INDEX

CONSULTATIONS

UK NEWS        

INTERNATIONAL NEWS      

PROJECTS

PUBLICATIONS

EVENTS

 

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

 

CONSULTATIONS

Moving inland waterways into a new charity
in England and Wales

Defra Consultation

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This consultation seeks views on how, in future, the inland waterways in England & Wales that are currently managed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will be run. It sets out the rationale for moving these waterways out of the public sector and into a new civil society organisation, and the principles, which will guide the Government in deciding on the way forward. The creation of a New Waterways Charity (NWC) will give waterways users, and their local communities, a greater involvement in how the waterways are managed. The proposal will also help the waterways to be more financially sustainable, as the new charity will have access to new sources of commercial and private income, and fundraising, including legacies and donations.

The consultation is opened from 30 March to 30 June 2011.

The consultation documents and information how to respond are available on the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/waterways-1103/)

Full text of the News Release is available on the Defra website:

(http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/03/30/new-era-for-waterways/)

 

Consultation on the Draft Code of Practice on
Non-Native and Invasive Non-Native Species

Scottish Government Consultation

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This Code provides practical guidance in respect of the release, keeping, sale and notification offences contained in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.  It also contains information on species control agreements and species control orders, and sets out a framework of responsibilities agreed by the key government agencies dealing with invasive non-native species. 

The deadline for contributions is 9 June 2011.

You can view and respond to the consultation on the Scottish Government website:

(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/17115253/0)

 

Commission seeks views on how to reduce pressure on Europe's coastal and marine areas

European Commission Consultation

(Posted 04 April 2011)

Transparent planning and management of European waters are needed to balance the interests at play against sustaining the long-term benefit of coastal and marine resources to society. With these objectives in mind, the European Commission has launched a public consultation to explore options for future EU action on Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management. The Commission is seeking the views of all interested individuals and organisations. The consultation runs from 24 March 2011 for eight weeks.

For further information visit the Europa website:

(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/353&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

 

Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework
for future EU Research and Innovation Funding

(Posted 18 February 2011)

On 9th February 2011, the European Commission presented a Green Paper, which proposes major changes to EU research and innovation funding to make participation easier, increase scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money. The changes, to be introduced in the next EU budget after 2013, would bring together the current Framework Programme for research, the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The Commission is seeking the views of all interested individuals and organisations on these proposed changes and on the specific questions set out in the Green Paper. In parallel, a competition for the name of the Common Strategic Framework is being organised.

The deadline for contributions is Friday 20 May 2011.

For further information and to participate in the debate visit the Europa website: (http://ec.europa.eu/research/csfri/index_en.cfm)

 

UK NEWS       

defra announced £110 million revamp for England’s rivers

(Posted 22 April 2011)

Following the launch of the Catchment Management Approach at the Water Stakeholder Forum last month (see below), on 13 April 2011 the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced a £110 million revamp, which will bring more otters, salmon and other fish back to England’s rivers. The money will be used to kick start restoration worth at least £600 million to improve the health of more than 880 lakes, streams and other water bodies, while boosting local involvement.

The funding will be shared between the Environment Agency, Natural England and civil society associations such as the Association of Rivers Trust to build on successful work, and a significant portion of the funding will support new local projects across the country through a Catchment Restoration fund. £92 million will be provided over the next four years to remove non-native invasive weeds and animals, clear up pollution, and remove redundant dams, weirs, landings and other man-made structures so that wildlife can thrive in water catchments across England.

Funding from the Catchment Restoration fund will be available from next year to co-fund projects that restore and protect the health of our water catchments by bringing together those responsible for causing pollution, with those who want to see cleaner waters and the agencies that provide scientific evidence to base decisions on.

An additional £18 million will be provided this year to continue providing help to farmers to put in such measures as buffer strips and fences to protect water courses and take other action to prevent agricultural pollution, under the successful Catchment Sensitive Farming programme.

To read the full text of the press release and for further information visit the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/04/13/110-million-revamp-for-england%e2%80%99s-rivers/)

 

The Environment Agency (EA) will take on a new, additional role as the Government’s delivery body in England for advice on climate adaptation

(Posted 22 April 2011)

Adapting to climate change advice is currently delivered for Defra by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), regional Climate Change Partnerships and the Local & Regional Adaptation Partnership (LRAP). In September 2011, the EA will take over as Defra’s principal partner in delivering the Government’s adaptation programme. Defra will provide EA with an additional £2millon per year to deliver climate adaptation advice, an increase on the current £1.5million per year budget paid to the current delivery partners.

