious clay or synthetic liners,and engineered structures to controlthe flow direction, liquid detentiontime and water level. Once aconstructed wetland is designed andbecomes operational, the systemrequires regular monitoring toensure proper operation.

Types of "reed bed" systems

Constructed wetlands can beclassified into two main types,dependent upon whether the waterlevel lies over or beneath the soilsurface. The first type is calledsurface flow wetlands (or free watersurface wetlands), the second typesubsurface flow wetlands (orvegetated submerged beds). In bothsystems sand and gravel are usedas soil-filter substrate. Periodicallycharged and vertically percolatedsubsurface flow systems show thebest efficiency regarding theoxidative degradation of pollutantswhereas horizontal flow wetlandshave a favourable effect on thedenitrification rates.

Reed bed treatment plants can beconstructed for treating domestic,municipal, industrial or agriculturaleffluents. Each wetland system mustbe adjusted to the quantity and typeof wastewater to be purified in theplant in order to function properly.


Odour

Conventional wastewater treatmentprocesses produce odours mostlyassociated with anaerobicdecomposition of human waste andfood waste found in sewage.Wetlands, in contrast, incorporatenormal processes of decompositionover a relatively large area, poten-tially diluting odours associated withthe natural decomposition of plantmaterial, algae, and other biologicalsolids. If the solid fraction ofwastewater is separated in a processwith a short retention time (e.g. solidcomposter) the pre-treated wastewaterdoes not become anaerobic anddoes not smell.

Operation and maintenance

Maintenance of constructedwetlands is generally limited to thecontrol of unwanted plants.Harvesting of plants generally is notrequired, but annual removal orthinning of vegetation or replantingof vegetation may be needed tomaintain flow patterns and treatmentfunctions. However, constructedwetland systems require monthly orweekly inspection of weirs. Inaddition weekly sampling is requiredat the effluent end as well as periodicsampling between multiple cells.

Mechanical pre-treatment

For the removal of most of the solidsto prevent clogging of the sand filter,a mechanical pre-treatment of theraw wastewater is essential. Thiscan be achieved with a grid in frontfollowed by a sedimentation pond, aseptic tank system or a solidcomposter. Sedimentation ponds are

only recommended in cases wherehuge amounts of wastewater have tobe treated (e.g. industrialwastewater). The solid composterworks as a filter in which the solidsrot. The composter consists of atleast two chambers. While onechamber is being fed, the collectedmaterial in the other chamber iscomposting. Each chamber hascapacity of about one year. Theadvantage of the composter is itsoverall aerobic environment. Theeffluent of the composter stillcontains oxygen and doesn’t smell,whereas the effluent of a septic tankis anaerobic and malodorous. Thesludge of a septic tank is putrefiedanaerobically whereas the collectedmaterial of a composter iscomposted aerobically to humus.The sludge disposal is less pleasantand more difficult than digging outearthy humus, which doesn’t smell.

Therefore, there is no generalconstruction design; every case isdifferent and has to be carefullyevaluated. Skilled experts mustsupervise planning andconstruction.

Horizontal flow soil filter

Vertical flow soil filter

septic tank(or solid composter)

planted soil filter(reed bed)

inspection tank(outlet) receiving water,

soakawayor

polishing pond

solid composter(or septic tank)

planted soil filter(reed bed)

inspection tank(outlet) receiving water,

soakawayor

polishing pond

collection tank(with pump)

82


The same wetland three months later

The filter system showed

rapid positive results and

generated a high interest

for the future installation

of additional filter strips at

other lagoons.

Constructed wetland planted with bulrush inGreece

Plant-soil filters - technologydescription

Planted soil filters are subsurfaceflow wetlands. The reed bed itself isa sealed hollow with a depth ofabout 1.2 m, filled with a permeablesoil medium of particularcharacteristics, mainly sand andgravel, and vegetated with marshplants (e.g. reed or bulrush). Sealingis done with a plastic liner, claymineral or layers of compactedloamy or red soil. The wastewatertrickles through the soil filterhorizontally or vertically. Horizontalflow filters are fed continuously; theretention time depends on the waterlevel within the soil filter. Vertical flowfilters are fed intermittently (withflushing a few times per day). Thesewage seeps away within approx.30 minutes and is purified whilepercolating slowly through the filtermedium. There are no exposedwater surfaces remaining. Soil filtersare not "constructed swamps". Thepurification effect - removal andretention of the pollutants - isachieved by natural biogeochemicalprocesses in which the soil particles,the plant roots and the micro-organisms of the soil participate.

Design and performance

Wastewater treatment in constructedwetlands requires more space thanconventional highly technical plants.

Vertical flow filters: For domesticsewage, it has to be calculated witha minimum area of 1 - 4 m2 perperson (or population equivalent),depending on the climaticconditions (in tropical regions 1 m2,in Central Europe 4 m2).

Horizontal flow filters: They needmuch more space if used as mainbiological step, approximately 8-12 m2

per person in Central Europeanclimate. Horizontal filters arerecommended for post-treatmentand for denitrification.

The purification efficiency of wetlandtreatment systems is than good oreven better than the performance oftechnical wastewater treatmentplants, even in the cold season.

Installation of constructedwetland buffer zones at theVassova Lagoon in the NestosDelta

Hans Jerrentrup, EPO

Vassova is one of three coastalbrackish lagoons that are situated inthe north-western part of the NestosDelta, covering an area ofapproximately 10 km2. The lagoon issurrounded by a coastal strip of sanddunes and extended salt marshes,reed beds and tamarisk bushes.

In former times, when the delta wasless exposed to anthrophicinfluences, River Nestos branchesprovided the necessary quantity offreshwater to the lagoons. As aconsequence of meliorationmeasures in the 1950s and 60s, theRiver Nestos was straightened anddammed. This led to a lack of fresh-water in the lagoons. Thesubsequent main drainage canalswere constructed to end up in thelagoons, thereby causing excessiveeutrophication due to the use ofagricultural fertilisers in thecatchment area. Consequently thecanals were diverted in the late 70sdirectly to the sea. Now freshwaterwas again deficient in the lagoons.Local fishermen then tried to helpthemselves by using controlledquantities of drainage water fromcanals for the supply of freshwater.

The nutrients in the freshwater inflowhad and still have a massiveeutrophication impact on the lagoon,causing negative effects to thebiodiversity, and resulting in lessvaluable fish species. On the otherhand the supply of freshwater isnecessary to reduce the salt content


of the lagoon and provide necessarynutrients - a biological requirementfor spawning fish.

In the project area in Greece, at thecoastal lagoon Vassova, a filtersystem with a surface area of sixhectares was created in autumn2003 in order to remove nutrientloads from inflowing agriculturaldrainage canals. The ConstructedWetland was planted with more than50,000 autochthonous (native) waterplants (Typha angustifolia, Typhalatifolia and Phragmites sp.) in threeadjacent basins. Between thebasins, earth-gravel filters wereinstalled in order to regulate the flowvelocity. Between the last basin andthe lagoon, an overflow incombination with an additionalearth-gravel filter was constructed.The used water comes from one ofthe main drainage canals andremains for about 2-3 days inside thefilter system.

Continuous water quality monitoringhas been carried out by theUniversity of Thrace in Xanthi. Theresults of this detailed weekly wateranalysis quantitatively andqualitatively show, that at least 80 %of the phosphorus and nitrogenloads which cause the eutrophicationare filtered by the planted waterplants inside the three basins.

The filter system showed rapidpositive results and generated a highinterest for the future installation ofadditional filter strips at otherlagoons. The fishermen of the localco-operatives and the watermanagement board (TOEV),responsible for the management ofthe lagoons in the western NestosDelta were intensively involved inthe realisation of this measure andrecognize the opportunity to solvelong-term eutrophication problems.A very important side effect was thatthe installation of the filter proved tofunction as a freshwater marsh withpositive impacts for biodiversity.

Already in the first spring, fourdifferent amphibian speciesreproduced in incredible numbers inthe filter. Hundreds of waders werefeeding, and even very rare birdspecies like the Glossy Ibis stayedhere for several days duringmigration. Also in summer, the newreed beds host important numbers ofegrets, herons, waders and warblers.

Phosphorus removal fromBarton Broad, UK

Julia Masson and Andrea Kelly,Broads Authority

Nutrient build up in lake

Barton Broad, with the River Antflowing through it, is the secondlargest lake in the Broads wetlandsystem. By the 1970s, the broad hadsilted up and its turbid waters weredominated by algae. This degradedecosystem arose from years of nutrientinputs, mainly nitrogen and phos-phorus from sewage treatment worksand agricultural land. This nutrientrich water encouraged algal growth,which blocked out sunlight and, ondeath and decay, added to the siltload in the broad. In this aquaticclimate, water plants could not survive.

Phosphorus removal from Stalhamsewage works

Improvements to Stalham sewageworks in the 1970s reducedphosphorus inputs bringing waterquality improvement. Ferric sulphate,used at the sewage works, convertedsoluble phosphate to insoluble ferricphosphate, which precipitated out ofthe water. By the late 1990s additionalphosphate stripping equipment atthe sewage works carried out finalpolishing of the effluent. FourDynasand towers, housing a pumpsystem to agitate sand columnswithin, caused any residualphosphorus to precipitate out. Theeffluent returning to Barton Broadwas now virtually phosphate free.

Clearwater 2000

However, the nutrient legacyremained within the lake sediment.So, a project known as Clearwater2000 implemented a six-yearprogramme of suction dredging mudfrom Barton Broad. The total projectcost was £3 million (€4.5 million),with one million (€1.5 million) spenton sediment removal alone - thequantity of mud dredged could havefilled 160 Olympic swimming pools!Dredged material was dried out in

Section of Gis-map of buffer zones in the Nestos Delta

84


Barton Broad margin

Biomanipulation - boat with fish barrier

Restoring aquatic

ecosystems is a long-term

process and the

Clearwater project still

requires resources,

particularly for

biomanipulation and

monitoring.

settlement lagoons located onadjacent farmland, constructed usingtopsoil bunds to contain the dryingliquid sediment. Resulting drylagoons with one metre depth,nutrientrich mud were ploughed intothe land, returning nutrients backinto the agricultural system.

Signs of recovery

Overall the suction dredging hasremoved 20 years worth ofphosphorus input from BartonBroads and its catchment. Thephosphorus concentration hascontinued to decrease each year.The ecosystem shows good signs ofrecovery with longer periods of clearwater in the spring and lower algalpopulations, with a change fromtoxic blue-green algal populations tobottom-growing species, indicatingimprovements in light penetrationthrough the water column.

Restoring aquatic ecosystems is along-term process and theClearwater project still requiresresources, particularly forbiomanipulation and monitoring.Diffuse pollution, mainly fromagricultural nitrates is still to beaddressed.

New floating macrophyte greenfilters

Eduardo de Miguel, Fundación Global Nature

The treatment of wastewater in theMediterranean basin is deficient.Wastewater from small cities,villages and tourist centres, the foodproduction industry (canneries),intensive livestock farming (pigfarms), and other highly contaminatingindustries (tanneries) severelyaggravate river and coastalpollution. The lack of effective watertreatment exacerbates the scarcity ofwater resources in these aridregions where much wastewatercannot be reused.

Part of the problem, which is commonto much of Spain, is the lack of urbanwastewater treatment and the pooroperation of existing water treatmentplants. Although there are manywater treatment stations installed, asa result of economies of scale theyare scarcely operational or non-operational, costly, and involve theuse of highly mechanized andcomplex systems. These factorsmake maintenance costs prohibitivefor municipalities or touristresidences with low budgets.

In many regions of Spain, numerousisolated population centres andtourist urbanisations cannot disposeof their wastewater collectively withother population centres due to thedistance between centres.

One main problem of the wetlandBoada de Campos in the projectarea in Spain was the poor quality ofthe inflowing water of some of thetributaries that are polluted withinsufficiently treated sewagecontaining nutrients and othersubstances e.g. from small sizetanneries in an adjacent community.Water analyses carried out within theproject showed that the poor waterquality threatens indigenous animaland plant species in the wetland.

A new water treatment method

This wastewater treatment systemhas been developed by the MadridSchool of Agricultural Engineering,and it is based on emergentmacrophytes that naturally root to thesoil, but in this case are convertedinto artificially floating macrophytes.

Since they float, these species forma dense mat of roots and rhizomesthat occupy the entire volume of thecollector (pond or canal), thusforcing all the water to circulatethrough the matted vegetation, whichsupports micro-organisms thatdegrade organic material. At thesame time, the leaves pump oxygen


to the roots, thus favouring theprocess of contaminant degradation.

This new method combines theadvantages of floating and emergentmacrophyte systems, eliminating orreducing the drawbacks of thesesystems. The system is capable ofsecondary and tertiary treatment ofwastewater, eliminatingeutrophication effects, particularlyphosphorus and nitrogen. It alsoeliminates large amounts of heavymetals and decomposes phenols,which makes the system useful fortreating industrial effluents. To date,Typha, Phragmites, Sparganium,Scirpus and Iris have been used inparticular.

Floating macrophyte filtrationsystems are particularly suitable forinstallation in temperate and warmareas of the northern and southernMediterranean coasts. Here,municipalities have less resources,and warm winters make it possible touse green filters without protectiveplastic because the plants do notexperience a pause in their vegeta-tive cycle. This makes these systemseven cheaper. In addition, thesefilters are most active in summer,when plant production reaches itspeak, coinciding with the growth inpopulation caused by the arrival ofsummer holidaymakers to coasts.

Other similar methods already testedbut not as efficient are:

1 System of emergent superficial-flow macrophytes:

In superficial-flow systems,contaminants are eliminated throughreactions that take place in waterand upper zone of contact. Littlewastewater circulates through theroots, which limits their watertreatment capacity.

2 System of emergent subsuperficial-flow macrophytes:

As in the previous system, a layerof gravel or soil is used, through

which water circulates by gravity.Its most important drawback is therapid clogging of the terrain overtime by roots, rhizomes, andsedimented solids.

3 System of floating macrophytes:

These systems use species thatfloat naturally, such as Lemna,Wolffia, Spirodella, Azolla, orEichornia. These species do notreach a large size and theirproduction of biomass is limited,which reduces their absolute watertreatment value.

Madrid airport treatment plant

At present, a Floating MacrophyteFilter is being used experimentally atMadrid-Barajas, Reus and Alicanteairports. The first one is a 3000 m2

semi-industrial facility for 500inhabitant-equivalents, for thespecific treatment of domestic andaircraft wastewater containing highlyspecific substances. It runs under thedirection of the School of AgriculturalEngineering of the PolytechnicalUniversity of Madrid. The projectinvolves the use of the FloatingMacrophyte Filter system as the solebiological system and as a tertiarysystem for the elimination of nitrogenand phosphorus.

Another wetland wastewatertreatment based on the FloatingMacrophyte Filter system is now beingdeveloped in Villacañas, Toledo. Theproject includes the construction of a550 m long channel for treatingnutrient-laden water from a primaryand secondary water treatment plantin order to improve the quality of thewater in a protected wetland area.After this project has been developedand becomes fully operational, theexperience obtained here will beapplied to other environmentallyvaluable wetland areas with similarwater quality problems.

Cost-effectiveness

The construction and operatingcosts of conventional systems areoften cost-prohibitive. Manyconventional water treatment plantsin rural communities and smalltowns are neglected soon after theirinauguration because of highoperating costs.

The advantages of the FMF systemwith respect to other systems are:

> Economy and easy installation

> Minimum energy demand

> Greater effectiveness than othersystems, including other greenfilters, because the entire volumeof wastewater circulates throughthe treatment mesh (dailyabsorption rate 0.5-4.6 g N/m2

and 0.6-0.8 g P/m2 ).

> Easy harvest of the biomass aboveand below the water surface.Harvesting does not destroy thesystem, as it does in the case ofrooted-plant systems.

> Production of a large amount ofbiomass: In the case of cattails(Typha latifolia), the systemannually produces 2.2 kg/m2 ofdry material above water, whichcan be used as compost, livestockfeed, or as an energy source.

> It absorbs hydraulic peaks withoutserious problems because the filtervolume acts as a laminator.

> Few controls are needed becausethe process takes placeautomatically as a natural process.Slurry does not have to be recycledand there are no problems ofwashing out bacteria. The oxygenlevel in the treatment tank does nothave to be checked becausemacrophytic plants oxygenate water.

> The system produces little noiseand has a low visual impact.

Carrying out the project in theMediterranean regions is particularlycost-effective because:

86


View of Trinity Broads

Bream and macrophytes

Endemic Lake Constance Forget-me-not(Myosotis rehsteineri)

> The absence of a winter vegetativeresting period allows watertreatment to continue throughoutthe year.

> Tertiary treatment of effluentsallows the water to be reused inthis parched region.

> Macrophytic filters are not subjectto economies of scale as in thecase of large water treatmentplants. They can be used in small,isolated population centres.

LIFE project "Macrophytes": a pilotproject in Lorca, Spain

Fundación Global Nature is nowmanaging a LIFE Environmentproject financed by the EuropeanCommission and the municipality ofLorca to demonstrate theeffectiveness of a wastewatertreatment system using floatingmacrophyte filters (FMF).

Main objectives

> Implementation of these newsystems in Mediterranean regionsthat do not have a winter vegetativerest, thus favouring plant activity, isespecially suitable for centres oftourism, which are sometimeslocated at a distance from urbancentres and have a large summerpopulation, the time of maximumfilter activity.

> Development of new watertreatment systems that are notdependent on large-scaleeconomies can be used in smallcommunities and differentactivities (urban areas, livestockfarms, and industries), and areinexpensive to install and operate.

Actions and means

> Creation of 7 filters of differentsizes as prototypes for differentapplications: 3 FMF in three smallisolated population centreslocated more than 20 km from thecentral urban area of the

municipality of Lorca, 2 FMF intwo single-family homes and 1 FMFin an Interpretation Centre in themunicipality of Lorca, and 2 FMF inone pig farm.

> Scientific follow-up carried out bythe Department of Plant Productionin the Madrid School of AgriculturalEngineering, with bi-weeklyanalyses of wastewater, treatedeffluents, and plant material.

> Information campaigns.

10.2 Examples ofrestoration measuresfor wetlands

The Trinity Broads, UK

Julia Masson, Broads Authority

Poor water quality

Water from the Trinity Broadscomplex flows out into the Muckfleetwater course. A sluice installed inthe Muckfleet in around 1850isolated the Trinity lakes from theRiver Bure and, therefore, from rivernutrient inputs and saline incursions.In addition, the absence of a sewagetreatment works means that additio-nal nutrients are not received fromthis source. However, water qualityhas deteriorated from diffuse inputsof nitrogen and phosphorus, mainlyfrom agricultural land around thebroads and leaching from domesticseptic tanks into water coursesflowing into the broads.

Biomanipulation for Ormesby

In 1995, with funding of about£1 million from EU LIFE funding,Ormesby Broad underwent a pro-cess of biomanipulation - arestoration technique aiming toestablish stable, macrophytedominated clear water with diverse,stable fish and invertebratepopulations.

One of the aims of the

biomanipulation was to

reduce the amount of

algae in the broad leading

to macrophyte growth

and clear water.


The process of biomanipulationinvolved placing a fish barrierbetween Ormesby and RollesbyBroad. The original barrier, made ofstone-filled gabions with a ramp toallow access for small craft, was inplace between 1995 and 2000. Thishas been replaced with a PVCcurtain barrier with attached floats, toenable better boat access. Once thebarrier was in situ, 300,000 fish wereremoved from Ormesby Broad intoRollesby Broad on the other side ofthe barrier. Fish were temporarilystunned using electro-fishingtechniques in order to recordnumbers and condition and removethem. The reduced numbers ofzooplanktivorous fish, particularlybream and roach, enabledzooplankton populations to grow,particularly water fleas. Thisincrease in grazing pressure fromzooplankton resulted in reducedphytoplankton population, leading toa well-balanced lake environment.

Optimism for improved water quality

One of the aims of the biomani-pulation was to reduce the amount ofalgae in the broad leading to macro-phyte growth and clear water. Algallevels, measured by chlorophyll-ahave remained fairly low and stable,with some fluctuations. Depth of waterclarity relates to phytoplanktonlevels, and this has generallyremained clear and stable.

Since biomanipulation, phosphoruslevels have shown great variability,with the underlying trend remainingsimilar to pre-biomanipulation.Higher levels experienced in thesummers of 1996 and 1999 couldhave resulted from pollution, chang-ing fish populations in response tobiomanipulation or from sedimentsreleasing phosphorus into the watercolumn.

Ormesby Broad still has the highestlevels of nitrogen in the TrinityBroads system, but at favourable

limits compared to other sites in theBroads.

EU LIFE project "Untersee life"

Rüdiger Specht, Untersee life

Lake Constance, second largestlake on the northern fringe of theAlps, borders Germany, Switzerlandand Austria. Its western end showsthe longest continuous natural orsemi-natural banks on the Germanside covering a shoreline of 20 km inlength and comprising severaladjoining nature reserves with a totalof 1,100 ha. Characteristic habitatsare the shallow water zones with bedsof the benthic algae (Chara spp.),the Molinion meadows withthreatened butterflies (Glaucopsycheteleius and G. nausithous), a uniquelakeshore community with theendemic Myosotis rehsteineri, andthe estuary of the river Aach whichshelters the first population of theEuropean beaver at the lake sincethis species disappeared 200 yearsago.

For optimising this habitat network,the EU LIFE project "Untersee life"was implemented from 1999 to 2004by the Bezirksstelle für Naturschutzund Landschaftspflege ("DistrictOffice for Nature Conservation andLandscape Management") inFreiburg. Among the numerousproject partners (regulatoryauthorities, municipalities, NGOs),the NABU - German Association forNature Conservation plays animportant role in monitoring anoperation on site. 50% of thebudgets of about €2 million werefinanced by the Union’s LIFE-Natureprogramme. The remaining costs areprovided by the Nature ConservationAdministration and other projectpartners.

Wetland management

The project covers a wide range ofdifferent actions, for the most part,

besides monitoring and publicawareness activities, relating tolandscape management. TheMolinion meadows are one mainfocus for conservation activities inthe project area. About 120 ha aresubject to mowing as regularmanagement. For the regenerationof valuable wetlands, a further 35 haof successional brush were clearedin the course of the project. On othersites the project launched apasturing concept and started thedevelop-ment of alluvial forests inaccordance with the managementplan.

Lakeshore and river restoration

Other challenges needed technicalsolutions. On 300 m the shorelinewas reinforced with concrete walls,thus interrupting the natural banksand impeding the development of anatural shallow water zone. Whenthe project was inaugurated, thewater management authoritiesjoined in as partners for a restorationscheme. Extensive discussions withthe municipality, with the relevantauthorities and with localstakeholders followed. In the end, aneven longer strip of the shore couldbe restored, the surplus costs beingshouldered by the communityinvolved. Instead of concrete walls,local people and tourists nowcherish a close-to-nature shoreline.

Another restoration activity tookplace at the river Aach, where tworiver meanders had beendisconnected from the water coursein the 1960s for the purpose of drain-age. These actions had backfired:The shortening of the river courseled to increased erosion due to higherflow velocity. The nearby harbour ofthe community of Moos silted up andhas to be dredged regularly.Moreover, the water quality in theartificial still-water courses decreased,and the former meanders becameinaccessible for water organisms.

88


From experience only

30-40% of all plants

survive the first year in

areas like Tierra de

Campos due to lack of

nutrients in the soil and

sparse average rainfall of

400 mm per year.

Planting trees in La Nava

Burning reed in the Nestos Delta

Fen harvester of the Broads Authority

So, the project pursued variousvariants on reconnecting themeanders to the river course.Hydrological studies were made togather information on the water bodyas well as to disperse fears offlooding among the local population.Property had to be purchased in thesurroundings of the meanders, andseveral meetings with the threemunicipalities affected by theplanned actions secured the backingof the local authorities in the end.

Eventually, a three-stepped actionplan for the reconnection wasimplemented. First, the meanderswere dredged to avoid sedimentoutflow after reconnection. Secondly,fir trees were fixed in the river bed asbiological silt traps, and thirdly theseparating dams were removed andthe meanders reconnected to theriver course. One effect can alreadybe seen. Fully grown specimens offish have been observed in the oldmeanders, drawn by new spawninggrounds.

Reforestation at La NavaFernando Jubete, Fundación Global Nature

In the region of Tierra de Campos,several periods of land consolidationand intensification of agriculture havedestroyed forests, bushy areas andhedgerows which had served asboundaries between fields. However,these structures are importanthabitats and retreat areas forvertebrates, insects, amphibians andreptiles. They offer protection againststrong winds, or shade during hotsummer months, and thereby help tobalance the extreme climaticconditions of the region. Additionally,trees, shrubs and hedgerows act asbuffer zones and help to reducenutrient loads from agriculture suchas nitrates and phosphates.

This development also affects thesteppe lakes La Nava and Boada

and their environment. Althoughselective afforestation had beenrealised by Fundación Global Naturein the past years, trees, shrubs andnatural shore vegetation havedisappeared almost completely. Inwinter 2002 and 2003 in the scopeof the LIFE-project, substantialreforestation measures have beencarried out. Wide corridors betweenthe wetlands and agricultural fieldswere chosen for the plantations.

In total 16,460 trees and shrubs fromregional forest nurseries were planted.The holes of 30 cm in diameter and60-80 cm depth were dug with aground driller. Around each plant asmall earth wall was piled up toimprove the water supply, and thesoil around the plant was coveredwith jute to prevent evaporation andcompeting fast growing grasses.

The plants used are: Populus nigra(black poplar), Populus alba (whitepoplar), Ulmus minor (smooth-leaved elm), Tamarix gallica(tamarisk), Crataegus monogyna(hawthorn), Rosa canina (dog rose),Rosa pounzinii, Rosa micrantha(small-flowered sweet-briar), Rubusulmifolius (bramble), Prunus spinosa(blackthorn), Prunus insititia(bullace), Cornus sanguinea(bloodtwig dogwood), Euonymuseuropaeus (spindle), Sambucusnigra (elder).

Cardoons - Appropriate plants forthe installation of buffer zones

For the buffer zones, the expertsrecommended cardoons becausethese plants are perfectly adapted tothe dry climate conditions in Spain.The species Cynara cardunculusproduces on average 15-20 tbiomass per hectare per year andtherefore removes high amounts ofnutrients. A second advantage is thatcardoons show a high photosyntheticactivity in winter as well.


10.3 Examples forvegetation manage-ment

Burning as a management toolfor reed beds and fens

Julia Masson and Sandie Tolhurst, Broads Authority

Burning is a traditional technique usedfor reed bed management and isusually carried out in the winter whenthe reed is dead and dry. Burning canalso be used to manage areas ofmixed fen. Managing fens requirescareful consideration, as they usuallysupport diverse invertebratepopulations, and the impacts ofburning large plots of fen vegetationare largely unknown. Burning smallareas may be less detrimental, but thelabour required to create fire breaksmay make the effort less economic.Using burning management on fenvegetation traditionally cut for valuableproducts such as marsh hay, litter foranimal bedding or as forage is notrecommended.

The way the burn is managed for aslow ‘hot’ burn or fast ‘cooler’ burnwill have different outcomes, as setout in the table below.

Burning a reed bed or fens requiresvery careful planning. There arequestions to consider whenpreparing for burning management:

> Has a survey been carried out toestablish important species within

the reedbed system? Invertebratepopulations are particularlyvulnerable.

> Can the burning be managed toenable fauna to recoloniseafterwards?

> Can the site be divided into blocksfor burning on a rotational system?

> Where are fire breaks required?Burning in small plots requires thecreation of long lengths of firebreaks, which is very labourintensive.

> How many people are required tomanage the burn? Ensure that no-one will become cut off by the fire.

> Liaison with local fire brigade

> Will neighbouring properties orroads be affected by the fire?

> Is the correct equipment availableto manage the burn in a controlledway (including a pump and gene-rator required on site with pipes)?

> Which direction is the windcoming from? How strong is it?

> What is the condition of theunderlying substrate? Fires on drypeat can move underground andburn for weeks.

Mowing techniques - fenharvester

The Broads Authority and its partnersrecognised the need for a machinethat could cut, gather and remove fenvegetation from large areas of the

Broads fens with minimal environ-mental damage. And so the wetlandfen harvester was launched in 1998with funding from EU LIFE programme.

As the fens are of high ecologicalimportance, special features weredesigned for the fen harvester to limitdamage to the fen peat. These include:

> Use of tracks rather than tyres togive low ground pressure,minimising damage to the peat soils.

> An 800 m long blower pipe to blowcut material to a collecting point offthe site. This removes the need foradditional machinery to takematerial off site causing damage todelicate habitat from repeatedpasses.

> The fen harvester gains accessacross the wetter areas usinglightweight portable bridges,comprising modular jet floats.These are 1m3 plastic blocks thatcan be joined together in variouslengths or doubled-up to carryextra weight.

The fen harvester cuts the fens on athree to five year rotation. Atechnique of cutting, by leavingstrips, has been developed so thatsome vegetation is left on a longerrotation. When the fen harvesterreturns after three to five years, itcuts at 90 degree to the previous cut,applying the same strip cutting. Thiscreates an interlinked mosaic ofvegetation of different ages and hasgreater benefit for biodiversity.

Slow ‘hot’ burn

Different burn temperatures

Fast ‘cooler’ burn

> Burn on very still day with little or no standing water

> Removes litter

> Greater impact on trees and young saplings

> Can be very damaging to fen ecology

> Burn with the wind and standing water

> Leaves litter untouched

> Leaves pockets of untouched fen

> Less damaging for fen ecology.

90


In another part of the

lagoon a herd of

12 horses from the

Doñana National Park

grazes. These horses are

well adapted to particular

wetland conditions and to

climate changes. They

are used to living outside

all year round and need

little care.

Reed harvest in the Broads

Vegetation management in La Nava

Different uses of the cut materialhave been explored. It is importantthat the use of the material is as localas possible to the cutting site toavoid environmental and financiallycostly transportation. Early ideas,such as for animal feed andbedding, proved to be uneconomicdue to the bulky nature of thematerial, the need for dry materialand because of legal requirements.Currently, most of the material isused as organic compost. However,a new opportunity has arisen to usethe material as a biofuel in a heatingplant for greenhouses.

Vegetation management inLa Nava

Fernando Jubete, Fundación Global Nature

On the large areas around the LaNava lagoon complex about 10 tonsof biomass per hectare and year arebeing produced. Dead reed plantssuch as Carex divisa, Juncusgerardi, Eleocharis palustris, Scirpusmaritimus or Thypa domingensis fillup the steppe lake and causeeutrophication. Within the LIFEproject for the protection of theAquatic Warbler a vegetationmanagement plan was developedand four different exemplarymeasures realised.

> (Manual) Scything

> Mechanical mowing

> Controlled burning

> Horse grazing.

Scything, mowing and controlledburning is done once a year in latesummer when the steppe lake isalmost completely dried out. Inanother part of the lagoon a herd of12 horses from the Doñana NationalPark grazes. These horses are welladapted to particular wetlandconditions and to climate changes.They are used to living outside allyear round and need little care. The

results of the horse grazing arecollected regularly over a three yearperiod and analysed. Also, thedevelopment of the areas whichwere scythed, mown and burned isbeing surveyed. The mostsuccessful method or a combinationwill finally be adopted in La Navaand recommended for ecosystemswith similar conditions.

Vegetation mapping atVillacañas shallow lakes

Santos Cirujano, Real Jardin Botánico Madrid

Villacañas wetlands situated in theProvince of Toledo (Spain) are agroup of three seasonal shallowlakes: Laguna Larga (107 ha), Tirez(98 ha) and Peña Hueca (126 ha).The areas around the lagoons havebeen used intensively for agriculturefor more than 50 years. The naturalvegetation has been largelydestroyed and today can only befound on a few hills around the lake.The vegetation survey was part of aLife project carried out by FundaciónGlobal Nature for the restoration ofthe lagoons, and served as the basisfor the management plan. The surveyincluded vegetation around thelagoons as well as aquatic plants,especially those species which arecharacteristic of saline, continentalwetlands.

Four aquatic and 20 terrestrial plantcommunities were analysed. Basedon the vegetation study and on aerialphotography, a vegetation map withtypical plant communities wasproduced in 2000. Areas with thehighest ecological value weredesignated as "Reserva Botánica"and are now under protection.


Management of wetlandvegetation with water buffaloesin Greece

Y. Kazoglou, Society for the Protection of Prespa

H. Jerrentrup, Society for the Protection of

Nature and Ecodevelopment (EPO)

The excellent adaptation of waterbuffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) towetland conditions and their uniqueabilities as animals for work andproduction established this mammalas the most reliable companion ofGreek farmers that settled nearwetlands, particularly in the centraland northern regions of Greece. Thewater buffalo belongs to the group ofAsiatic buffaloes and probablyoriginates from the wild buffalo ofIndia (Bubalus arni) that wasdomesticated 4,000 years ago. Froma genetic point of view, it belongs tothe type of common buffalo (Riverbuffalo) and the sub-type of theMediterranean buffalo that hasdeveloped particular characteristicsbecause of long isolation in Greecefor at least 1,600 years. According toDemetriadis (1957), it seems thatwater buffaloes were graduallyintroduced to south-eastern Europe -including Greece - by the end of the

Roman Empire during the raids ofAttila and later during the raids ofTurkish origin groups.

The population of water buffaloes inGreece before the 1950s wasestimated to be more than 100,000animals, but declined to less than700 animals in the early 1990s dueto massive changes in land uses, themechanisation of agriculture, theimport of improved breeds of cattleand the exclusion of buffaloes fromEuropean Union subsidies. Forexample, in the Nestos Delta the lastherd of water buffaloes disappearedin 1984, shortly after the country’smembership to the union.

Since 1998, the situation hasimproved mainly because of theimplementation of an EU supportedprogramme by the Greek Ministry ofAgriculture for the preservation ofrare domestic breeds. However, agrowing understanding of theconservation significance of grazingfor the management of protectedareas in Greece has been observedduring the last fifteen years andwater buffaloes hold an importantposition concerning wetlandmanagement. At present, there are

approximately 1,400 buffaloes ateight Greek wetlands: Lake Kerkini,Lake Volvi, Axios Delta, Lake MikriPrespa, Amvrakikos (all five areRamsar sites), River Sperchios andtwo other small wetlands in theprefectures of Thessaloniki andKomotini. The aim of the presentpaper is to briefly present twoexperiments on the management ofwetland vegetation with water buffalograzing that took place within theframework of two different LIFENature projects and are continuedbeyond.

Water buffaloes and wetlandconservation projects

Water buffaloes have played a veryimportant role in wetland vegetationmanagement by maintaining earlysuccession stages on their grazingsites. Among the most importantGreek wetlands, Lake Kerkini, whichhosts the largest water buffalopopulation, is graced with largeexpanses of wet meadows on whichmany specialised aquatic organismsdepend. On the contrary, at manyother wetlands, wet meadows arescarce due to increasing agricultureor deteriorating because of the

Example of map of shore vegetation of the Lagoon Larga de Villacañas

Reed

Cressa cretica community

Slopes of nitrophilous vegetation

Annual glasswort formation

Saltmarsh grass meadows

Sea-lavender steppes (Limonietalia)

Esparto salt steppes and thyme formation

Aquatic vegetation

Perennial glasswort formation

92


Helophytes fill in open water spacesin La Nava

Water buffaloes in Greece

Unhindered spreading of

reed plants can interfere

with the preservation or

restoration of biodiversity,

the ultimate ambition of

good management

of lakes.

absence of traditional vegetationmanagement which has led to theexpansion of dense reed beds orwoody vegetation.

In 1997, the Society for theProtection of Prespa (SPP) launchedan experiment to investigate thepotential of restoring wet meadowsby means of water buffalo grazing atthe reed-dominated sites of LakeMikri Prespa. Initially, the five grazerscreated corridors in the dense reedbed in order to reach the mostreadily accessible locations of theexperimental site and "mud pools" forrefreshing and protection againstinsects. The consumption of reeds(Phragmites australis) and tramplinghad important effects on the cover,species composition and structure ofthe littoral vegetation: reed cover,density and height were reduced,while litter and bare soil graduallyincreased. The main result of theexperiment was the creation of a wetmeadow habitat type on a large partof the experimental area.Additionally, the grazed parts of theexperimental site were regularlyused as feeding grounds by manyrare bird species while carpspawning was observed in April1999 and 2000.

In 2000, the AmvrakikosDevelopment Agency (ADA)conducted a similar experiment atthe brackish Swamp of Rodia atAmvrakikos, a site hosting the largestreed bed in Greece covering a totalarea of 25 km2. Five water buffaloesgrazed in a fenced area mainlycovered by sea clubrush (Scirpusmaritimus) and tamarisks (Tamarixsp.). The main effects of grazing onthe vegetation were the decrease ofsea clubrush density and height,which was the dominant species onthe wet meadow habitat type of theexperimental site, and the reductionof tamarisk cover by approximately70%. The latter was mainly causedby the grazers scratching on the

shrubs, while trampling did not allowfor the sprouting of young plants.More than thirty water bird specieswere observed feeding in the grazedsite. Riddell (2000) concluded thatthe fenced grazed site was muchmore favourable for feeding birdsthan the ungrazed sites.

Water buffalo grazing proved to be avery effective technique for thecontrol of high emergent helophytesand woody species and for themaintenance of typical wet meadowvegetation in two different wetlandtypes. In both cases, the positiveexperimental results were combinedwith the endorsement of the activityby the local communities and theenthusiastic reaction of visitors, whowere guided to the experimentalsites. By the end of the two projects,it was very pleasant to see that boththe SSP and the ADA decided tocontinue the grazing activityalthough additional funding had tobe secured for that purpose. Atpresent, the Prespa herd numbersthirty five water buffaloes and theAmvrakikos herd twenty five. Forsome years additional incentiveshave been given by the EU for thegrowing of buffaloes as a raredomestic breed and it is realistic tohope that they will be reintroduced inother wetlands too. In the recentmanagement plan prepared by theLIFE Environment project for theNestos Lakes and Lagoons, it hasbeen proposed to use buffaloes forthe management of reed beds andas a great tourist attraction. Thebuffaloes are known by local peopleto also be of great value at theNestos Lakes for their positiveinfluence on carp stocks.

Recommendations

Scientific research on the effects ofwater buffalo grazing should becontinued to cover important gaps inthe relevant knowledge, e.g. effectsin river ecosystem vegetation. On the


other hand, it seems clear thatgrazing management in Greekwetlands should follow the exampleof wetland management at manyprotected European wetlands, wherelivestock raising is linked to natureconservation. Such a scheme wouldprovide the necessary funding forthe sustainability of management bygrazing in wetlands. Especially forthe water buffalo, the challenge is tocombine the financial support givenfor its preservation as a rare breedwith its abilities as a management tooland its potential for the production ofvery high quality primary sectorproducts: meat, milk and numerousdelicious dairy products of increasingmarket demand.

Management of water plants

Santos Cirujano, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid

Water vegetation is one of the mostimportant and most influentialelements in temporary steppe lakesand wetland areas. Thedevelopment of reed plants dependson general hydrological andecological conditions. Reed plantpopulations can substantially alterthe physiognomy of wetlands orlakes within a few years.

Unhindered spreading of reed plantscan interfere with the preservation orrestoration of biodiversity, theultimate ambition of good

management of lakes. Two differenthabitats have to coexist in wetlandsto ensure a balanced development:

> Open water surfaces without reedplant populations but withsubmersed vegetation as a feedingsource for water fowl, and

> Reed population in shallow watersand shore zones as retreat areasfor water fowl and other birds.

It is a difficult task to achieve abalance of these two habitatsespecially if the wetland or lake isrich in nutrients which add to anuncontrolled growth of reed plants.

Water vegetation of Mediterraneanwetlands consists of severalhelophytes, such as reed(Phragmites australis), cattail (Typhadomingensis, T. latifolia), rushes,bulrushes (Scirpus lacustris, S.litoralis, S. maritimus), and sedges(Carex divisa). They produce largeamounts of biomass, which can fill inthe wetland within a few years. Thisdevelopment can be particularlycritical in water bodies withoutoutflow or those where waterrenewal takes place very slowly.

On the one hand, high-growing reedplants cannot grow optimally inwetlands which dry out during longperiods of time and are quicklyreplaced by smaller species or rushmeadows. On the other hand, aregular water supply contributes

towards better conditions for reedpopulations, and ultimately nurtureseutrophication of the water body.

Other aspects have not beencompletely investigated yet, such asthe influence of fish populations.However, in several Spanishwetlands a significant spreading ofreed population was determined,after removing the carp (Cyprinuscarpio) stock. It has also not yetbeen sufficiently investigated yetwhat influence on reed plantsemanates from the widely distributedAmerican crayfish (Procambarusclarkii).

Measures to control reed plants

> Mowing and clearing of biomass

> Controlled burning

> Removal of sediments

> Grazing with cattle, horses andother large herbivores.

All measures have assets anddrawbacks, and have to be chosenaccording to the attributes of thewetland.

Mowing of reed can only be effectiveif the biomass is removed from thewetland. On average, mowingshould be carried out twice a year.