For full text of the press release visit the Defra website: (http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/03/22/ea-climate-change-adaptation/)

 

Minister launches catchment management approach for river basin management

(Posted 04 April 2011)

Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary.
At the last Defra Water Stakeholder Forum meeting in London on 22 March 2011, the World Water Day, the Environment Minister Richard Benyon announced additional actions that will be put in place to help achieving the WFD objectives. The Government believes that more action is desirable at the catchment level, taking a more proactive approach to bring stakeholders together.

This will start to be delivered by the Environment Agency by developing and starting to implement at least 10 catchment plans by 22 December 2012. It is envisaged that other key stakeholders, such as the River Restoration Trust (RRT), other NGOs or local authorities would lead and drive action in the other more than 90 catchments in England.

 

Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary
for Natural Environment and Fisheries

The Environment Agency will lead the following 10 catchment projects:

  • River Irwell – North West
  • River Ribble – North West
  • River Welland – Anglian
  • River Leam – Midlands
  • River Ecclesbourne – Midlands
  • Lower River Wear – Northumbria
  • River Don – Yorkshire
  • Lower River Lee – South East
  • River Adur and Ouse – South East
  • Upper River Tone – South West

In August 2006 and August 2008 Defra published volumes one and two of the River Basin Planning Guidance to the Environment Agency, respectively. Defra, in consultation with the Welsh Assembly Government, intends to review and consolidate it, also to include guidance on the catchment approach, and reissue it as a single volume in 2012/13.

Chris Ryder, Head of Water Quality, Defra, introduces Chris Smith, Chair Environment Agency (left),

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Ryder, Head of Water Quality, Defra, introduces Chris Smith, Chair Environment Agency (left),
the Minister (right) and Poul Christensen, Chair Natural England (far right).

Documents from the Defra Water Stakeholder meeting will be made available on our website:

(http://www.euwfd.com/html/england_and_the_wfd.html)

 

Make Rivers a Priority for Government's Water Agenda
Our Rivers 2011 Campaign

(Posted 22 April 2011)

The Our Rivers Campaign is asking the minister responsible for water - Richard Benyon - to stand up for our rivers in his Water White Paper. Our Rivers believe the Government must include two key commitments in this Water White Paper in order to protect our rivers.

These are to:

  1. Set out a clear timetable to restore the flow of our rivers and end unsustainable levels of abstraction, with action in the 2015-2020 water company investment period.
  2. Reduce the impact of agricultural diffuse pollution on rivers and wetlands by ensuring more effective enforcement of environmental regulations, encouraging water companies to work with farmers to reduce pollution of drinking water sources, and by changing farming policy to reward land managers who deliver public benefits - including clean rivers and thriving wildlife.

For further information visit the Our Rivers website:  (http://www.ourrivers.org.uk/)

 

UK marine policy statement published

(Posted 04 April 2011)

The UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS) was jointly published on 18 March 2011 by all UK Administrations as part of a new system of marine planning being introduced across UK seas. The MPS will enable an appropriate and consistent approach to marine planning across UK waters, and ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and strategic management of marine activities from renewable energy to nature conservation, fishing, recreation and tourism.

The MPS document, full text on the press release and additional information are available on the Defra website:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/03/18/marine-policy-statement/)

 

Check, Clean, Dry campaign launched to stop the spread of aquatic invasive non-native species

(Posted 04 April 2011)

Gold medal Olympic rower and London 2012 ambassador, Ben Hunt-Davis joined Environment Minister Richard Benyon on 28 March 2011 to launch the campaign to stop the spread of aquatic invasive non-native species. The campaign aims to counter the threat to Britain’s economy and wildlife posed by the spread of invasive non-native species such as the “killer shrimp”.