Controlled burning generally isapplied where mowing is not adaptive.Compared with mowing andremoving biomass, only 60% of thenutrients are removed when burning

Plant species

Reed (Phragmites australis)

Reed (Phragmites australis)

Alkali Bulrush (Scirpus maritimus)

Common Spike rush (Eleocharis palustris)

Divided sedge (Carex divisa)

400

208

130

60

65

5,786

1,690

1,605

792

745

57.86

16.90

16.05

7.92

7.45

Production of biomass by different water plants in El Hondo National Park and La Nava steppe lake

Height (cm) Dry mass (g/m2) Dry mass (t/ha)

94


Upper Swabian lakes

At the moment a total area

of over 770 ha

surrounding about

50 lakes are reserved for

extensive farming by

contracts in

Upper Swabia.

Buffer zone between agricultural landand lake in rural area of Upper Swabia

Restored river in Upper Swabia

is applied. The rhizomes normallyremain intact, but dead plant materi-al is largely removed to allow abetter water circulation. However, itis important to pay attention tobreeding times of birds and to burndivided into lots to preserve retreatareas for animals.

The removal of sediments is adrastic measure for vegetationmanagement, but can be of vitaladvantage compared to allmeasures described before if carriedout in the right way.

In wetlands rich in nutrients theremoval of 5-30 cm soil layer

eliminates the bigger part of nitratesand phosphates. In addition, theentire biomass including allrhizomes is removed, which canaffect retarding of regeneration ofreed plant populations for four ormore years. However, sedimentsincluding all nutrients have to beremoved completely from the wetlandsystem and should not be deployedonto an adjacent field. One dis-advantage of this method is the lossof most seeds and spores, especiallyin old wetlands. For this reason, theremoval of sediments should becarried out in several phases.

Development of water plants in La Nava steppelake, since regular water supply is provided

A The steppe lake was dried up and coveredwith low bush pasture land.

B After first flooding the lake, vast populationsof Carex divisa developed which covered thetotal steppe lake within a few years. Regular

flooding promoted other water plants, such asTypha latifolia, T. domingensis and Eleocharispalustris. Open water surfaces were occupiedby Chara vulgaris and other aquatic plants suchas Ranunculus peltatus, Zannichellia pedunculata,Potamogeton pusillus. The composition ofvegetation depends on regular flooding.


Grazing of large herbivores isespecially suited for spaciouswetland areas. Although this methodis often applied today, there is nocomprehensive knowledge on thereturn of nutrients through urine andexcreta of the animals. Nutrientsupply can alter the water quality justas the composition of flora. The mostimportant and difficult task for themanager is the calculation ofadequate livestock unit per hectare.Comprehensive inventory before thegrazing starts as well as continuousmonitoring of the impacts arerequired.

10.4 Examples ofagriculturalextensification

Restoration of Upper Swabianlakes

Albrecht Trautmann,Pro Regio Oberschwaben GmbH

There are almost 2,300 stillwaters(lakes and ponds) in the southernpart of Upper Swabia, north of LakeConstance. These lakes and pondsmake up over half of all stillwaters inBaden-Wuerttemberg. All of thesestillwaters have been heavilyburdened with high levels ofnutrients especially in the past half-century. The results of this havebeen excessive growth of algae andhigher water plants, loss ofbiodiversity, unfavourablecomposition of the fish stocks, partialfish dying, strongly increasedproduction of digestive sludge andvery fast siltation.

In 1989 a research programme, the"Programme of Action for theRestoration of Upper Swabian Lakes"was started by the environmentalministry of Baden-Wuerttemberg. For33 selected stillwaters and theircatchment areas a project group,

consisting of staff of the watermanagement and agriculturaloffices, carried out surveys,developed restoration concepts andthe necessary measures toimplement these. In the year 2000,15 lakes had been successfullycleaned up and were taken out ofthe programme. In the same year 41new stillwaters were added to theprogramme. The management of theproject was transferred to a privateorganisation, the Pro Regio Ober-schwaben GmbH.

Wastewater treatment plants are notallowed to drain their water intolakes, and excess rainwater basinsare optimised. The major impacts onlakes and ponds now come fromagriculture. Active consultation inthe areas of fertilisation andcultivation, creation of enoughstorage capacity for solid and liquidmanure and the extensification ofcritical areas can lead to changes inthe farming behaviour and cansignificantly reduce nutrient input. Atthe moment a total area of over860 ha surrounding about 50 lakesis reserved for extensive farming bycontracts. €260,000 compensationis currently paid for these areas.

The restoration of regulated andtechnically enhanced rivers in thecatchment area of the lakes andponds is another important measure.In a few cases, sedimentation pondsand flooding areas have beencreated upstream of stillwaters.These are most useful during heavyrainfall when they can filter out theerosion sediment which is carried inthe tributaries.

Use of the ponds for fishing shouldbe adapted to the demands of therestoration measures. Themanagement of artificially createdand drainable ponds should followtraditional cleaning methods(regularly draining the pond every 3-6years). As well as the reduction of the

nutrient input, a further measure usedin some cases is the removal of fish(biomanipulation). The use of theponds for recreational purposesshould not affect the ecologicalstability of the ponds. It isrecommended that regional conceptswhich regulate the recreational useand the environmental protection ofthe ponds are put in place.

Conclusions

The restoration of small lakes andponds by reduction of the diversenutrient input from the catchmentareas is to be preferred to measurestaken inside lakes and ponds whichonly affect the symptoms. Theimplementation of measures on avoluntary basis takes up a lot ofmanpower and is not always easy tocarry out but, especially in the areaof agriculture, can lead tosustainable improvements andmanageable costs.

Model Project Constance Ltd -farmers' markets at LakeConstance

Michael Baldenhofer,PLENUM Westlicher Bodensee

The Modellprojekt Konstanz GmbH(Model Project Constance Ltd)initiates and supervises projectsaimed at the sustainable protectionand development of culturallandscapes around the western partof Lake Constance. The work of thecase study is based on theunderstanding that landscapeconservation, nature and resourceprotection can only be realised on alarge scale in co-operation withfarming and with other relevantregional partners. This is the reasonwhy the model case study Constancegathers representatives of muni-cipalities, farming, nature protection,tourism, trade and business togetherto decide on strategies forimplementing joint projects.

96


One focus of the "ModellprojektKonstanz GmbH" is to maintain thecarrying capacity of the cultural andrecreational landscape therebystrengthening the rural areas and tobalance the economic needs withthe urge to preserve and improve thenatural environment. A main activityfield of the project during the lastdecade was the marketing ofregional products, goods andservices through the establishmentof close co-operation betweenproducers, refiners, traders andconsumers.

Farmers' markets

The privileged climatic situation ofthe Lake Constance region allowsthe cultivation of a wide range ofagricultural products. Neverthelessthe local farmers have greatdifficulties earning their living andbuilding up long-term economicalperspectives through farming only. Inthe framework of the project, twofarmers' markets had beenlaunched, offering fresh regionalagricultural produce. The intention ofthese farmers' markets is to provideadditional income by directmarketing, thus guaranteeing asecure living of small familybusinesses and at the same timeoffering the opportunity to buy dailyfresh and high quality regional foodto the consumers.

The farmers' market Radolfzell iscentrally located and offers a wideproduct range at competitive prices.Five regional full-time farmers -within a radius of about 25 km - arerunning the market. Traders are notaccepted. The goods offered in themarket are produced by the fivefarms involved. The possibility ofbuying in vegetables during thevegetation break in winter was anagreement reached, but only thesame kind of vegetables that arecultivated by the five farmers.Foreign produce, such as citrus

fruits, is not offered. All dairyproducts are produced outside theregion (neighbouring district) asthere are no dairies in the district ofConstance.

The distribution of the general costs(investment costs, rent, staff, PR) ismade on the basis of the size of thearea and the expected annualturnover. Each farmer keeps track ofhis own costs.

An important element of thecomprehensive marketing conceptof the farmers' market is a verystrong Corporate Design. Thedeveloped logo (brand) is seeneverywhere in the shop, on wall tiles,freezers, on the shop windows, onwrapping material, product packageand in press advertising. In an earlyproject phase, consultations tookplace with the municipal authorities,the Office of Economic Promotion,Economic Control Department andthe Public Veterinary Service. Therebydifferences and possible later costsfor alterations could be avoided.

A campaign together with theregional daily paper was organisedto introduce the farmers involved inthe project. An annual budget ofabout €5,000 is allocated for pressadvertising.

The farmers' market concept can beassessed as very successful. Thereal turnover exceeded thecalculated break-even point from thefirst year and has increased sincethen. An additional value of themarket was the stimulation of thepedestrian zone and the creation ofnew jobs for shop personnel.

The farmers' market

Radolfzell is centrally

located and offers a wide

product range at

competitive prices. Five

regional full-time farmers -

within a radius of about

25 km - are running the

market.

Farmers' market in Radolfzell, Lake Constance


Timetable for Radolfzell’s markets

April 95 The project idea was bornand discussed with interestedfarmers of the Constance district.

Summer 95 In several meetings withinterested farmers a concept wasdeveloped and an action group wasformed. A charter and marketregulation was created.

October 95 Development of a firstconcept for the interior decoration,furnishing and facilities.

Winter 95/96 Meetings with theauthorities in charge (EconomicControl Department, PublicVeterinary Service, Municipal PublicAffairs Office, Office of EconomicPromotion of Radolfzell).

February 96 Foundation of theAssociation "Bauernmarkt Radolfzelle.V."

April 96 An adequate location wasfound and rented.

May 96 Final planning of the shopequipment and PR concept (name,logo, slogan, PR and packagingmaterial).

Summer 96 PR campaign with thelocal media. Renovation of the shopin accordance with the officialregulations. Interior installation bylocal craftsmen and experts.

October 96 Opening and Inaugura-tion of the market.

June 97 Client survey (250customers interviewed).

August 97 A four-colour consumerleaflet was published.

September 2000 Second Client survey.

LIFE Project : Restoration ofthe Villacañas wetlands, Spain

Eduardo de Miguel, Fundación Global Nature

Through the LIFE Programme, theEuropean Commission hassupported the project of Fundación2001 Global Nature for the recoveryof the Villacañas wetlands, a groupof three seasonal ponds: LagunaLarga (107 ha), Tirez (98 ha) andPeña Hueca (126 ha).

The three Villacañas wetlands havebeen declared Special Protection

Size (sales area) in m2

Investment

Subsidies

Calculated Turnover Break-evenPoint

Annual Turnover in the first year

Inauguration

Main Product Range

Opening hours

Average customers

Slogan

Farmers' Market Radolfzell Farmers' Market Constance

Comparison of Farmers' Markets in Radolfzell and Constance

110

€1,000 per m2

Small subsidies (< 10%) from a RuralDevelopment Programme (ELR)

€380,000 per year

approx. €500,000

October 1996

Vegetables, fruits, sausages, meat,bread, beverages, pastries, dairyproducts, honey

Mon - Fri 8.00-18.00Sat 8.00-13.00

200 per day

...da kauf’ ich natürlich...(... where I buy naturally...)

350

€750 per m2

None

€1,500,000 per year

approx. €1,000,000

May 1999

Vegetables, fruits, sausages, meat,bread, beverages, pastries, dairyproducts, honey, fish

Mon, Tues, Thu 9.30-18.30Wed 9.30-14.00Fri 9.00-18.30Sat 8.00-15.00

350 per day

... hier isst das Leben...(... here eats life...)

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Although farmland

occupies only 40% of the

Spanish territory, seventy

percent of the erosion in

Spain is generated in

cultivated farmland using

conventional techniques.

Transhumance was included in the agri-environmental programme in Spain

LIFE-trail Untersee with interactiveelements

Areas for birds (SPA). Thesewetlands are home to many birdslisted as priority species in theEuropean Directive of Birds.

The saline steppes that surround theVillacañas wetlands constitute uniqueplant communities. They are protectedby the European Directive of Habitatsand their preservation is a priority.

The restoration of the wetland com-plex has involved activities such as:

> Creation of a green filter toimprove the quality of waterentering Laguna Larga

> Recovery of the natural vegetationalong margins

> Establishment of nesting islets

> Debris removal

> Land purchase and rental

> Community awareness raising

> Surveillance.

One of the main goals of the projectwas to implement certain agri-environmental measures to create abuffer zone around the Villacañaswetlands complex. This project shouldserve as a demonstration projectillustrating how this important financialtool can be used to restore and protectother wetlands in Central Spain.

Environmental impact of agriculturearound the Villacañas wetlands

> Erosion caused by conventionalfarming methods and sedimentaccumulation in ponds

Although farmland occupies only40% of the Spanish territory, seventypercent of the erosion in Spain isgenerated in cultivated farmlandusing conventional techniques.

> Use of pesticides and fertilisers

There is no significant problem withexcessive use of fertilisers orpesticides. The farmland around thewetlands is dedicated to cultivationof low-yield dryland crops whichrequire little input.

However, as local farmers areindifferent to organic farming in thisregion, we prefer to focus on othermore urgent agri-environmentalmeasures that are easier toimplement.

Measures such as extensification,complete set-aside, increasingfallow land, or new tillage methodsmake it possible to reduceagrochemical products.

> Overgrazing

Overgrazing affects only certainplots around the Laguna Larga andTirez wetlands. In Laguna Larga, arental and compensation contractwas signed to eliminate grazing inthe most sensitive areas. Sheep aregrazed mainly on fallow land andstubble fields. Natural vegetationareas are only marginally used.Consequently, agricultural set-asideis a much more important measurefor recovering the natural habitatthan sheep reduction programmes.

> Destruction of flora and faunahabitats

The replacement of natural habitatsby CAP subsidized crops is the mainecological problem in the area ofinfluence of the wetland complex.

Conservation of fallow land shouldbe one of the main goals here. InVillacañas, many endangeredspecies use fallow land as nestingand feeding habitats, such as theCollared Pratincole (Glareolapratincola). Ploughing fallow land inspring destroys nests and is one ofthe main dangers for some of thesespecies. Consequently, it is funda-mental to establish a programme forincreasing the area of fallow landand preventing useless tillage duringnesting periods. Early harvesting canalso damage populations of steppebirds such as Great Bustard(Otis tarda).


The new agri-environmentalscheme of Spain

This new programme was released on12 January 2001. It is based on ninedifferent measures, applicablethroughout the country.

1 Extensification

2 Preservation of endangeredvarieties of cultivated plants

3 Reduction of agrochemical use

4 Erosion control

5 Protection of wetland flora and fauna

6 Traditional farm systems in theCanary Islands

7 Irrigationwater saving

8 Landscape protection and firecontrol

9 Integrated management of live-stock production

Measures applicable to Villacañas

After conversations and discussionswith Villacañas farmers, we haveconcluded that the followingmeasures are more practical andapplicable:

> Agricultural extensification.Improvement of traditional fallowland: environmental fallow land.

> Agricultural extensification.Protection of flora and fauna andactions to improve steppe birdhabitats.

> Set-aside recovery of wild floraand biodiversity.

> Fight against erosion in arborealcrops and herbaceous crops.

> Integrated management of live-stock production. Actions inpasture and stubble fields.

Conclusions

One of the main objectives of naturerestoration in Castilla La Manchashould be the recovery of salinehabitats around wetlands. The onlyfeasible measure for achieving this

goal is set-aside. Other measuresmay improve the habitat of steppefauna adapted to extensive dry landagriculture. The set-aside measuremust be modified to eliminate someof its commitments, such as theconservation of ploughing or grazingplots. The elimination ofcommitments reduces the farmer’sconservation costs and increasesthe grant. The Regional Administra-tion has decided to propose set-asideas a single measure for restoringwetland habitats:

1 Although set-aside is one of themost expensive measures, itachieves visible and effectiveenvironmental results in a shortperiod. The 5-year costs of set-aside for grain crops or olive grovesin Villacañas are around €48,000,an average of €16,000 permedium-size lagoon (90-100 ha).

2 It is the easiest measure to verify,thus minimizing the cost ofcontrolling compliance.

Villacañas belongs to the Site ofCommunity Interest called "LaMancha Wetlands" (12,226 ha). Ithas at least 28 important lagoons.The extension of the programme toall these wetlands wouldtheoretically cost the RegionalAdministration €93,000/year.

Note

This is a theoretical study. In order toachieve massive set-asides, weshould:

> Increase the grant by 20% to 30%

> Inform farmers directly

> Use other agri-environmentalmeasures in areas wherevineyards occupy most of thefarmland.

> Irrigation reduction schemesshould be a priority in wetlandslocated on overexploited aquifers.Set-aside programmes cannotsucceed in these conditions due

to the higher yields under irrigationconditions.

Inclusion of transhumance in theSpanish agri-environmentalprogramme

One of PROJECT 2001’s main out-comes was the approval in 1995 of anew Law on Drovers’ Routes. Afterdifferent efforts, we could include a€60/ha grant for transhumance as aspecial measure in the new agri-environmental programme.

> The stockbreeder must accept ageneral measure of landscapeimprovement, with a basic grant of€36-48/ha.

> Animals must be absent from thefarm of origin for at least 4 monthsfrom June on.

> A minimum movement of 75 km ora change in altitude of 500 m isrequired.

> The grant may be increased by€12/ha, if at least 75% of nativebreeds is raised.

The main problem of this measure isthat it does not differentiate betweentranshumance on foot or by truck ortrain.

10.5 Examples ofvisitor management

Lake Constance trail

Wherever people come acrossprotected natural areas, prohibitionsigns catch the visitor’s eye. There isno information available onecosystems with all their plants andanimals species living in them forstrollers and hikers.

The Lake Constance Trail is aconcept that offers descriptive andclear information on natural historyon the spot. Thus, the trail representsa new destination for locals andtourists, where they learn about

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Information panel on mammals at Boada trail

Hedgehog exhibition at Conservation

Centre Eriskirch

Building Herons Carr Boardwalk in the Broads

The Herons Carr Access

Project was designed to

provide new opportunities

for people to enjoy the

open water of Barton

Broad from the land as

part of the Clearwater

2000 project.

animals, plants, habitats andlandscapes from appealinglydesigned information panels.

Since 1999, 12 sections of the LakeConstance Trail have been realised:

> Langenargen located at the UpperLake Constance (Obersee) inBaden-Wuerttemberg

> Moos at the Lower LakeConstance (Untersee)

> Überlingen located at the Lake ofÜberlingen (Überlinger See)

> Wasserburg and Lindau at theUpper Lake Constance in Bavaria

> Kressborn towards the restoredpart of the river Argen

> From the district office of theregion of Lake Constance to thelandscape protection area LowerArgen Valley (Unteres Argental)and to the nature trail in theHepbacher-Leimbacher Ried

> Friedrichshafen with anagricultural trail in Kluftern andRaderach

> Immenstaad along the shore trailtowards Kirchberg and therestored part of the river Lipbach

> Island of Mainau as an entrée forthe island.

Further sections are planned forFriedrichshafen-Kluftern, along thealpine river Rhine and on the islandof Reichenau.

The information panels are made ofAluminium-Dibond, which are fittedinto a frame of metal and theninstalled in the field. Texts andillustrations are printed on a specialfoil and attached to the panels.

The trail sections are financed bymunicipalities, administrativedistricts, the InternationalConference of Lake Constance aswell as private donors and sponsors.As part of the marketing strategy, abrochure for locals and tourists isbeing prepared.

Life Trail Untersee

One of the latest sections of the LakeConstance Trail is the "Life TrailUntersee" installed by the EU-LIFE-project "Untersee life" (for details onproject see chapter 10.2). The trailleads visitors along a 6 km longfootpath to the lake shore close toRadolfzell (Germany). For the LifeTrail, the design of the LakeConstance Trail was enhanced,some displays now includinginteractive elements. Both text andgraphics follow a clear hierarchicalstructure, taking new didacticalguidelines and reading habits intoaccount. Thanks to the attractive andat the same time robust design, thereception by the public is very goodand damage to the plates isminimised. The municipality ofRadolfzell supported the Life Trail inlogistical and financial terms. Thetrail proves to be an attraction fortourists and for locals as well.

Nature trail Laguna Boada

In the scope of the EU LIFE project, anature trail going from the villageBoada de Campos to the steppe lakewas constructed. On four panelsalong the way the visitors getinformation on traditional clayarchitecture, traditional agriculturaluse, steppe birds, mammals,amphibians and reptiles.

Conservation Centre Eriskirch -experience nature at LakeConstance

Gerhard Kersting, Conservation Centre Eriskirch

Over 60 years ago, severalscientifically valuable reed areaswith scenic landscapes at the shoreof Lake Constance were designatedas nature conservation areas, suchas the Wollmatinger Ried near theCity of Constance, the Mettnaupeninsula near the City of Radolfzell,and the Eriskircher Ried near the cityof Friedrichshafen.


With a size of 552 ha, EriskircherRied is the largest conservation areaat the eastern shore of Upper LakeConstance. It is characterised byextended reed meadows, the riverSchussen with its back waters andalluvial forests as well as the shallowzones of Lake Constance. More than500 flowering plant species, 280 birdspecies and numerous smallanimals have been observed here.The area is of special importance asthe resting and wintering spot forNordic water fowl and waders.

For 10 years the ConservationCentre Eriskirch, on behalf of natureconservation authorities, has been incharge of the Eriskircher Ried andother protected areas in the region ofLake Constance. As type oforganisation a charitable foundationhas been chosen, financed by theland of Baden-Wuerttemberg, theregion of Lake Constance and themunicipality of Eriskirch. At presentthe foundation employs threepeople, several freelancers as wellas one person in the "Zivildienst"(mandatory community service). Theannual budget amounts to €135,000.However, the maintenance measuresin the reed area, making up approx.€25,000 per year, are not financedby the Conservation Centre itself, butby the Rural District Office of theLake Constance Region. Overall thecosts are covered by the land ofBaden-Wuerttemberg (70%) and bythe region of Lake Constance (30%).Particular projects like theconstruction of nature trails or visitorplatforms were financed throughspecial grants. The city ofFriedrichshafen also gave financialshares in such activities in the past.

The Conservation Centre generates€12,000/year itself. Besides themaintenance measures of the pro-tected areas, environmentaleducation is another focus of theactivities. Each year 10,000 peoplevisit the attractive permanent exhibition

"Nature at Lake Constance", or thechanging exhibitions presented inthe former railway station building ofEriskirch, which is provided loan freeby the municipality.

However, the Conservation Centre isnot a classical museum. The centralconcern of all employees is to jointlyexperience nature with children andadults. Thus, the majority of allactivities with over 5,000 participantsper year take place outdoors in theEriskircher Ried or other natural areas.

The annual programme coversabout 75 events, such aspresentations on topics of culturaland natural history, guided tours witha certain focus e.g. "Bird feathers",seminars, and events for children.School classes may independentlyexplore plant and animal life with thehelp of biologists.

All events are announced in theyearly programme brochure, in theinformation boxes at the building andin the region, via local andsometimes regional media and radiochannels, and on the Internet. Whileexhibitions and presentations arefree of costs, seminars and excursionsare charged to cover the costs.

Naturally there are sensitive zoneswhich have to stay more or less freeof impact. In other areas differentmeasures to optimally experiencenature were implemented: Twoplatforms at the lake shore alloweasy observation of water fowl, twonature trails inform the visitor withdescriptive panels on habitats,animals and plants, and at the newlyconstructed pond frogs, snakes anddragonflies can be observed.

Visitor trail: Herons CarrBoardwalk in the Broads

Julia Masson and Eilish Rothney, Broads Authority

The Herons Carr Access Project wasdesigned to provide newopportunities for people to enjoy the

open water of Barton Broad from theland as part of the Clearwater 2000project. The Clearwater 2000 projectaimed to restore the water quality ofthe broad by sediment removal andre-establishing aquatic plantcommunities, and to enable peopleto understand better the wetlandenvironment of the Broads.

The walkway is located in a protectedarea within wet woodland (carr). A siteassessment was carried out prior tostarting work, including an inver-tebrate survey and EnvironmentalImpact Assessment. As the site is verywet, some of the framework supporttimbers are driven into 7-10 m of wetmud, and at times high water levelsprevented work progressing. Thewalkway itself is constructed oftanalised timber decking with ridgesrouted into the planking to preventpeople slipping. The timber is sourcedsustainably from European companieswho are members of the PanEuropean Forest Certification.

The walkway is designed for accessfor disabled people, particularlywheelchair users, with provision of acar park for their use close to the trail.The whole route is on one levelwithout steps, and with safety hand-rails where deep mud, corners orpassing places are a hazard. Strongplastic netting has been placed overdeep mud as an extra safety measure.

By Winter 2004 the boardwalk willhave several interpretation panelsalong its route, and a trail pack inbraille is available for blind orpartially-sighted visitors.

Part of the project developmentinvolved consultations with the localcommunity through the parishcouncil and by holding a publicmeeting. Businesses, recreationuser groups and landowners wereincluded in the consultations. A localliaison group was formed to helpsteer the project, which is stilloperating beyond the life of the

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Cost of materials and equipment for building the boardwalk

Labour costs (contractors, staff, volunteers and trainees)

Length of boardwalk

Amount of timber piling

Amount of decking board

Number of nails keeping decking board in place

Building the boardwalk: Fact file

£115,000

More than £200,000

610 metres

9,000 metres

7,500 metres

32,000 nails

Area Countryside Ranger

Projects Team Supervisor

Seasonal Countryside Assistant

Assistant Countryside Rangers

Other Staff

Broads Authority staffing for the Herons Carr Boardwalk

Responsibility for day-to-day running of all facilities. Managing staffand volunteers, ensuring health and safety measures are in place.Co-ordinating with other Broads Authority departments.

Responsible for the structural integrity and technical matters of thewalkway.

Weekly maintenance programme for car parks and paths leading tothe walkway during the summer season.

Responsible for site checks, patrolling, liaising with public, vegetationmanagement on boardwalk, minor repairs, reporting any problems.Assisting the Area Countryside Ranger (ACR) with taking groupsalong the walkway and the events programme.

Involved with the provision of interpretation, signage and promotion.Once these are in place the responsibility passes to the ACR.

project in developing a managementplan for the water space at Barton.Establishing a liaison group hasproved to be productive beyond thelife of the project.

The boardwalk took two years tocomplete and was officially openedby David Bellamy at an event withlocal schoolchildren.

Funding for the whole of Clearwater2000 project, which included

restoration work on Barton Broad,creation of the walkway, the solarpowered boat ‘Ra’ and anenvironmental education centre atHow Hill, came from BroadsAuthority, The Millennium Commission(Lottery), Anglian Water, EnvironmentAgency, UK Cleaning ProductsIndustry Association, Department ofEnvironment, Transport and theRegions, Landfill Tax, East of Eng-

land Development Agency, EnglishNature and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Questions to consider before starting:

> Is the site protected for its natureconservation importance?

> Is a site assessment required forimportant species and habitats?

> What funding is available for theproject, and what are the funders’requirements?


> How will any consultation becarried out with local communitygroups, landowners, businessesas well as the recreational usergroups?

> Who will use the facility?

> What other infrastructure isrequired such as picnic site,toilets, refuse collection?

> How will people arrive at the site -by car, train, bus, walking? Howwill visitors be directed to thefacility, and to parking areas?

> What impact might the projecthave locally, such as extra trafficon country roads, the impact ofone user on another?

> What maintenance will theboardwalk require? What is thelifespan of the materials?

How suitable is the site for theproject? Need to consider:

> How easy the site is to access withmachinery and materials

> Ease of construction of theboardwalk

> Use of materials from sustainablesources

> Disturbance to wildlife duringconstruction

> Negotiating access with adjacentlandowners

> Providing information for the public.

> Health and Safety issues

> Any insurance requirements.

10.6 Examples ofenvironmentallysound tourismdevelopment

"In future our main concern will nolonger be whether we can travel toevery place on earth. Our maininterest will be whether it isworthwhile arriving there!"(Herman Löns, 1908).

In the 1970s, in Europe - especiallyin Germany - initiatives emerged toanalyse the negative effects oftourism on the environment, socialwelfare and culture. Most of thegroups criticised and still criticise ina constructive way tourism impactson nature - for instance they givepositive examples of sustainabletourism.

REISEPAVILLON Hanover

Alternative travel?! Thinking about allthe environmental and socialeffects? Holidays are supposed to befun! True. But if we want them to befun in the future too, we’ll need anintact natural environment andwelcoming holiday regions.

At Reisepavillon, the fair for alternativetravel, 280 operators from 50countries show sustainable ways tothe pleasures of travel. Reisepavillonis the showcase for a different kind oftravel business, one that can makealmost every holiday wish come true.

Nature, arts, culture, relaxation oractivity holidays, for single people orfamilies, with or without the kids ...The travel specialists, regionaltourist boards and environmentalassociations at the fair offer individu-al advice, detailed information and acornucopia of ideas for holidays thatfeel ‘good all over’.

Since 1991 Anke Biedenkapp, thefounder of Reisepavillon, has beenthe motor of this marketplace foralternative travel which started as ameeting place for a few alternativetravel agencies and convincedecologists. Today it is the mostimportant international fair forsustainable tourism with aninteresting programme about newtrends, studies and projects,discussion forums and seminars. AtReisepavillon Hanover you caninform yourself, exchangeexperiences and promoteenvironmentally friendly tourism inyour wetland or lake region.

www.reisepavillon-online.de

ECOTRANS: Backgroundinformation and positiveexamples

The non-profit organisationECOTRANS was founded in 1993.Today 25 non-governmentalorganisations and consultants from12 European countries are membersof the European network toexchange information andexperience and to develop commonprojects. Under www.ecotrans.de,you will find an overview aboutEuropean projects on sustainabletourism, studies, publications and alink to the database eco-tip withmore than 300 concrete sustainabletourism initiatives in Europe.

Ecolabels for tourism: manycertificates - limitedeffectiveness

In 2000/2001, the World TourismOrganisation (WTO) commissionedECOTRANS, a global study onvoluntary initiatives for sustainabletourism. More than 100 ecolabels,awards and self committing initiativeswere studied in the first comparative

104


analysis worldwide to assess thehistory, development, objectives,requirements, procedures andeffectiveness of every initiative. Thestudy found that many ecolabels arestruggling to survive and to meet thepromises they made to their certifiedbusinesses in terms of significantcost savings and increasedconsumer demand.

Diversity of tourism - diversity ofecolabels

By 2004, there are more than 50environmental certificates andawards in Europe covering all typesof tourism suppliers, includingaccommodation, beaches, marinas,protected areas, restaurants, handi-crafts, golf courses, tour packages,and various other tourism-relatedactivities. More than 40 schemescertify accommodation services:hotels with or without restaurants,camping sites, youth hostels, farmhouses, alpine huts, holiday houses,guest houses, bed and breakfastlodgings, and others.

Further information:www.eco-tip.org

Besides the successful Blue FlagInternational certificate for beachesand marinas, in 2003 the long list ofecolabels for accommodationcertified about 4,000 hotels, campingsites or similar services in Europe -all together not more than 1% marketshare. Only a few schemes - e.g. inScotland or Denmark - can offer achoice of 10% or more.

To change this situation and toincrease market share, ten of themost important ecolabels in Europestarted co-operation with the VISITInitiative to work on a common basicstandard regarding the organisation,contents and procedure of theirecolabels and to collaborate inten-sely in the fields of marketing andpromotion of the products awardedwith an ecolabel.

In 2002, the UN Year for Ecotourism,the VISIT image campaign waslaunched under the motto: "Caringfor the environment ... is caring forthe visitor". This slogan connectsenvironmental quality with the qualityof the product and experiences.

Further information: www.yourvisit.info

EU Ecolabel "EU-Flower"

The European Ecolabel for touristaccommodation service wascreated in May 2003 to reward acco-mmodation services and tourists thatrespect the environment. It signalsenvironmental good performance asit is an added-value quality whenconsumers are choosing a resort.Enterprises bearing the Flower logohave officially been distinguished asbeing amongst the most environ-mentally friendly in their area.

The group "tourist accommodationservice" shall comprise the provisionof sheltered overnight accommo-dation in appropriately equippedrooms, including at least a bed,offered as a main service to tourists,travellers and lodgers. The provisionof overnight accommodation mayinclude food services, fitnessactivities and green areas. Thecriteria are divided into two mainsections, the mandatory criteria andthe optional criteria. The competentbody, which is the national organi-sation responsible for the applicationof the EU Ecolabel in every EUMember State, gives information onthe application procedure, distributesthe application pack and is responsiblefor the verification of complianceprior to the awarding of the Ecolabel.The criteria for camp sites are underdevelopment.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ecolabel/product/pg_tourism_en.htm

EMAS - European Eco-Manage-ment and Audit Scheme

The EU Eco-Audit, also called EMAS,is a voluntary management systemfor businesses and organisationsthat wish to improve their operationalenvironmental protection measureson a continual basis beyond thepractices called for by law. The re-vised EMAS II includes all theaspects of the international ISO 14001,but in some respects has higherrequirements, for example employeeparticipation and the publication ofan environmental report.

All organisations participating inEMAS regularly draw up anenvironmental statement for thepublic. In it, the organisationalenvironmental policy and itsenvironmental programme withconcrete environmental goals areestablished in connection with acomplete description and evaluationof as much quantitative data aspossible. All the relevantenvironmental aspects that thecompany or organisation is able toinfluence must be taken intoconsideration. Among these are tobe numbered indirect aspects aswell, such as investments, admini-strative and planning decisions, therange of products produced or theenvironmental balance ofcontractors and suppliers.

Each environmental statement mustbe evaluated by an independent,government-certified environmentalverifier. If it meets the requirements ofthe EU eco-audit ordinance, theenvironmental auditor declares theenvironmental statement to be valid.The organisation is then registeredin the official EMAS-Register of thecountry - under the condition that theapplicant has not previously violatedthe relevant environmental legislation.The audit process must be repeatedat least every three years.


Numerous certifications, especiallyin the hotel business, prove that theenvironmental management systemEMAS is well transferable to thetourism sector. It is a good instrumentto accelerate the improvement of theenvironmental quality. Every tourismestablishment - hotel, restaurant,leisure operators, camping grounds -is competing with businesses of thesame ranking - companies whichhave already implemented environ-mental protection measures as wellas enterprises which have not yettackled this problem. Each hotelowner defines his environmentalgoals. It is important to integrateenvironmental protection into themanagement structures taking intoconsideration all phases of themanagement i.e. planning -implementation - controlling - revising.

During the first years anenvironmental management schemecan comply with cost savingmeasures by reducing theconsumption of energy, water,cleaning agents and waste volume.Later on creativity is needed tofurther reduce, step by step, theenvironmental burden.

Further information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/emas

ECOCAMPING - Environmentalmanagement for camping sites

ECOCAMPING is an associationfounded by German campingfederations and environmentalorganisations, such as LakeConstance Foundation, ECOTRANSand GNF. The association has beenactive since 2002. Before,ECOCAMPING was a project of theinternational Lake ConstanceFoundation.

What is the aim of ECOCAMPING?

The most important aim is theimprovement of environmentprotection, nature conservation,safety, quality and qualification of theentrepreneurs and their staff, as wellas an image improvement in politicsand the Civil Service. Ultimately,ECOCAMPING aims to help the wholebusiness to be more successful.

Where has ECOCAMPING beenactive so far?

There have been ECOCAMPINGprojects at Lake Constance, at LagoMaggiore, in Baden-Wuerttembergand Bavaria, with a total of 55participating campsites. Currently,ECOCAMPING runs working groupsin Schleswig-Holstein, LowerSaxony, Brandenburg and Bavaria,with more than 50 participatingcampsites each. ECOCAMPING isalso a partner of the Living LakesNetwork.

What does ECOCAMPING include?

The aims of a regional workinggroup are the introduction ofenvironmental and qualitymanagement on campsites. Theparticipants are campsites in therespective region, who attend sixworkshops on environmentalmanagement, waste, energy, waterand cleaning, site design and safety.Each campsite receives, at leasttwice, individual on-site consultancy.The workshops and the counsellingensure that each campsite canintroduce an appropriateenvironmental management. Thequalification is concluded by theawarding of the campsites andadmission into the ECOCAMPINGnetwork. Certified campsites arepromoted through brochures, theinternet and presentations at fairs.

Who can participate?

Every campsite can participate. Asuccessful participation does not

depend on size, number of perma-nent campers, type of business orprevious activities in environmentaland quality management.ECOCAMPING does not requirecostly investments, but respondsflexibly to the possibilities of theentrepreneur. The consultants makesuggestions, but the campsitesdecide if, when and how theyimplement these.

What are the costs?

Consultancy, workshops and publicrelations cost €4,000-5,000 perparticipating business. Normally,60-70% of an ECOCAMPING projectare funded by public subsidies, andonly 30-40% have to be paid by theentrepreneur. So far the averageprices for the complete qualificationhave been €1,100 for smallcampsites, €1,500 for medium-sized, and €2,000 for largecampsites. At the moment,ECOCAMPING is the cheapestpossibility of introducing anenvironmental and qualitymanagement.

Advantages for a campsite

> Improvement of image andacceptance, also with publicauthorities

> Improvement of the overallorganisation, through environ-mental and quality management

> Enhancement of customersatisfaction

> Cost reduction (energy, water,waste)

> Improvement of work safety

> Qualification of managers and staffthrough ECOCAMPING workshops

> Enhanced publicity throughECOCAMPING public relations

> Exchange of experience with othercamping businesses

> Competitive advantage throughECOCAMPING award.

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"Helio" operates between the Swiss and theGerman border of Lake Constance

Architecture of solar passenger ferry "Helio"

Photovoltaic facilities on campsite Klausenhorn

Good visitor management

makes it possible to

combine recreation and

sports with nature

conservation.

Advantages for guests

> Linking of environment protectionand convenience

> Cost reductions keep prices stable

> Environmental education andnature experience programmes

> Natural site design and main-tenance enhance quality of the stay

> Guest information (timetables,leisure activities, etc.)

> Health protection (e.g. avoidanceof automatic air freshener sprays)

> Guest surveys ensure closecontact to the customers and helpto enhance the quality of the stay.

Advantages for camping associations

> ECOCAMPING facilitates dealingwith politics and public authorities,also ministries

> Strengthening of the position of theassociation within the overalltourism context

> Enhancement of own publicrelations through use of subsidiesand public relations ofECOCAMPING

> Better satisfied members, becauseECOCAMPING is an attractiveservice for them

> Topics from the workshops can alsobe used to improve attractiveness ofassociation meetings.

Sports activities in theSteinhuder Meer Nature Park

The Steinhuder Meer Nature Park,located near Hanover, is a highlyfrequented recreation area withattractive possibilities for varioussports activities. At the same time it isan important birds habitat with manyendangered species.

Good visitor management makes itpossible to combine recreation andsports with nature conservation.

Development

The park was founded in 1973. Thevisitor management was built upfrom the mid-seventies and has beencontinuously adapted to the growingdemands. Its leading principle is tofacilitate intense experience ofnature and at the same time to keepthe most sensitive areas free fromuse.

The lake itself, parts of the lakesideand the adjoining bogs are a"Wetland of International Importance"and will be part of the Natura 2000system.

Measures

> Zoning: concentration ofrecreational activities at two areasof the lakeside

> Constructing an attractive, wellmarked circular route around thelake for hiker and cyclists

> Relocating paths and observationfacilities from sensitive to lesssensitive areas

> Designation of two lakeside areaswhere windsurfers have access tothe lake

> Fencing off protected lake areasby buoy chains

> Limiting water sports to the periodfrom 1 April to 31 October

> Working out a voluntary agreementon ballooning routes in the naturepark area

> Intense co-operation with differentstakeholders.

Effects

> Protection of wetlands and birdhabitats

> Offering attractive opportunities forsport, recreation and experienceof nature.


Biolandhaus Arche - Theecological concept

The hotel Biolandhaus Arche(bio-inn Arche) with a capacity of 25beds has operated for 15 years andoffers a very special kind of holiday,such as hiking trips along the Noricpanorama trail, wholefoods, andinformation on Celtic heritage.Guests interested in sports can gohorse riding or explore thefascinating world of caverns andgrottos. The eco-concept of the bio-inn Arche which has beenimplemented since 1991 aims atlinking tourism with environmentalprotection and agriculture.

Measures

Energy: Use of wood stoves(thermoelectricity with an efficiencyof 90%), tiled stoves (optimal use ofthe raw material wood which isdirectly supplied by local farmers)and solar cells on the roof (forheating of 1,500 l water combinedwith a buffer reservoir of 1,000 l). Theowners of the bio-inn pay a specialprice for the firewood.

Nature/Landscape: Natural design ofthe entire house installation withindigenous wood, non-asphaltednatural paths, garden, and instead ofmowing every week, lawns aremaintained with sheep grazing andthe use of scythes.

Information: Offering bus and trainschedules, free pick-up and drop-offservice to encourage guests to usepublic transportation. Co-operationwith nearby food stores (for examplefarmers' shops, Demeter farms,cheese factory) to reduce truck traffic.

Products: Organic vegetarian wholefood cuisine using home-grown,natural and organic products.

Building: Natural paints and colours,furniture made entirely of indigenouswood and brick construction.

Culture: Active regional culturalwork, smooth and intelligent tourism

concepts in harmony with nature(launch of the "Noric inn-keeper"committed to meet ecologicalstandards and the use of regionalproducts).

Energy: Despite the increasingnumber of guests, the annual energyconsumption (wood, electricity, gas)could be constantly reduced thuscontributing to the increased positiveimage of the bio-inn among touristsand the hotel business. The localfarmers benefit from the additionalincome from the sale of firewood.

Waste: The amount of refuse wasreduced by using recyclablebeverage packaging, no plasticpackaging.

Waste separation: paper, glass,general waste. Use of recycledproducts.

Water: Reduced water consumption,protection of the drinking water bythe use of environmentally soundcleaning agents, reduced water flowvelocity. Own spring water. Improvedimage due to the fact that the tapwater is drinkable (unlike in manyother places). Protection ofheadwaters, oligotrophic grassland.

Comments: The bio-inn Arche is thefirst hotel in Carinthia which is co-operation partner of Bioernte Austria(eco-products Austria). Bio-innArche received several awards forits eco-concept: "Grüne Haube"(Green Bonnet), 1st prize for exemplaryimplementation of an integratedconcept by Envirotour 1993, theEnvironmental Label of Carinthia aswell as the Raiffeisen award. It wasalso awarded - as first Austrian eco-hotel - the eco-certification.

Lake Constance solar boatnetwork

Lake Constance region offersappropriate climate conditions forthe use of solar energy. In the pastyears numerous solar powersystems and collectors have been

installed on roofs of residentialbuildings as well as on factories andchurches. And solar power is alsoused by the Bodensee-Solarschifffahrt gGmbH (LakeConstance Solar Navigation Ltd) tooperate a fleet of currently sevensolar-powered ferry boats on thewestern part of Lake Constancesince 1998. Along with the regularferry service, they are also in use forspecial round trips and excursions.Furthermore these exceptional boatscan be chartered by anyone forspecial private activities and events.

A particular feature co-ordinated byBodensee-Stiftung (Lake ConstanceFoundation) is an environmentaleducation programme. The solarferry "Helio" serves as floatingclassroom, where young studentscan experientially learn about thelocal natural characteristics (seealso chapter 10.7).

One of the economic partners ofGlobal Nature Fund, the medium-sized company Kopf AG hasconstructed solar boats of capacitiesranging from 2-120 passengers.Solar powered boats work byharnessing electric energy gainedfrom photovoltaic cells and thereforefeature several advantages. Becauseof their soundless movement andequal-zero-emission engines, theyprovide an opportunity to experiencethe undisturbed pleasure of the beautyof nature. They do not pollute thewater with toxic residues andtherefore are particularly suitable forvulnerable waters.

Meanwhile this sustainabletechnology has spread to severalGerman cities, where solar-poweredships are in use as solar taxis,pleasure boats or research vessels. In2000 the solar technology wastransferred to England: a solar cata-maran is now also used in the Broads,the British Living Lakes partner.

www.bodenseesolarschifffahrt.dewww.solarschiff-netzwerk.org

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Information European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

EUROPARC

The European Charter forSustainable Tourism in ProtectedAreas is a valuable and practicaltool for ensuring that tourismdevelopment in Europe’s protectedareas is sustainable. In becomingmembers of the Charter, protectedareas demonstrate that they are co-operating to a high level with localstakeholders and tourism partnersto address strategic tourism issues,and receive official recognition fortheir achievements in this field.

At the same time, in joining theCharter, they are making a 5-yearcommitment to further that co-operation, to implement agreed jointactions with their partners, and tocontinue striving for excellence inthe management of tourism in theirregions. The European Charter isthus neither a conventional qualitylabel, nor a conventional partner-ship agreement, but combineselements of both to encourage andsupport a truly sustainabledevelopment of tourism in Europe’sprotected areas.

The European Charter belongs tothe EUROPARC Federation, theumbrella organisation of protectedareas in Europe. The Federationbrings together a membership ofsome 500 national parks, natureparks and biosphere reserves. TheCharter builds on therecommendations of the 1993EUROPARC study "Loving Them toDeath?" Up to now, 17 membersimplemented the Charter and 14protected areas are in the processof implementation.

The purpose of the Charter is toencourage good practice byidentifying those parks and

protected areas which are meetingagreed requirements for thesustainable development andmanagement of tourism.

The Charter is for individualprotected areas of all kinds. Theyare invited to apply for recognitionby the EUROPARC Federation asmeeting the requirements of theCharter. These requirementsinclude:

> A permanent structure for workingin partnership with others

> A strategy for sustainable tourism

> A set of actions which addressidentified sustainability issues

> A development and managementplan that involves all thoseimplicated by tourism, in andaround the protected area.

The Charter recognises that parkauthorities should not work alone inthe management of tourism, if it is tobe successful and sustainable. Apermanent forum, or equivalentarrangement, should be establishedbetween the protected areaauthority, local municipalities,conservation and communityorganisations and representativesof the tourism industry. Links withregional and national bodies shouldbe developed and maintained.

Strategic approach: To prepare andimplement a sustainable tourismstrategy and action plan for theprotected area. The strategy shouldbe based on careful consultationand be approved and understoodby local stakeholders. It shouldcontain:

> A definition of the area to beinfluenced by the strategy, whichmay extend outside the protectedarea

> An assessment of the area’snatural, historic and culturalheritage, tourism infrastructure,and economic and socialcircumstances; consideringissues of capacity, need andpotential opportunity

> An assessment of current visitorsand potential future markets

> A set of strategic objectives forthe development andmanagement of tourism, covering:conservation and enhancementof the environment and heritage,economic and socialdevelopment, preservation andimprovement of the quality of lifeof local residents, visitormanagement and enhancementof the quality of tourism offered

> An action plan to meet theseobjectives with an indication ofresources and partners toimplement the strategy

> Proposals for monitoring results.

Addressing key issues: Eachprotected area is different. Strategicpriorities and action programmesshould be determined locally, usingthe approach described above.However, the Charter requires thatthe following key issues should beaddressed:

> To protect and enhance the areasof natural and cultural heritage,for and through tourism, and toprotect it from excessive tourismdevelopment, by:

> Monitoring impact on flora andfauna and controlling tourism insensitive locations

> Encouraging activities, includingtourism uses, which support themaintenance of historic heritage,culture and traditions


Information European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

> Controlling and reducingactivities, including tourism im-pacts, which adversely affect thequality of landscapes, air and water

> Controlling and reducing the useof non-renewable energy andunnecessary waste and noise

> Encouraging visitors and thetourism industry to contribute toconservation

> To provide all visitors with a highquality experience in all aspects

of their visit, by researching theexpectations and satisfaction ofexisting and potential visitors,meeting the special needs ofdisadvantaged visitors,supporting initiatives to checkand improve the quality offacilities and services

> To communicate effectively tovisitors about the special qualitiesof the area, by ensuring that thepromotion of the area is based on

authentic images, and is sensitiveto needs and capacity at differenttimes and in different locations,providing readily available andgood quality visitor information inand around the area and assistingtourism enterprises to do so.

Adventure biking tours atLower Lake Constance

The 120 km "Adventure cycle trackLower Lake Constance" connects 44places and destinations under theaspects of agriculture, natureprotection and gastronomy. Togetherwith the Model Case StudyConstance and the UnterseeTourism Association, a compre-hensive brochure was established.In co-operation with the supervisoryauthority of Baden-Wuerttemberg, aspecial topographic map wasdeveloped.

Both publications, as well asinformation brochures of the projectpartners Tourismus Untersee e.V.and AG Hegau, are being sold as a"package" via the book trade and thetourism information offices of theLower Lake Constance communitieswith the title "Adventure cycle tracksWestern Lake Constance, Hegauand neighbouring Switzerland".

Initially 15,000 booklets wereprinted. Additionally, a specialsignpost system for the biking trackswas developed and installed.Meanwhile a travel agencyspecialising in biking tours uses the

adventure cycle track as a basis forpackage tours. During the firstseason already more than 500bookings for "overnight stays instraw" were made. Then the internetsite www.erlebnisradeln.de was setup. Meanwhile, the second edition ofthe whole package is being sold.

A central factor for success is theclose and constructive co-operationof representatives of agriculture,nature conservation, tourism andgastronomy.

It is also very important to define fromthe very beginning which institutionwill take over which services andproducts that will be developed andwho is going to market them. Onlythen it is guaranteed that thesignposting of the bicycle tracks andhome page will be maintained, sothe tourist will find well tended cyclepaths and an updated homepage.

10.7 Examples ofenvironmentaleducation

EPO’s environmental educationactivities in the Nestos area

Eleni Daroglou, EPO

While the results of environmentaleducation with adults are ordinary,with children and young people thesuccess can indeed be spectacularif environmental education projectsfulfil basic principles of integratedprojects such as:

> To attract and keep the interest ofthe children by stimulants

> To provide knowledge

> To secure active participation ofthe children and

> To give possibilities for furtheractivity and publicity of the subject.

Methodology

It is ascertained that practicalcontact of children with nature hasdirect and better results than anytheoretical lesson. Hence the EUproject consist of four parts:

Further information: www.europarc.org

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The Summer Camp

experience will enhance

the environmental

awareness and affects

both their personal

development and

working life.

Workcamp at La Nava lagoon

Summer Camp at Lake Baikal, Russia

Summer Camp in St Lucia Wetland Park,South Africa

1 Presentation of the project withslide shows about the NestosDelta and the wider area, videos,information leaflets, posters,photos.

2 Guided tours to the biotopes of theNestos Delta.

3 Work relative to the subject doneby the pupils, such as anexhibition, any construction,theatre play, painting etc..

4 Presentation to the public.

For the integration of every projectthe necessary particular activitiesare carried out as following:

> Preparation of leaflets

> Selection of slides, video, photos etc.

> Contact with the schools andteachers

> Presentation in the schools,discussion with pupils andteachers

> Excursions to the biotopes

> Painting or text writing related tothe subject by the children withprizes for the best

> Invite children to bring materialsand tools

> Presentation of the work to the public.

Collaborations

For successful implementation ofany EU Project the collaboration withrelevant bodies and services is veryimportant. In Greece, EPOcollaborates with:

> Ministry of Education and thedepartments of first and secondlevel of education in the prefecturesof Xanthi and Kavala

> Ministry of Youth

> The Environmental EducationOfficers for Basic and HighSchools of every Prefecture

> Basic Schools, High Schools andUniversities, especially with theUniversity of Aegean, School forEnvironmental Sciences

> National Welfare Organisation(KEFO Kavalas)

> Cultural NGOs.

Contents

Main aim of the environmentaleducation project in the frameworkof the LIFE project is to raise publicawareness of the lakes and lagoonsof the Nestos Delta. Thus, the contentsfocus on the natural characteristicsof the lakes and lagoons, theproblems, the works and activities inthe frame of the Life Programme thatmay give solutions to some of theproblems of the ecosystem of NestosLakes and Lagoons.

Six environmental educationcomponents have been prepared forthe presentation of the Lakes andLagoons in the schools and for theguided school classes:

1 Brief sheet about the project withinformation about the goals andactivities of the Life project.

2 Information leaflet about theNestos Lakes and the Deltaincluding information about theirnatural characteristics, biotopes,problems, needs etc..

3 Information leaflet about theRamsar convention.

4 Information leaflet about wetlandsin general.

5 List of animal species of the lakesand lagoons.

6 Slide series about the lakes,lagoons and the surroundings.

The first four listed publications aregiven to the teachers and pupilsduring the presentation in the schooltogether with leaflets about EPO, theLiving Lakes network, posters,calendar, and stickers. The list of theanimal species is circulated duringthe excursions. The slide series anda video about the Nestos Lakes andLagoons are used for presentations.


conservation work, culture andleisure time. A football game withlocal youth or an evening discussionwith the mayor and council is part ofthe workcamp just like visiting thenumerous romanic churches in theregion.

However, it is important that all con-servation activities are meaningfuland a helpful contribution to the workon the site.

A typical workcamp programmecomprises the following details:

> Field trips to the steppe lakes withexplanations on the restorationmeasures: which drainagechannels were filled and why,where is the water of La Navacoming from, which problemshave to be solved, etc.

> Bicycle tours around the differentecosystems to get to know the area

> Assistance during bird ringingactivities (identifying bird species,measuring and weighing, markingof birds)

> Bird observation; studying thetypical flora

> Collecting litter

> Construction of observationplatforms or setting up signs alongnature trails

> Afternoon with games andhandicrafts together with childrenfrom a local school.

All activities have to be assessedconcerning potential dangers for theparticipants. The workcamp has tobe registered at the competentregional authority (Consejería deFamilia e Igualdad de Oportuni-dades) and the programme has to beagreed with.

Due to the lack of accommodationfacilities within the municipality andits region, the groups areaccommodated in the informationcentre of Fundación Global Nature. Itfulfills the standards of Spanish Youth

hostels and is registered as such.Moreover, Spanish law demandsliability insurance for eachparticipant and their supervisor.

Besides the requirements of the law,regulations for the daily living, suchas precise rules of the house orscheduling of kitchen duties andother activities, which have to betaken on by the group, are crucial.

At least two supervisors (with 13participants per supervisor at themost), specially trained as groupleaders for the environmental field,are in charge of the group 24 hoursa day. Their professional input has tobe considered in the planningprocess of the programme. In termsof guaranteeing a smoothorganisation and giving professionaladvice during field trips, they areassisted by staff of the Fundación.

A cook with adequate qualification isemployed for the workcamp, butsome meals are organised inrestaurants to benefit localgastronomy. To add a nice detail, theparticipants from different countriessometimes take turns cooking atypical meal for each other.

Summer Camps withDaimlerChrysler and Lufthansa

Bettina Jahn, Global Nature Fund

Nature Summer Camps offer youngpeople the opportunity to gainexperience in practical natureconservation work, together withlocals, during a stay of one to fourweeks. This experience willenhance the environmentalawareness and affects both their

Results

From the beginning of the presentLIFE Environment Project in June2001 until June 2004, 52 schoolshave been visited for presentations,and 2,073 pupils plus 119 teachershave participated in the presentationsand excursions. In 50 schoolsevents have been carried out withfinal presentations of the work of theclasses.

Floating Class Room at LakeConstance

Several years ago the "FloatingClass Room" was established atLake Constance, Germany. A solarpowered boat was equipped withlaboratory facilities, such asmicroscopes and binoculars. Schoolclasses and youth groups use thefloating lab for investigation tours onthe lake, e.g. to take water samplesand observe the life that exists inwater. They learn about algaegrowth, measure the ph-value of thewater, and water quality. Hereenvironmental aspects are packedin a very attractive and exciting way.

Workcamps in La Nava

Antonio Guillem, Fundación Global Nature

For the past decade, FundaciónGlobal Nature has been carrying outworkcamps with young people fromSpain and other European countries.To the surprise of the local population,in the beginning, young people fromall over Europe came to spend theirholidays and actively participate inthe conservation work of "their"steppe lake. Today, workcamps takeplace on a regular basis in Fuentesde Nava every summer. Two to threegroups of 20-25 young people eachspend a fortnight within the region tocontribute towards the protection ofnature, but also to learn about thecountry and culture. The programmesare always a balanced mixture of

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"Heatwave" Puppet Show

Children watching the Puppet Show

Using puppetry and

drama to explain often

complex ecological

problems or

environmental conflicts

to a non-specialist

audience has

proved amazingly

successful.

personal development and workinglife. It is also an interculturalexchange with the chance toimprove language skills.

A good possibility for organising aSummer Camps is a co-operationbetween companies and NGOs.Based on the experience withSummer Camps carried out in co-operation with DaimlerChrysler in2003 and 2004, young employeesand children of employees showgreat interest in this kind of holiday.The benefit for the company is themotivation of its employees and animage enhancement.

The co-operation offers numerousadvantages for the NGO. In largecompanies one can accomplish thesupport from different departmentsconcerning the marketing for theSummer Camp and the arrangementof project details. At DaimlerChrysler,GNF got access to all availablemedia to announce the SummerCamps, e.g. newspapers, intranet,e-mail-lists. It is advisable to contactthe communication department fortheir assistance, because they knowthe best ways to get in touch with theemployees. For the Summer Campsa brochure with detailed programmedescriptions for all offered campsincluding work plan, timeframe andcosts should be produced. The flyersand posters should be displayed atcentral locations like canteens,secretariats, meeting points and onblackboards.

A long application period is crucialbecause people need time to maketheir decisions. It is important toarrange a hotline and an e-mailcontact in order to allow interestedpeople to gather further informationon the Summer Camps. In addition tocompleting an application form, theapplicants should write a motivationletter with the following points: whythey want to take part in a SummerCamp, why they decided on thespecial Summer Camp, interests,

skills and commitment and, last butnot least, what they expect from theSummer Camp participation.

This provides important informationfor the selection of the SummerCamp participants: motivation,language skills and expectations.The size of each Summer Campgroup should be between 10-20participants. The participants shouldbe at least 18 years old. It isadvisable to fill the Summer Campwith people of similar age to avoidconflicts of interests.

A seminar in advance is very helpful.The participants have the possibilityto get to know each other and toreceive detailed information aboutthe host country, living conditions, theCamp programme as well as usefultravel and flight information. You mayalso show some pictures of the area,the working sites and accommo-dation facilities. It is important toinform the participants about culturalaspects, particularly if they do nothave much travel experiences. Goodopportunities are working groups foreach Camp during the seminar. Theymay solve a fictitious problem in thegroup, for example to prepare a shortpresentation about their forthcomingSummer Camp and introduce it to theother Summer Camp groups. This willsupport the evolvement of groupdynamic.

A wide range of working activitiescan be done with the help of theparticipants during a Summer Camp.Depending on your field of activities,the volunteers can be a useful supportfor large projects, which need a lot ofmanpower.

The following aspects are helpful forplanning a Summer Camp:

> Allow extra time for the preparationof the Summer Camp. It can be verytime consuming to arrange detailslike timetable, camp programme,application procedure, legaladvice, insurance and visa.


> Be aware that all participants areindividuals and some people needmore support and help than others.

> Hand out a mandatory registrationform, which the participants mustsign if they intend to participate inthe Camp.

> Accommodation should be basicbut clean, comparable to a youthhostel.

> The participants may bear costs oftravel, accommodation, food, andtransport themselves. It is a goodidea to give advice for travelarrangements. Accommodation,food and transport on site shouldbe arranged by the organiser ofthe Summer Camp.

> Co-operation with local companiescould offer the possibility to ask forfinancial support for organisationand preparation the Summer Campprogramme.

> Keep in mind that it can besometimes difficult to prepare thelocal population, supposed to beworking together with theworkcamp participants. The NGOhas to act as a mediator betweenparticipants and local people toavoid disaffirmation and scepticism.

> It is advisable to accompany theparticipants during the SummerCamp. At the beginning of theCamp, the participants should getan introduction in the field of workand the project area. At the end ofthe camp, all work activities shouldbe carried out as they wereplanned. It means a great benefitfor your organisation, and theyoung people feel that theirparticipation was reasonable.

> During the Summer Camp youshould offer a mix of work, culturalactivities and leisure time. Theparticipants are also interested indiscovering the host country andthe surroundings of the Camparea. On weekends, day trips tohistoric sites or other places of

interest or some outdoor activitieslike cycling or canoeing can beorganised.

> After finishing the Camps youshould offer a final meeting for allparticipants. It is a goodopportunity to summarise theSummer Camp activities andresults. Each group can give alecture with photos of the Campand report on their experiences.

> It is helpful to document yourexperience with the participantsand the Summer Camporganisation for further Camps.You can carry out a survey to getfeedback from the participants.

Check list for Camp participants:

> Clothing

> Climate & time zone

> Currency & exchange rates

> Acceptance of credit cards &traveller's cheques

> Visa requirements

> Health requirements & vaccination

> First aid kit & emergency numbers

> Communication

> Tourist guides & contact address.

Nutmeg Puppet Show tour ofthe Broads

Rachael Miller, Broads Authority

Every year the Broads Authorityorganises a programme of publicevents called ‘Fun in the Broads’ toencourage understanding andenjoyment of the Broads. The eventsprogramme includes walking, sailingand canoeing. The Nutmeg PuppetShow tour of the Broads has becomean integral part of this programme.

The puppet shows have evolvedduring the long-running workingrelationship between the BroadsAuthority and Nutmeg PuppetCompany. The theme of the annual

show is decided through jointdiscussions about current BroadsAuthority projects, problems orconflicts in the Broads, or globalenvironmental issues. Research onthe selected topic is carried out byNutmeg Puppet Company, then astoryline and script are produced.Nutmeg Puppet Company tourapproximately 15 villages in theBroads area performing on villagegreens and other public openspaces. The audience, usually madeup of families, can watch the showfor free. Although many parents bringtheir children to watch the show theybecome involved with theentertaining storylines themselvesand often end up as transfixed as thechildren, and hopefully take away amessage too!

2003’s show - ‘Heatwave!’ - wasperformed at the Living Lakesconference which was held in theBroads. It was a very appropriate titlefor an exceptionally hot summer!The puppet show told the tale ofglobal warming on a local level, andhow rising seas would affect not onlythe wildlife but also the humaninhabitants of the Broads. Alsoincluded were suggestions theaudience could take away to reducefossil fuel emissions, for instanceturning down heating and cyclinginstead of using the car.

The annual tour of the NutmegPuppet show has a strong localfollowing and provides a good wayfor the Broads Authority to interactwith local communities. Nearly 2,000people saw the ‘Heatwave!’ showduring its three week August Tour.Using puppetry and drama to explainoften complex ecological problemsor environmental conflicts to a non-specialist audience has provedamazingly successful. The shows,as part of the wider eventsprogramme also provide an importantaddition to local tourism, which is themain industry in the area.

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11 Management: Structure, Documen

Management:Structure,Documentation,Communication

Once targets and procedures havebeen established for theparticipation of all interested partiesand a plan of action has beendecided upon the situation must beavoided where participants sit backand allow the projects to becomemoribund. It is essential to keep theprojects alive and to this end theorganisation needs to keep a checkby asking for regular reports andarrange periodic meetings with therole players in order to ensureresults and make modification wherenecessary.

Competent management saves timeand money so it is important to makeuse of any existing organisation thatcan be integrated into the new planand create an efficient operation.

Key elements for management

> Leadership and managementrepresentation

Responsible leadership creates res-ponsible management so the leadershould have the necessary know-ledge and authority to ensure thatdiscussions are carried out in accor-dance with the management plan.

Detailed job descriptions for thevarious participants are essential toensure the implementation of theaction plan.

There must be regular reportsbetween the members and themanagement. The leader andorganiser of the EnvironmentalManagement System (EMAS) shouldbe obliged to carry out an internalaudit at regular intervals and keepmanagement advised of the results.

> Management Environmental Team

A permanent environmentalcommittee should co-ordinate thevarious initiatives. Team work isessential and cannot be emphasisedenough and the committee mustconsist of people sufficientlymotivated to ensure success. Ifoutside businesses and NGOs canbe drawn into the plan it will likelyincrease the potential for creativeideas and more ambitious targets.However the number of committeemembers should be kept as low aspossible in the interests of efficiency.

The environmental team must act inan advisory capacity co-ordinatedby management. This task should beto elaborate on the action plan,modify where necessary and see tothe carrying out of functions. Theyshould supply and interpretinformation for the internal audit andmonitor the situation. Their meetings,which must be held 1 - 2 times ayear, must be minuted.

> Communication anddocumentation

It is known from experience that fieldworkers do not devote much time towriting reports and keeping records.For this reason management shouldkeep its documentation to theminimum while making it as informa-tive as possible. Records shouldhowever be explicit showing bywhom, for whom, when it wasproduced and where it can be found.A simple and complete index willhelp efficiency and contribute totransparency. Environmental datacomprises:

> Environmental texts of laws andregulations

> Legal documents such as licences

> Reports, files and plans

> Instructions

> Minutes of all meetings

> Reports of managementrepresentation

> Relevant studies and analyses(water, bird counts etc.)

> Public Relation work scheme

> Reports on Public Relationmeasures.

All staff members should haveaccess to this information, preferablyin the form of a handbook. Someonemust be appointed and maderesponsible for the updating of allrecords and information.

> Staff training

The action of staff directly influencesthe environment where they workand can have a positive or negativeeffect. Well trained employees aremore motivated and will make betterdecisions. Management shouldemphasise the importance of goodtraining for its field staff and insist ongood communication.

Management should clearly definewho is responsible for thedissemination of information to thestaff and how it should be relayed.Management must also appoint asuitably qualified trainer and see thatall staff review suitable training fortheir tasks.

> External communication

Depending upon available fundsthere are many ways of spreadinginformation. The official responsiblefor news releases must be clearlyidentified to the public and bealways available to answer queries,accept recommendations and fieldany problems and objections thatneed to be dealt with.


tation, Communication >>

Statutory Legislation(international and national)

Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act1988

DEFRA / CountrysideAgency guidance

Relationship between the Broads Plan, legislation, strategies and plans (Broads Plan 2004)

District Plans and Strategies

Community Strategies

District Local DevelopmentDocuments

Broads Local DevelopmentDocuments

Forward planning,development controland land use policies

BROADS PLANStatutory strategy and

managenent plan

20-year aims5-year objektives

supported by

5-year

ACTION PLAN

Regional Plans and Strategies e.g.

> Regional EconomicDevelopmant Strategy

> Regional Planning Guidance/Regional Spatial Strategy

> Regional Environmental Strategy

> Regional Tourism Strategy

> Regional Transport Strategy

> Biodiversity Action Plans

> Joint Statement of Intent toCo-operate between theProtected Areas of the East ofEngland and Local, Regional andNational Government

Broads Strategies e.g.

> Landscape CharacterAssessment

> Broads Natural Area Profile

> Drained Marshes Strategy

> Fen Management Strategy

> Rivers and Broads Strategy

> Broads Flood Alleviation StrategicEnvironmental Assesment

> Norfolk Coast AONBManagement Plan

Broads Authority Business PlanAnnual financial plan for implementing Broads Action Plan

Broads Authority Best Value Performance PlanAnnual performance plan, with targets for improvement, plan of action

and bid for government funding (audited)

Broads Authority Corporate Performance ReviewReview of all services every 3-5 years (audited)

116

12

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

1999

1995

1992

Participation and Communication

„Sustainable

development is not just

about the environment, it

is about the future of

society as a whole.

Sustainable development

is not just the

responsibility of a small

group of people or

institutions. It is the

responsibility of us all.“

Margot Wallström

Participation andCommunication

"Sustainable development is not justabout the environment, it is about thefuture of society as a whole.Sustainable development is not justthe responsibility of a small group ofpeople or institutions. It is theresponsibility of us all“. With thisappeal Environmental CommissionerMargot Wallström opened the GreenWeek 2004 in Brussels.

Environment is still an importantissue of the civic society. Accordingto a Eurobarometer survey of 2003the most important fears of theEuropeans were:

> 79% threats and violence

> 66% health

> 65% unemployment

> 56% poverty and social exclusion

> 48% drugs

> 46% damage to the environment

> 40% non respect of human rights.

But how can environmental rights ofcitizens such as the right to clean air,drinkable water or biodiversity becovered? How can citizens be moreinvolved in policy-making?

Answers to these questions are notonly crucial at European, national

and communal level but also for thesuccessful management of awetland or lake. The managementplan must contain a structure for theincorporation of citizens andstakeholders as well as a structurefor efficient information to the public.

Communication and participationare very much related. Beforemaking any decision or an qualifiedinput - whether on a personal basisor on behalf of the company or localauthority - citizens need to have theright information. Information thatcovers the issue from all differentangles and that offers all possiblesolutions. Only then they can makean informed choice.

Local Agenda 21

Local Agenda 21 is the name of anaction plan for sustainable urban/communal development which isestablished and implemented by thelocal authorities in co-operation withthe different local actors. Accordingto chapter 28 of Agenda 21, theglobal initiative for sustainabledevelopment which was adoptedduring the UN Conference onEnvironment and Development(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992,all local authorities in each countryshould be encouraged to implementAgenda 21.

Tap waterGreenspace Noise Waste Landscape

Airpollution Traffic

Citizens' concerns regarding environment

Stakeholder participation in Upper Swabia

Source: EU DG Environment


>>

During the past 10 years cities andcommunities have established workgroups on the topics traffic,construction, living, education,consumerism, etc. where commontargets and project proposals for thefuture of the city or community aredeveloped by representatives fromthe local government, local enterprises,associations and private households.

Competent moderation of all initiativesfrom the parties involved (work groups,professional process management bythe local government and continuingincorporation of all local Boards -Town and Municipal Council) is

crucial for a good local Agenda 21process

Agenda 21 goals and approachesshould be integrated into themanagement plan for the wetlandand lake. If there are already activeAgenda 21 groups in the region,then they should actively participatein the implementation and furtherdevelopment of the management plan.

Further information: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/index.htmhttp://www.unep.org/Documents/www.agenda21.de (German)

Water management andparticipation

Article 14 of the EU WaterFramework Directive requires thatMember States encourage the activeinvolvement of all interested partiesin the implementation of theDirective. Member States arerequired to carry out publicinformation and consultation in thedevelopment, review and updating ofRiver Basin Management Plans(RBMPs). This includes access tobackground documents andinformation used for thedevelopment of the draft plan.

The Aarhus Convention (1998)establishes a number of rights ofthe public (citizens and theirassociations) with regard to theenvironment. Public authorities (atnational, regional or local level)are to contribute to allowing theserights to become effective. TheConvention provides for

> The right of everyone to receiveenvironmental information that isheld by public authorities(access to environmentalinformation). This can includeinformation on the state of theenvironment, but also on policiesor measures taken, or on thestate of human health and safetywhere this can be affected by thestate of the environment. Citizensare entitled to obtain thisinformation within one month ofthe request and without having tosay why they require it. Inaddition, public authorities areobliged, under the Convention,to actively disseminateenvironmental information intheir possession.

> The right to participate from an

early stage in environmentaldecision-making. Arrangementsare to be made by publicauthorities to enable citizens andenvironmental organisations tocomment on, for example,proposals for projects affectingthe environment, or plans andprogrammes relating to theenvironment, these comments tobe taken into due account indecision-making, and informationto be provided on the finaldecisions and the reasons for it(public participation inenvironmental decision-making).

> The right to challenge, in a courtof law, public decisions that havebeen made without respectingthe two aforementioned rights orenvironmental law in general(access to justice).

The main instrument to alignCommunity legislation with theprovisions of the Århus Conventionon public access to environmentalinformation is the Directive2003/4/EC on public access toenvironmental information. Thisnew Directive obliges the Member

States of the European Union tohave their legislation in place atthe latest by 14 February 2005.

Directive 2003/35/EC alignsCommunity legislation with theprovisions of the Århus Conventionon public participation. TheDirective updates provisions onpublic participation in thepermitting procedures at nationallevel under legislation onenvironmental impact assessmentand integrated pollution preventionand control, and it introduces ruleson access to justice. Furthermore,it contains rules on publicparticipation in the preparation of anumber of environmental plansand programmes under Directiveson waste, air pollution and protectionof waters against nitrate pollution.Member States are obliged to adopttheir laws and other provisions tocomply with this Directive by 25June 2005 at the latest.

In addition, the Commission hasadopted a proposal for a Directiveto fully address the requirements ofthat Convention on access tojustice in environmental matters.

Information Aarhus Convention

118

12 Participation and Communication

Example Stakeholder forum Nestos

Hans Jerrentrup, EPO

Up to now in Greece top to bottomprocesses in administration arerather common and do not usuallyinvolve the public. In the frame ofthe LIFE project it was decided towork with round tables to multiplythe involvement of stakeholdersinto the project and its benefitsfrom the measures in a step-by-step strategy. The stakeholdergroups that were identified toparticipate in the procedure for themanagement plan should becapable of informing and involvinga broad public as well as followingcrucial target groups:

> Development Agency AENAK(civil servants)

> Prefecture of Kavala(communities, mayors and thepublic)

> Department of Agriculture of theprefecture of Kavala

> Department of Livestock (farmersand cattle dealers)

> Department for Fisheries(fishermen and traders)

> Department of the Environment(wardens and landowners)

> Forest Service of Kavala(forest owners and hunters)

> Fisheries Research Institute(INALE)

> Prefectural Tourism Committee(tourism service providers)

> EOT (Greek National TourismOrganisation)

> Local Authority of Hrysoupolisand Keramoti

> Agricultural co-operatives

> Hotel and tourism association ofKavala.

Working groups

Two working groups were installed:one to discuss the wetland andagricultural issues and a secondgroup to discuss the tourism-related issues. The tasks andobjectives of the working groupsare defined as follows:

> Discussion of the measures inthe LIFE Environment ProgrammeENV/D/000351

> Management plan and maps

> Proposals for collaboration

> Guidelines for activities

> Recommendations for actionsand for the government (in thetourism sector also the investors).

Within the LIFE project, the projectpartner EPO in cooperation withAENAK developed a draftmanagement plan for four of theNestos lakes and the Vassova andErateino Lagoons. The draft

comprises: Biotope and WaterManagement, Restoration,Agricultural Extensification andSustainable Tourism/Visitor Ma-nagement. The two stakeholders,working groups met on a regularbasis in order to review and refinethe draft.

The Working Group on Agriculture,Nature and Water Management -under the auspices of AENAK andEPO developed the agriculturalpast of the management plan withthe aim to agree on voluntarymeasures to support theextensification and foster a long-term improvement of agricultureand to ensure the environmentalquality of the area.

The Tourism Working Groupdeveloped the part regardingtourism development of the area.

After a reviewing phase of thewritten proposals and comments ofthe different stakeholders the finalmanagement plan for the selectedNestos areas has to be approvedand will be signed at a public event.

The awareness raising andparticipatory processes for themanagement plan contributed tothe improvement of thecommunication betweenauthorities, NGOs and the localpopulation.


>>

While public participation is a funda-mental part of the WFD, there areadditional legal tools citizens andNGOs can use to ensure they areinvolved, including the ‘Convention onAccess to Information, PublicParticipation in Decision-Making andAccess to Justice in EnvironmentalMatters’ (Aarhus, 25 June 1998),which has been partially ‘transformed’into a set of EU Directives.

To meet the requirements of the EUWater Framework Directive theymust be brought down to local level;that means to the area for which amanagement plan should be workedout and implemented.

Questions which have to be clarifiedwithin the scope of the managementplan:

> Who is going to inform and how?

Regular newsletter, lectures,exhibitions, interviews, articles intrade magazines, etc.

> Who should be involved in theelaboration and further developmentof the management plan?

Representatives of the relevanteconomical sectors, localadministrations, private environmentalorganisations and other NGOs

> How should they be involved?

Working groups or other forums,timetable, additional possibilities forfeedback

> What happens with the results ofthe participatory involvement?

Only if you are well informed will youhave a say. Often scientists andexperts are not able to convey theirwidespread knowledge to the public.

The management’s ultimate ambitionmust be complete and clearinformation to the public. Glossariesof technical terms, graphics, photos,these elements help raise interestand understanding. Have your notesand reports written or at leastcorrected by a journalist. Meanwhilethere are a lot of methods to involvecitizens and stakeholders. Anexperienced moderator may play animportant role and prove a goodinvestment. A short questionnairewith questions on the informationcontent of the event, moderation,discussion offer etc. should bedisplayed. Encourage citizens andstakeholders to send you a feedbackand handle them with care.

See also chapter 11: Managementstructure, documentation andcommunication.

Stakeholder meeting in Greece

120

13 Monitoring and Evaluation >>

Water quality monitoring

Consideration of all

stages in the

management cycle is

important but, although

often the most resource

intensive, evaluating

outcomes provides the

most meaningful measure

of management

effectiveness.

Monitoring andEvaluation - A cyclicalProcessDr Michael Green, Broads Authority

Effective management

Management is a cyclical processinvolving planning, allocation ofresources, implementation,monitoring and evaluation, andfeedback. Monitoring and evaluationis crucial to effective managementbecause it ensures that:

> The management body is heldaccountable to its stakeholders

> Management is adapted, asnecessary, in order to addresschanging circumstances, be theynew knowledge, priorities, threatsor opportunities and

> Lessons are learnt to improvefuture management planning.

Management involves six distinctstages. Its evaluation involvesexamining:

> Design issues about the contextand planning of a site;

> The adequacy andappropriateness of inputs andmanagement processes; and

> The delivery of managementobjectives in terms of outputs andoutcomes.

Assessments of planning and inputsare concerned principally with theeconomics of management, those ofprocesses with efficiency and thoseof outputs and outcomes witheffectiveness. Each of these stagesis considered in Table 1.

Consideration of all stages in themanagement cycle is important but,although often the most resourceintensive, evaluating outcomesprovides the most meaningfulmeasure of management effective-ness. For example, restocking awater body with fish may achieve theobjective of increasing the populationof fish-eating birds but, dependingon the species of fish re-introduced,might result in a less desirable

Context:status and threats

Where are we now ?

OutcomeWhat did we achieve ?

InputsWhat do we need ?

OutputWhat did we do and

what products or serviceswere produced ?

Management ProcessHow do we go about it ?

PlanningWhere do we want to be

and how will we get there ?

Evaluation

Management cycle and its evaluation (Source: Hockings et al., 2000)


outcome of higher algal densities,reduced water clarity and aconsequent decline in aquatic plantpopulations.

Use of indicators

It is not practical or even possible tomeasure directly all the attributesthat relate to the management of asite and, therefore, it is necessary toselect a number of representativeindicators. These should be chosenon the basis of their ability to provideinformation about:

> The extent to which key manage-ment objectives are being achieved

> The condition of the mostsignificant conservation values(natural and cultural)

> The level or extent of perceivedthreats, pressures or risks tosignificant values

> The resolution of important,complex or controversialmanagement issues

> The outcomes of big programmesand expenditures on management.

Indicators for measuringmanagement effectiveness shouldmeet the following criteria:

> Have an unambiguous,predictable and verifiablerelationship to the attribute beingassessed

> Be sensitive to change in theattribute being assessed

> Reflect enduring environmentalchange across the site

> Reflect changes and processes ofsignificance to management

> Reflect changes at spatial andtemporal scales of relevance tomanagement

> Be cost-effective in terms of datacollection, analysis andinterpretation

> Be simple to measure and interpret

> Be able to be collected, analysedand reported in a timely fashion.

Monitoring and evaluating beyondboundaries

The integrity of wetlands isparticularly dependent on their beingfed with adequate supplies of goodquality water, which, in turn, is aconsequence of land management,water abstraction and water dischargepractices within the catchment.Thus, management authoritiesshould consider developing someindicators that reflect the environ-mental status of the catchment withinwhich a wetland is located.

Who should be involved?

Can a manager responsible for a siteassess the effectiveness of itsmanagement objectively? Whileevery manager has a responsibilityfor continually evaluating their areaof responsibility, there are benefits ininvolving others from within andoutside the management authority.As a rule, long-term monitoring andevaluation programmes should give

Framework for assessing management effectiveness (Hockings et al., 2000) (Table 1)

Management stage Description of assessment

Context: status and threatsAssessment of the importance of the site and status of its features, the broadlegal and policy environment to which it is subject, and threats andopportunities facing it.

Assessment focused on the appropriateness of national legislation andpolicy, the design of the site in terms of the integrity and status of theresource, and the more detailed management plan and objectives that mayaffect achievement of the vision planned for the site.

Assessment of the adequacy of resources in relation to managementobjectives, based primarily on measures of staff, funds, equipment andfacilities.

Assessment of the suitability and adequacy of management processes,mechanisms and systems to deliver the management objectives for the site.

Assessment of the extent to which actions have been implemented andtargets achieved.

Assessment of the extent to which management has been successful interms of objectives being achieved.

Planning

Inputs

Management process

Outputs

Outcomes

122


a central role to staff, involvepartners (both statutory and non-governmental organisations) andprovide opportunities for localcommunity participation.

Case Study: Monitoring andevaluating implementation of theBroads Plan

The Broads national parkmanagement plan comprises aStrategic Plan, based on a set of 20-year aims, and a supporting ActionPlan with 5-year objectives (BroadsAuthority, 2004). Costed actions fromthe Action Plan are incorporated inthe annual Business Plan accordingto their respective priorities andavailability of resources.

Implementation of the Broads Planwill be monitored in terms of inputsand outputs through the annualbusiness planning process andevaluated in terms of outcomes bymeans of a set of indicators.

Progress with the 143 actions(outputs) in the Action Plan will bemonitored according to a simplifiedversion of the status codes

developed by the World Commissionon Protected Areas. Each action willbe rated in terms of being: notstarted, in progress or completed(Table 2).

A core set of performance indicatorsis under development to monitorprogress towards the 20-year aims(outcomes), some of which areillustrated in Table 3. A number ofthese indicators have the potential tobe used at a landscape and/orcatchment scale. This is particularlyimportant given the dependence ofthe Broads as a wetland on itscatchment. Others have the potentialto reflect economic and socialvalues, both within the national parkand beyond its boundaries.

Responsibility for some of themonitoring falls within the remit ofother organisations, including somewithin the non-governmental andcorporate sectors (Table 3). Thisreinforces the partnership approachto managing the Broads. The BroadsAuthority is in the process ofestablishing a representative panelof partner organisations to oversee

the monitoring and evaluation. Thisapproach adds credibility to theindependence of the evaluation; andit provides a mechanism for sharingand learning from successes andfailures among partners.

System for rating implementation of actions in the Broads 5-year Action Plan, adapted fromWCPA status codes (Hockings et al.)

WCPA status code Implementation of actions Broads Plan status code

Not started

Reactive work only

Planning in progress

Policy/planning complete

Planning complete: work started

Substantial progress

Completed

Not started

In progress

Completed

(Table 2)


Potential performance indicators for evaluating outcomes of the Broads Plan (Table 3)

Outcome Potential performance indicator Monitoring agency

Living landscapes

> A long-term vision for the Broads isdeveloped.

> The character of the Broads landscapeis maintained.

> A planning policy framework that issocially, economically andenvironmentally sustainable isdeveloped and implemented.

> Flooding is managed.

> ‘Good’ status for all water bodies, in linewith the European Water FrameworkDirective, is achieved.

> Biodiversity is conserved and enhanced.

> Fens are managed sustainably inecological and economic terms.

> Risks associated with boating are ‘Low asReasonably Possible’ and boats meetminimum safety standards.

> The boating holidays industry provides aquality service that is economicallysustainable.

> The design and use of boats causesminimal damage to the environment.

> Appropriate forms of good access toland and water are available for all toenjoy the Broads.

> Visitor services, facilities and associatedinfrastructure meet minimum qualitystandards.

> The Broads is well known as a nationalpark and its purposes are understoodby all sectors of society, including youngpeople, those from urban areas, ethnicminorities, and those with disabilities.

> Stakeholders, including partnerorganisations, local communities and thepublic, are engaged with the Authority.

> Sustainability of vision> Degree of consensus among stakeholders

> Extent and percentage of flood plain maintained asopen water, fen, grazing marsh or open space

> Extent and percentage voluntary uptake ofEnvironmental Stewardship schemes within the Broadsand its catchment

> Percentage of appeals against planning decisions thatare upheld by Planning Inspector

> Percentage of new homes built on previouslydeveloped land

> Number of properties damaged by flooding

> Percentage of length of rivers and of number of broadsin ‘good’ status within the Broads and its catchment

> Percentage of Sites of Special Scientific Interest infavourable condition within the Broads and its catchment

> Total area of fen under appropriate management

> Number of incidents resulting in serious injury or deathper year

> Mean number of weeks per year that cruisers arehired

> Percentage of hire boats accredited under QualityGrading Scheme

> Percentage of boats that meet a set of criteriaconcerning wash, exhaust emissions, noise etc.

> Percentage of boats violating speed limits, based onstandard monitoring

> Percentage of public rights of way easily accessible tothe public

> Length of footpaths accessible to those with disabilities

> Number of catering establishments accredited underthe Broads Quality Charter

> Percentage of residents and visitors aware of Broads’national park status, based on standard monitoring

> Composition of visitors to the Broads

> Number of organisations and community groupsactively implementing Broads Plan

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Rural DevelopmentService

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Environment Agency

> Environment Agency

> English Nature

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Broads Hire BoatFederation

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Unicorn Tourism

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

> Broads Authority

Water, habitats and wildlife

Tourism and recreation

Understanding the Broads

124


Information Evaluation system for lakeshore conservation

Professional evaluation systemfor lakeshore conservation andwater body protection

Survey of the Arbeitsgruppe Bodenseeufer(AGBU) for Lake Constance Foundation andGNF, Radolfzell

The shore and the shallow waterzone is the most diverse, and at thesame time, the most endangeredpart of the ecosystem of LakeConstance. Here the conflictbetween protection and theinterests of users is particularlygreat. As a result, it is also a majorfocus of interest for water pollutioncontrol and nature conservation.Since the 1960s the work of waterpollution control has focussed onthe reduction of the over-fertilisationof the lake. The declaration ofprotection areas in the shore zonewas the major focus of natureconservation. In the last years achange of circumstances hasbecome apparent. This ischaracterised by the fact that thefree water body has beensuccessfully restored, as a result ofnew guidelines from the EU, butalso through the continuingintensification of use of thelakeshore zone.

This survey investigates andpresents the overall importance ofthe lakeshore zone for natureconservation and water pollutioncontrol in light of the EU WaterFramework Directive (WFD) and theNatural Habitats Directive or theNatura 2000 network system.

Final recommendations of thesurvey are:

> Integration of the objectives ofprofessional nature conservationand water pollution control

A better integration between watermanagement and conservationobjectives is urgently required. Astronger commitment of natureconservation, and here in particularalso more involvement of the privateconservation sector on regionaland local levels in theimplementation process of the WFDshould be achieved. The aim is toincrease the involvement ofconservation objectives in allimplementation steps, starting withsurvey and evaluation as well asmonitoring of water bodies.

> Development of an evaluationprocedure for lakeshores on thebasis of the WFD-concept

In water pollution control there aremany multimetric, water body type-specific evaluation procedures,which are currently beingdeveloped and tested. They use thepotential close-to-natural conditionas a reference, and the multimetricdistance between the as-is-condition and the reference as anevaluation measurement. However,evaluation methods used forriverine and lakeshore wetlands,should be incorporated into thisstructure, as far as this isadvantageous for the mutualinterests of water management andconservation. Integrativeenvironmental protection is needed,and synergies, which can arisethrough the evaluation of waterbodies in practice, justify the efforts.The WFD and its CIS-guidancedocuments offer a wide-reaching,integrative approach. However, inview of the special features of thelake shore zone they are notdetailed enough. Status descriptionand evaluation systems for thelakeshore can benefit from theconceptual guidelines of the WFD,

as well as from concepts for theevaluation of trophic status andfrom the evaluation ofhydromorphologic status of runningwaters.

> Realization of public participationduring the implementation of theWFD on Lake Constance

The earliest possible participationof interested parties in theimplementation process of the WFDcan have positive effects on thequality of status surveys andmonitoring programmes. Publicparticipation can be access tobackground information for the"wider public“ and "interestedparties“, consultation of "interestedparties“ (=the lowest level), andactive involvement of "interestedparties“ (=higher level). "Interestedparties“ are not only professionalorganisations from the public sector(e.g. NGOs) and the private sector(economic and industry groups,research institutions), but also local,non-professionally organisedgroups with locally bound interests.The advantages of increased publicparticipation may occur on a widescale on national level and on thelevel of river catchment areas aswell as on regional level of partialcatchment areas and river basindistricts.

An important first step for a betterco-operation between all natureprotection organisations activearound Lake Constance could bethe joint formulation andimplementation of a lakeshoreevaluation procedure.

Further information:

www.bodensee-ufer.de


Natural shallow water zones belong to the most important development goals for Lake Constance

126

14 Project Partners and Supporters

Project Partners andSupporters

Germany, Lake Constance

Lake Constance is located betweenGermany, Austria and Switzerland. Itis the second largest freshwater lakein Central Europe with a surfacearea of 540 km2 and a maximumdepth of 252 m. 2.2 million peoplelive, work and relax in the LakeConstance region and up to 4.5million people are dependent onLake Constance drinking water.

GNF - Project co-ordination

Global Nature Fund (GNF) is aninternational non-governmental andnon-profit organisation, registered inBerlin, Germany. GNF was foundedin 1998 and with it the Living Lakesnetwork. A principal task of thefoundation is the co-ordination ofLiving Lakes, an internationalnetwork for the protection of lakesand wetlands and sustainabledevelopment in the lake regions.

Global Nature Fund

International Foundation forEnvironment and Nature

Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4, D-78315 Radolfzell,GermanyPh +49 7732 99 95-80Fax +49 7732 99 95-88E-mail: [email protected]

www.livingwetlands.org;www.livinglakes.org;www.globalnature.org

Bodensee-Stiftung - Project partner

The Bodensee-Stiftung (LakeConstance Foundation) in Germanyhas been working on demonstrationprojects for sustainable development

in the Lake Constance region since1994. It deals with issues likeorganic agriculture, transportation,sustainable tourism, visitormanagement and restoration ofrivers. The Lake ConstanceFoundation contributes knowledgegained from their own experiencesin the field of extensive farming,tourism, visitor management andsewage treatment and carried outtwo training courses at LakeConstance in May 2002 and June2004.

Bodensee-Stiftung

Paradiesstrasse 13, 78462 Konstanz,GermanyPh +49 7531 90 98-0Fax +49 7531 90 98-77E-mail: [email protected]

Great Britain, The Norfolk andSuffolk Broads

The Broads National Park, locatedabout 200 km north-east of London,is one of Britain’s finest wetlands witha surface area of about 300 km2. TheNational Park consists of shallowlakes, the Broads, interconnected byrivers, and associated wetlandhabitats and is one of Europe’s mostpopular inland waterways. In termsof staying visitors, there are aroundone million trips to the Broads and afurther 1.3 million trips made by dayvisitors.

Broads Authority - Project partner

The Broads Authority is the statutoryagency for the Norfolk and SuffolkBroads National Park, responsiblefor the conservation and managementof the National Park, local planningand navigation. The Broads Authorityhas expertise and 20 years'experience in the restoration andmanagement of shallow lakes

(including biomanipulation of fishpopulations), fens and grazingmarshes and provides thisknowledge to the project. It carriedout two training courses in theBroads in June 2002 and April 2004.

The Broads Authority

18 Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR31BQ, Great Britain

Ph +44-1603-610734Fax +44-1603-765710E-mail: [email protected]

Spain, Lagunas La Nava andBoada

The lagoons La Nava and Boada areshallow steppe lakes located innorth-western Spain on the Tierra deCampos Plateau near Palencia.They cover an area of about 4 km2,but most of the water evaporates insummer, leaving behind big pasturesfor grazing livestock. After decadesof drainage the Fundación GlobalNature started to revitalise a part ofthe completely dried out Laguna LaNava in the beginning of the 1990s,whereas Laguna Boada wasrestored in 1998. The wetlandcomplex La Nava and Boada mean-while has become a very importantnature reserve and resting place formigratory birds.

Fundación Global Nature - ProjectPartner

The Fundación was founded in 1994and works in the protection andrestoration of habitats and species inSpain and the exchange of experiencewith organisations in South andMiddle America. Fundación GlobalNature co-ordinates projects toprotect the dehesas (oak forest) inExtremadura, the tortuga mora turtle

supported by


>>

in Murcia or the restoration of theVillacañas wetlands in Castilla LaMancha. It runs the La NavaInformation Centre "Centro de EstudiosAmbientales Tierra de Campos“. TheFundación Global Nature wasresponsible for the co-ordination ofthe measures in the project area LaNava and Boada in Spain.

Fundación Global Nature

Corro del Postigo, 1, E-34337Fuentes de Nava, Palencia, SpainPh +34-979-84 23 98Fax +34-979 84 23 99E-mail:[email protected]

Fuentes de Nava - Project partner

The community of Fuentes de Navaowns the parts of the area at the LaNava lagoon where the restorationmeasures were carried out. Thecommunity was actively involved inthe installation of the buffer zones,the elaboration of the managementplan and the dissemination of theproject results.

Ayuntamiento de Fuentes de Nava

Mayor Plaza Calvo Sotelo, 1E-34337 Fuentes de Nava, SpainPh +34-979-84 24 11

Boada de Campos - Project partner

The small community Boada deCampos is owner of the area of theBoada wetland. The community wasactively involved in the installation ofthe buffer zones, the elaboration ofthe management plan, thedevelopment of the interpretationtrail and the dissemination of theproject results.

Ayuntamiento de Boada de Campos

Mayor, Plaza José Antonio, 1E-34305, Boada de Campos, SpainPh +34-979-11 80 08

Greece, The Nestos Lakes andLagoons

The 18 small Nestos Lakes and 8brackish Lagoons are part of thelarge Nestos Delta, located in north-east Greece, about 200 km to theeast of Thessaloniki. The NestosLakes lie within a 200 km2 complexmosaic that includes wetlands, drymeadows, hedges, smallMediterranean bush forests, andsmall-scale agricultural fields. Thelakes and wetlands of the NestosValley have survived thousands ofyears of human history, but now areconfronting unprecedentedchallenges, primarily from industrialmethods of agriculture, carelesswaste, and governmental neglect.Selected by the Government ofGreece two decades ago forrecognition as a Wetland of Internati-onal Importance under the Ramsartreaty.

EPO - Project partner

EPO, the Society for the Protection ofNature and Ecodevelopment isresponsible for the local co-ordinationand implementation of thedemonstration project in Greece.EPO was founded in 1988 inHrysoupolis (Kavala District, Greece)and is a non-governmental natureconservation organisation. EPO hasworked in the Nestos area since1988 on sustainable management ofwetlands and lakes, environmentaleducation and ecodevelopment.This includes issues like eco-tourism, ecological farming andmonitoring of fauna and flora.

EPO has collaborated in manystudies and activities with the GreekMinistry for Environment, the Ministryof Youth, the Greek Biotope and

Wetland Centre and regionalauthorities and has organised andcarried out many long-term seminarsand environmental education projects.

EPO-Society for Protection of Natureand Ecodevelopment

PO Box 124GR-64200 Hrysoupolis, GreecePh +30-2591-023 144Fax +30-2591-047 009E-mail: [email protected]

AENAK - Project partner

The Development Agency of thePrefecture of Kavala (AENAK) isactively involved in the installation ofthe buffer zones, the elaboration ofthe management plan and thedissemination of the project results.

Development Agency of the Prefectureof Kavala (AENAK) S.A.

Ethnikis Antistaseos 20Prefecture of KavalaP.O. Box 1392, GR-65110 Kavala,GreecePh +30 - 2510-291284, 291285Fax +30 - 2510-291286E-mail: [email protected]

The project is co-financed by theEuropean Union:

EU LIFE Programme, DG Environ-ment

The European LIFE Programme (thefinancial instrument for theenvironment) co-financesenvironmental initiatives in theEuropean Union and certain thirdcountries bordering on theMediterranean and the Baltic Sea,and in central and east Europeanaccession candidate countries.

supported by

Hellas

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14 Project Partners and Supporters

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board helped to guidethe project, through evaluation of theprogress of the project together withthe project team, provision of advice,relevant information and additionalcontacts, as well as to raise theprofile of the project through theirrespective institutions and networks.

Members of the Advisory Board:

Prof Dr Gerhard Thielcke(Honorary President of GNF, Germany)

After finishing his PhD in Zoology inFreiburg he lectured in BehaviouralPhysiology, Human Ecology andEnvironmental Conservation at theUniversity of Constance. For 29years he did research on bird voices,evolution and the fundaments ofenvironmental conservation at theMax-Planck-Institute. He is one of thefounders of the Bund für Umwelt undNaturschutz Deutschland (BUND -German Federation for Environmentand Conservation). He is alsoHonorary President of the DeutscheUmwelthilfe (DUH - GermanEnvironmental Aid).

Prof Aitken Clark(Vice President of BTCV, England and VicePresident of GNF)

He graduated in Architecture andUrban and Regional planning andresearched in Government andAdministration at LSE. PractisedArchitecture in London andCambridge. Moved to academicpositions in England and Italy for tenyears. Returned to England to helpbuild a team to engage in therestoration and management of theBroads, now Britain’s WetlandNational Park. Former President ofthe Federation of Nature and Natio-nal Parks of Europe and Chairman ofthe European Habitats Forum.Currently Vice President GNF, a VicePresident BTCV, Chairman EuroparcConsulting and a member of IUCN’sWorld Commission on Protected Areas.

Dr Tobias Salathé(Senior Advisor of the Ramsar-ConventionBureau, Switzerland)

He received his MSc and PhD fromBasle University and has workedwith ICBP (now BirdLife Internatio-nal) and DG XI of the European

Commission, among other posts,and most recently with the StationBiologique de la Tour du Valat inArles, France.

Dr Argyris Kallianiotis(Fishery Institute INALE, Greece)

He is a Biologist (Ichtyologist) with a20-year experience on mainlyfishery related objectives. Startingfrom 1982 he was fisheriessupervisor, responsible for fisheriesactivities in the port of Kavala, N.E.Greece and lecturer in practicaltraining courses for fish skippers.After 1990 he obtained a position asa senior scientist in fisheries researchprogrammes on demersal fish stockassessment, gear technology andfish resources management, projectscarried out by the Laboratory ofFishery Research (University ofCrete) and by the Institute of MarineBiology of Crete. Since 1995 he isdirector of the Fishery ResearchInstitute of NAGREF, responsible ofFisheries Resources Department. Inthe last 10 years he has beenresponsible of research projectsconcerning to the exploitation of

Living Lakes Project Supporters

Living Lakes Global Partner Living Lakes supported by


>>

Training course at Lake Constance 2004: Prof Thielcke explaining the restoration project at the river Aach

fishery resources and thedevelopment of the fishery sector invarious Greek locations.

He is the director of the StateFisheries Research Centre INALE inXanthi, Greece and an expert in

lagoon manegement.

Dr Santos Cirujano(CSIC Real Jardin Botánico Madrid, Spain)

He is an expert in aquatic plants andwetland vegetation and author of

numerous publications and studiesabout the inventory, evaluation andmonitoring of Mediterraneanwetlands.

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Living Lakes

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Members & Associates

Member Lakes

60,000 humans share theColumbia River Wetlands inCanada with 100,000 mammalssuch as grizzly bear and elk.

Mono Lake, located in theCalifornian desert, is threatenedby excessive diversion of waterfrom its tributaries to themetropolis Los Angeles.

Lake Chapala in Mexico is inextreme danger of disappearing,having lost about three-quartersof its volume due to irrationalhuman activity.

Laguna Fúquene is a shallowwater lake situated in theColombian Andes at an altitudeof 2,500 m.

Lake Titicaca is the secondlargest lake in South Americaand the world’s highestnavigable lake, lying at 3,810 mabove sea level.

The Pantanal, situated in theheart of South America, is theworld’s largest wetland.

Mar Chiquita in Argentina is abreeding place for up to 50,000pairs of the Chile flamingo.

The British Norfolk and SuffolkBroads are a prime example forthe restoration of lakes exposedto eutrophication.

Years ago the Spanish steppelake La Nava was drained.Thanks to our Spanish partners itis a living lake again.

Five million people drink thewater of Lake Constance(Germany, Austria andSwitzerland). The idea of thesolar boat originated from here.

Lake Peipsi connected by theEmajõgi river with Lake Võrtsjärvin Estonia, is the largest trans-boundary lake in Europe sharedby Estonia and Russia.

Lake Balaton, a famous resortarea in Hungary is also home forsome 250 species of birds.

The Milicz Ponds in Poland,made by monks in the MiddleAges, are a paradise for birds.

The Greek Nestos Lakes andLagoons are characterised bytheir outstanding biodiversity.

Kenya, Tanzania and Ugandashare Lake Victoria. It is indeedAfrica’s largest freshwater oasishaving a surface area as largeas 68,800 km2.

Eco-tourism creates jobs in theGreater St. Lucia Wetland Park,South Africa’s oldest naturereserve.

No other lake in Turkey iscovered with so many waterliliesas Lake Uluabat.

The Dead Sea, 417 m below sealevel, is in severe danger ofdrying up.


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The Kazakh steppe Lake Tengizis the last intact steppe lake inthe whole world.

Lake Baikal world’s deepest lakeand "pearl of Siberia“, is thehome of the Baikal seal.

The basin of Lake Poyang is oneof China’s most important rice-producing regions and awintering place for theremarkable Siberian Crane.

Every year 24 million tourists visitLake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.

The largest lake of thePhilippines, Laguna de Bay, ishighly threatened by the

untreated sewage of themetropolis Manila.

The Indonesian Mahakam Lakesare the home of the very rareIrrawaddy freshwater Dolphin.

Labanoras Regional Park,Lithuania

Lake Uvs, Mongolia

Pulicat Lake, India

Lake Maduganga andMadampe Lake, Sri Lanka

Lake Bolgoda, Sri LankaAssociated Partner Lakes

Kolindsund Wetlands, Denmark

Lago Enriquillo and Lac Azuéi,Dominican Republic and Haiti

Lake Sapanca, Turkey

Salobrar de Campos, Majorca, Spain

Mindelsee, Germany

Living Lakes Honorary Member

An enigmatic Lake Vostokburied 4 km under the ice ofAntarctica is the Honorarymember of the Living Lakesnetwork.

Living Lakes - Aninternational Partner-ship for the Protectionof Lakes and Wetlands

Living Lakes is an internationalnetwork and partnership whosemission is to enhance the protection,restoration and rehabilitation oflakes, wetlands and other freshwaterbodies world wide including theircatchment areas. The Living Lakesnetwork was introduced in 1998 bythe Global Nature Fund, a non-profitNGO working for environmentalprotection. The partnership promotesvoluntary, international collaborationamong organisations that carry outprojects benefiting water bodies,wildlife, and people.

Aim of the project is to promotesustainable development objectivesat international level. Currently, thereare 30 member lakes and wetlandsspread across five continents. Thepartners provide a fantastic wealth ofexperience and expertise other.Although the types of assistance willbe adopted to the local conditions,support will target the followinggoals:

> Permanent protection of naturalresources and lake watersheds

> Environmentally friendly economicactivities and structures

> Co-operation among citizens, non-governmental organizations,government authorities, andbusinesses.

Bridge building to overcome thegeographic and the stakeholder co-operation gaps is the underlyingidea of the Living Lakes initiative.The overall intent of the InternationalLake Network is to prepare theground for an on-going and sustain-able international dialogue and co-operation between all private andpublic stakeholders involved inwater issues. Objectives are tofurther the exchange of know-howand technologies (e.g. Green Filteror Solar Cell Technology) andexperiences between environmentalNGOs and other stakeholders of lakeregions moving Agenda 21objectives from paper to practice.Annual Living Lakes conferencesare held to promote the exchange ofexperiences, formulate statements,co-ordinate single activities andagree on further steps for commonactivities. The Lake Networksupports campaigns and activities

providing financial support frominternational conservationprogrammes.

Living Lakes partners will activelyparticipate in a diverse programmeof mutual support. Examples includethe following:

> Exchanging environmentallyfriendly technology for use bybusinesses and others

> Sharing information andexperience in raising awarenessof the need for lake protection

> Helping to secure financial andother support for lake programmesand

> International political support forwater body protection.

The Living Lakes network providesimportant infrastructure with respectto communication, co-operation andtrust to the EU LIFE project"Sustainable Management ofWetlands and Shallow Lakes“. Allfour "lake project partners“ aremembers of Living Lakes. Theconcrete measures in the wetlandareas in Spain and Greece havebeen successfully on the basis of thefundamental experience provided bythe project partners in Germany andEngland.

132

16 References >>

References

Chapter 8.1

Barnes, R.S.K. (1980)Coastal Lagoons. Cambridge UniversityPress, Cambridge, 106 p.

Chauvet, C. (1988)Manuel sur l’ amenagement des pechesdans les lagunes cotires: la bordiguemediterraneenne. FAO Doc. Techn. sur lesPeches, 290, FAO, Rome.

Colombo, G. (1977)Lagoons. In: R.S.K. Barnes (Ed.). TheCoastline, pp. 63-81, John Wiley & Sons,New York.

Comin, F.A. (1982)Seasonal changes of phytoplankton inthree coastal lagoons of the Ebro Delta inrelation to environmental factors. Oceanol.Acta. Proc. Int. Symp. On coastal lagoons,SCOP/IABO/UNESCO, Bordeaux, France,pp. 269-276.

Corsi, F., & Ardizzone, G.D. (1985)Some environmental conditions affectingthe yellow eels catchability. Oebalia, IX-2:561-571.

Davies, J.L. (1980)Geographical variation in coastaldevelopment. 2nd ed. Langman, London.

Gordo, L.S., Cabral, H.N. (2001)The fish assemblage structure of ahydrologically altered coastal lagoon: theObidos (Portugal). Hydrobiologia, 459, pp.125-133.

Hawke CJ. and Hose PV (1996)Reedbed management for commercial andwildlife interests. RSPB, Bedfordshire.

Hearn, C.J., Robson, B.J. (2002)On the effects of wind and tides on thehydrodynamics of a shallow Mediterraneanestuary. Continental Shelf Research 22,2655-2672.

Heerbout, G.R. (1970)A classification system for isolated brackishinland waters, based on median chlorinityand chlorinity fluctuation. Neth. J. of SeaRes. 4: 494-503.

Jerrentrup, H. & H. Mattes (1996)Naturschutzplanung im Aladjagiola. InMattes, H. & C. Lienau (Ed.): DasAladjagiola im Nestos Delta in Nordost-Griechenland. Beiträge zur Flora, Fauna,Landnutzung und Naturschutz. Berichteaus dem Arbeitsgebiet Entwicklungs-forschung. Vol. 25, pp. 114 - 120. Münster.

Jerrentrup, H. (1997)Naturschutzprobleme am Nestos. In :Lienau, C. & H. Mattes (Ed.): Natur undWirtschaft in Nordost-Griechenland.

Berichte aus dem ArbeitsgebietEntwicklungsforschung. Vol. 27, pp. 82 -91. Münster.

Jerrentrup. H. (1991)The Programme of EPO: Conservation andManagement of Wetlands in the NestosDelta. Proceedings of the Congress:Nestos, natural environment and theproblems to be solved. The TechnicalChamber of Natural Scientists (GEOTEE).April 1991. pp. 230 - 243.

Kjerfve, B. & Magill, K.E. (1989)Geographic and gydrographiccharacteristics of shallow coastal lagoons.Marine Geology, 88: 187-199.

Kjerfve, B. (1986)Comparative oceanography of coastallagoons. In : Wolfe D.A. (ed.), EstuarineVariability, pp. 63-81. Academic Press,New York.

Knoppers, B., Kjerfve, B. & Garmouze, J.P.(1991)Trophic state and water turn-over time in sixchoked coastal lagoons in Brazil.Biogeochemistry, 14: 149-166.

Lienau, C. & H. Jerrentrup (1996)Das Aladjagiola. In Mattes, H. & C. Lienau(Ed.): Das Aladjagiola im Nestos Delta inNordost-Griechenland. Beiträge zur Flora,Fauna, Landnutzung und Naturschutz.Berichte aus dem ArbeitsgebietEntwicklungsforschung. Vol. 25, pp. 2 - 5.Münster.

LOICZ, (1996)LOICZ Workshop on Statistical Analysis ofthe Coastal Lowlands Database, LOICZ/WKSHP/96.14, Meeting Report No. 18,Texel.

Mee, L.D. (1978)Coastal lagoons. In: Riley, J. & Skirrow, O.(eds.). Chemical Oceanography, pp. 441-490, Academic Press, New York.

Miller, J.M., Pietrafesta, L.J. & Smith, N.P.(1990)Principles of hydraulic management ofcoastal lagoons for aquaculture andfisheries. FAO Fish. Tech. Paper 314. 88 p.Rome.

Moss B. (2001)The Broads. Harper Collins.

Moss B., Madgwick J., Phillips G., (1996)A guide to the restoration of nutrientenriched shallow lakes. Broads Authority,Environment Agency and EU LIFEprogramme, Norwich

Nichols, M. & Allen, G. (1981)Sedimentary processes in coastal lagoons.In : UNESCO Tech. Papers in Mar. Sci.Coastal Lagoon Research, Present andFuture. 33: 27-80.

Nixon, S.W., (1982)Nutrient dynamics, primary production andfisheries yields of lagoons, OceanologicaActa Suppl., vol. 4, pp. 357-372.

Pereira-Filho, J., Schettini, C.A.F., Rorig, L.,Siegle, E. (2001)Intratidal variation and net transport ofdissolved inorganic nutrients, POC andchlorophyll-a in the Camboriu River Estuary,Brazil. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf Science,53, pp. 249-257.

Phleger, F.B. (1969)Some general features of coastal lagoons.In : Castanares, A.A. & Phleger, F.B. (eds.).Coastal Lagoons, a Symposium. pp. 5-25.Univ. Nal. Auton. Mexico Press. Mexico,D.F.

Phleger, F.B. (1981)A review of some general features ofcoastal lagoons. In: UNESCO Techn.Papers in Mar. Sci., Coastal LagoonResearch, Present and Future. 33: 7-14.

Sikora, W.B. & Kjerfve, B. (1985)Factors influencing the salinity of LakePontchartrain, Louisiana, a shallow coastallagoon: analysis of long term data set.Estuaries 8: 170-180.

Sylaios, G. & Koutroumanidis, T. (2002)A theoretical approach for the domesticand rural impact on the water quality ofcoastal lagoons. New Medit 1, 9-13.

Sylaios, G., Boxall, S. R. (1998)Residual currents and flux estimates in apartially-mixed estuary. Estuarine, Coastal &Shelf Science 46, 671-682.

Sylaios, G., Theocharis, V. (2002)Hydrology and nutrient enrichment at twocoastal lagoon systems in northernGreece. Water Resources Management16(3), 171-196.

Sylaios, G., Tsihrintzis, V.A., Akratos, C.(2002)Monitoring and analysis of water, salt andnutrient fluxes at the mouth of a lagoon.Proc. of the Sixth Intern. Conf. onProtection and Restoration of the Environ-ment, Vol. I, pp. 435-442, 1-5/7/2002.Skiathos, Greece.

Theocharis, V., Sylaios, G., Stamatis, N.,(2000)Water quality variability at two coastallagoons in Northern Greece. FreseniusEnvironmental Bulletin 9, 30-35.

Chapter 8.4

The Seminar ‘Set in Stone’ was preparedfor Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority,UK, by EUROPARC Consulting GmbH,the consultancy arm of EUROPARCFederation. www.europarc-consulting.org


Chapter 8.7

Internationale Gewässerschutzkommissionfür den Bodensee (2004)Der Bodensee: Zustand-Fakten-Perspektiven.Langenargen. ISBN: 3-902290-04-8.www.igkb.org

Chapter 8.8

Bodensee-Stiftung (2004)ECOLUP: Environmental Management ofLand Use Planning. www.ecolup.info

Chapter 8.10

Benaka L. (1999)Fish habitat: essential fish habitat andrehabilitation. Bethesda MD. AmericanFisheries Society.

Kaiser M.J., S.J. De Groot (2000)Effects of fishing on non target speciesand habitats: Biological conservation andsocio-economic issues. Blackwell Science,Oxford.

Ravagnan G. (1978)Vallicoltura monderna, Edagricole, Bologna

Ravagnan G. (1981)Productive development of lagoonal zones:available technologies and operationalstrategies. Stud. Rev. GFCM, 58, 173-239

Rosecchi E. & B. Charpentier (1995)Aquaculture in lagoon and marineenvironments. Conservation ofMediterranean Wetlands, Tour de Valat

Sorokin, Y.I., P.Y. Sorokin, O. Giovanardi &L. dalla Venezia (1996)Study of the lagoon of Venice:anthropogenic impact. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.141:247-261.

Zimmerman, J.P.F. (1982)The flushing of well mixed tidal lagoonsand its seasonal fluctuations. In: Coastallagoons research: Present and future,Unesco, Paris.

Chapter 8.11

Europe needs a sustainable tourismstrategywww.eeb.org/activities/tourism/Tourism_MemorandumFIN_EN.pdf

Pils, M. (2003)Report from the EU LIFE Project “VISIT -Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainability inTourism”, Topic: “Destination indicators fortourism, sustainable development andquality management”, Friends of NatureInternational. www.yourvisit.info

Tourism and Environment - Making tourismthe driving force behind a sustainabilitystrategy: www.nfi.at/english/index.htm

Chapter 10.3

Cirujano, S.Estudio “El Paisaje vegetal de la LagunaLarga de Villacañas (Toledo) y su entorno.Valoración y gestión de la flora y lavegetación”. Real Jardín Botánico deMadrid (CSIC).

Demetriades, I.N. (1957)General Zootechnics and Lessons onCattle Raising and Buffalo Raising.University courses. Thessaloniki.

Georgoudis, A. (1993)Population characteristics and productionsystems of water buffaloes in Greekwetlands. Greek Biotope/Wetland Centreand Department of Animal Production,Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University ofThessaloniki, 64 p. (in Greek with Englishsummary).

Jerrentrup, H. (1991)The “Nestos Programme” of EPO: Manage-ment and conservation proposals for theNestos Delta Wetland. In Proceedings of:“The Nestos, natural environment and itsproblems”. Geotechnical Chamber ofGreece, Kavala (in Greek).

Jerrentrup, H. & H. Mattes (1996)Naturschutzplanung im Aladjagiola. In:Mattes, H. & C. Lienau (Ed.): DasAladjagiola im Nestos Delta in Nordost-Griechenland. Beiträge zur Flora, Fauna,Landnutzung und Naturschutz. Berichteaus dem Arbeitsgebiet Entwicklungs-forschung. Vol. 25, pp. 114 - 120. Münster.

Jerrentrup, H. (1997)Naturschutzprobleme am Nestos. In:Lienau, C. & H. Mattes (Ed.): Natur undWirtschaft in Nordost-Griechenland.Berichte aus dem ArbeitsgebietEntwicklungsforschung. Vol. 27, pp. 82 -91. Münster.

Jerrentrup, H. (Ed.) (2004)Proposed Management Plan for the Lakesand Lagoons of Nestos. European LifeEnvironment Programme. Hrysoupolis.

Kazoglou, Y. (1999)The Greek buffalo. Ionos, issue 10.Quarterly edition for birds and wild nature.Hellenic Ornithological Society (in Greek).

Kazoglou, Y.E. & V.P. Papanastasis (2001)Effects of Water Buffalo Grazing on WetPlant Communities of the Littoral Zone ofLake Mikri Prespa (Greece). In: Gerken, B.& M. Görner (Eds.): Neue Modelle zuMaßnahmen der Landschaftsentwicklungmit großen Pflanzenfressen - PraktischeErfahrungen bei der Umsetzung. Natur- undKulturlandschaft 4, Höxter/Jena (in Englishwith German summary).

Kazoglou, Y. & S. Zogaris (2003)Proposals and prospects for the

continuation of grazing by water buffaloesas a management practice in Amvrakikos.Mimeo. report on the LIFE - Nature project“Conservation Management of AmvrakikosWetlands”.

Kazoglou, Y.E. & V.P. Papanastasis (2003)Effects of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)grazing on the vegetation of the littoralzone of Lake Mikri Prespa, pp. 201-207.Range Science and development ofmountainous regions (P. D. Platis & T. G.Papachristou, editors). Proceedings of the3rd Panhellenic Rangeland Congress inKarpenissi, 4-6 September 2002. HellenicPasture and Range Society (in Greek withEnglish summary).

Kazoglou, Y.E., F. Mesléard & V.P.Papanastasis (2004)Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) grazingand summer cutting as methods ofrestoring wet meadows at Lake MikriPrespa, Greece. Proceedings of the 20thGeneral Meeting of the European Grass-land Federation, 21-24 June.

Kazoglou, Y, I. Koutseri & M. Malakou(2004)Conservation management of wetmeadows at the Greek part of Lake MikriPrespa. Proceedings of the BALWOISConference on Water Observation andInformation System for Decision Support,25-29 May 2004, Ohrid, FYROM.

Lienau, C. & H. Jerrentrup (1996)Das Aladjagiola. In Mattes, H. & C. Lienau(Ed.): Das Aladjagiola im Nestos Delta inNordost-Griechenland. Beiträge zur Flora,Fauna, Landnutzung und Naturschutz.Berichte aus dem ArbeitsgebietEntwicklungsforschung. Vol. 25, pp. 2 - 5.Münster.

Riddell, E.S. (2002)The effects of water buffalo (Bubalusbubalis) on wetland bird habitat:Implications for habitat management in theAmvrakikos wetlands, Greece. Adissertation presented in partial fulfilment ofthe requirements for the degree of Magisterin Scientia in Ecology of the University ofWales. School of Biological Sciences,University of Wales, Bangor.

Chapter 10.4

Ministerium für Umwelt und Verkehr Baden-Württemberg, Ministerium Ländlicher RaumBaden-Württemberg (1996)Leitfaden für die Sanierung ober-schwäbischer Seen

Ministerium für Umwelt und Verkehr Baden-Württemberg (1998)Tagungsband Internationale Seenfach-tagung

134

16 References

Frede, Dabbert (1999)Handbuch zum Gewässerschutz in derLandwirtschaft. Ecomed

Jaeger, D., Koschel, R. (1995)Limnologie Aktuell Band 8 - Verfahren zurSanierung und Restaurierung stehenderGewässer, Gustav Fischer Stuttgart, Jena,New York.

Konold, Werner (1987)Oberschwäbische Weiher und Seen, Teil Iund II, Landesanstalt für UmweltschutzBaden-Württemberg.

Pro Regio Oberschwaben GmbH -SeenprogrammAlbrecht TrautmannFrauenstr. 4, 88212 Ravensburg, [email protected]

Chapter 10.5

Naturschutzzentrum EriskirchGerhard KerstingBahnhofstr. 24, 88097 [email protected], www.naz-eriskirch.de

Chapter 10.6

Adventure biking tours at Lower LakeConstance: www.bodensee-stiftung.org

Biolandhaus Arche - The ecologicalconcept: www.bio.arche.hotel.at

ECOCAMPING: Environmental Managementfor Camping Sites: www.ecocamping.net

ECOTRANS: European Network onTourism and Sustainable Development:www.ecotrans.org

EUROPARC Federation: European Charterfor Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas:www.europarc.org/international/europarc.html

European Ecolabel for TourismAccomodations (EU-Flower):www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ecolabel

EU Environmental Management and AuditScheme:www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/emas

Management of Sports Activities in theSteinhuder Merr Nature Park:www.steinhuder-meer.de

Reisepavillon - Marketplace for AlternativeTravel: www.reisepavillon-online.de

VISIT - Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainabilityin tourism: www.yourvisit.org

Chapter 13

Broads Authority (2004)Broads Plan 2004: A strategic plan tomanage the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. 64pp. www.broads-authority.gov.uk

Hockings, M., Stolton, S. and N. Dudley(2000)Evaluating Effectiveness: A Framework forAssessing the Management of ProtectedAreas. IUCN Gland, Switzerland andCambridge, UK. 121 pp.

Hockings, M., Stolton, S., Dudley, N. & , J.Parish:The Enhancing our Heritage Toolkit - Books1 and 2. 35 pp and 136 pp.

Further Reading

Bodensee-Stiftung (2004)ECOLUP-Leitfaden. Umweltmanagementfür die kommunale Bauleitplanung.Konstanz.

Broads Authority (2004)Broads Plan 2004. A strategic plan tomanage the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.Norwich.

Haslam, Sylvia (2003)Understanding Wetlands: Fens, Bog andMarsh. University of Cambridge, UK.

Interagency Workgroup on WetlandRestorationAn Introduction and User’s Guide toWetland Restoration. National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration, Environ-mentalProtection Agency, Army Corps ofEngineers, Fish and Wildlife Service,Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Internationale Gewässerschutzkommissionfür den Bodensee (2004)Der Bodensee. Zustand - Fakten -Perspektiven. Bregenz.

IUCN (2003)Guidelines for Management Planning ofProtected Areas (Lee Thomas, JulieMiddleton), Cardiff.

Naturschutz Praxis, Natura 2000 (2003)Handbuch zur Erstellung von Pflege- undEntwicklungsplänen für die Natura 2000Gebiete in Baden-Württemberg.Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz, Karlsruhe.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (2004)Wise Use of Wetlands, Handbook

Vereinigung Deutscher Gewässerschutz e.V.(2004)Ökologische Bewertung von Fließgewässern.Bonn. ISBN: 3-937579-01-X.

Vereinigung Deutscher Gewässerschutz e.V.(2004)Naturstoff Wasser. Bonn. ISBN: 3-937579-00-1.

Vereinigung Deutscher Gewässerschutz e.V.(2004)Naturereignis oder Menschenwerk. Bonn.ISBN: 0503-9290

Games

WasserquartettEin Kartenspiel der Vereinigung DeutscherGewässerschutz e.V., Bonn (A card-gameby the Association German Water Protection)

Wasser für die OhrenWassergeräusche-CD. VereinigungDeutscher Gewässerschutz e.V., Bonn(CD-ROM with sounds of water by theAssociation German Water Protection)

Unser WasserwettlaufEin Umweltspiel mit Regeln. VereinigungDeutscher Gewässerschutz e.V., Bonn(Board game by the Association GermanWater Protection)

Links

www.globalnature.orgwww.livinglakes.orgwww.livingwetlands.orgwww.bodensee-stiftung.orgwww.fundacionglobalnature.orgwww.igkb.orgwww.ilec.or.jpwww.iucn.orgwww.ramsar.orgwww.ugandawetlands.orgwww.wetlands.orgwww.wetlandprofessionals.orgwww.wwf.org

Photographers

Baldenhofer, Michael: 96

Bally, Andreas: 80

Cirujano, Santos: 44-45, 92/2

Denyer, Richard: 84

Finlay, S.:100/3

Hydra, Büro Peter Rey, Konstanz: 125

Institut für Seenforschung, Langenargen: 62/1

Kersting, Gerhard: 100/2

Martin, Chris: 69

Specht, Rüdiger: 86/3, 98/2

Trautmann, Albrecht: 62/2, 70, 94, 116

All other photographs are provided byGlobal Nature Fund, EPO, FundaciónGlobal Nature España, Broads Authorityand Bodensee-Stiftung.

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International Foundationfor Nature and EnvironmentFritz-Reichle-Ring 4D-78315 Radolfzell, GermanyPh +49 7732 9995-0Fax +49 7732 9995-88E-Mail: [email protected]://www.globalnature.org

EPO – Society for Protection ofNature and EcodevelopmentPO Box 124GR-64200 Hrysoupolis, GreecePh +30 2591 02 31 44Fax +30 2591 04 70 09E-Mail: [email protected]

Fundación Global Nature EspañaCorro Postigo, 1E-34337 Fuentes de Nava, Palencia, SpainTfno. +34 979 842 398Fax +34 979 842 399E-Mail: [email protected]://www.fundacionglobalnature.org