Full text of the News Release is available on the Defra website:

(http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/03/28/aquatic-non-native-species/)

More information on the new campaign can be found at the Dire4ctgov website:

(http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Thewiderenvironment/Protectingwildlife/DG_196114?CID=EAL&PLA=url_mon&CRE=check_clean_dry)

 

Bathing water profiles in england and wales have been published on the web

(Posted 04 April 2011)

In support of the move to the Revised Bathing Directive (the current directive will be repealed in 2015) the Environment Agency have produced bathing water profiles, which include a description of the beach and surrounding area, rivers and streams feeding into the site and a pollution management plan. As this is the first time the profiles have been produced, the Agency are keen to hear your views and comments so that they can refine and improve them for 2012.  In each profile is an e-mail link for comments to be posted between 24 March and 30 September 2011.

For further information visit the Agency website: (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/127626.aspx)

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS     

Fitness Check of EU Freshwater Policy

(Posted 22 April 2011)

As part of its smart regulation policy, the European Commission announced in its Work

Programme for 2010 that, "to keep current regulation fit for purpose, the Commission will begin reviewing, from this year onwards, the entire body of legislation in selected policy fields through "fitness checks". The purpose is to identify excessive burdens, overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and/or obsolete measures which may have appeared over time. Pilot exercises will start in 2010 in four areas: environment, transport, employment and social policy, and industrial policy." In the area of environment, the protection of EU freshwater resources has been selected as the pilot area.

DG Environment is preparing for 2012 a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water. The Blueprint will synthesise policy recommendations building on three on going assessments:

  • The assessment of the River Basin Management Plans delivered by the Member States under the Water Framework Directive
  • The review of the policy on Water Scarcity and Drought
  • The assessment of the vulnerability of water resources to climate change and other man made pressures

Against that background, the Fitness Check will be a building block of the Blueprint. Its objective will be to assess the effectiveness of the policy measures taken. It is about evaluating a policy sector, about identifying what works and what does not work - and where things do not work sufficiently well, about suggesting improvements.

The scope of the Fitness Check includes

  • The Water Framework Directive
  • The Groundwater Directive
  • The Directive on Environmental Quality Standards (EQS)
  • The Urban Waste Water Directive
  • The Nitrates Directive
  • The Floods Directive

The Fitness Check will also look at quantitative and adaptive water management issues, for which there is currently no legislation at EU level (except for Floods), namely the Communication on Water Scarcity and Drought and its annual follow-up reports, and the Policy paper accompanying the White Paper on Adapting to Climate change On Water, Coasts and Marine Issues

Two stakeholder consultations will be organised in Brussels in May and December 2011, in which preliminary findings from the studies and from the online questionnaire will be discussed with as broad a group of stakeholders as possible. The outcome of both stakeholder consultations will be published on the DG Environment website, as will the outcome of the Fitness Check. A public internet consultation will take place following the conclusion of the evaluation study and will last 12 weeks. DG Environment will publish a final report with its findings in early 2012. The report will summarise the findings of the evaluation, in-depth assessments and public consultation.

For more information visit the DG Environment website:  (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/fitness_en.htm)

 

European Topic Centre on Inland, coastal
and marine waters, ETC-ICM

(Posted 22 April 2011)

The ETC-ICM aims to support the assessment, development, and implementation of EU policies through data analysis, data monitoring, and scientific knowledge sharing From the 1 January 2011 Cenia, Czech Environmental Information Agency is managing the new ETC/ICM with a newly established consortium, consisting of 18 partner institutes. It is the successor of the ETC on Water, which ran from 2004 to 2010. The ETC-ICM works in five major areas:

  • Monitoring water resources and collecting data on water quality and quantity, as well as biological and hydro-morphological elements and pressures, covering all areas of groundwater, surface, transitional, coastal and marine waters according to needs at the European level
  • Developing indicators to aid in the assessment of the environment to support policy processes in the inland, coastal marine and freshwater areas
  • Contributing to the development and implementation of EU policies, in particular the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
  • Contributing to the EEA assessment reports;
  • Capacity building in EEA member countries.

For further information visit the ETC-ICM website: (http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/)

 

The UN ‘Water for Life’ Best Practices Award

(Posted 04 April 2011)

The United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015/UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) and the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) award the “Water for Life” Best Practices Award. The prize is awarded yearly in two categories, one in best water management practices and another one in best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices. Every year, special emphasis is being put on the theme selected for next World Water Day. In 2011, special focus was given to the topic "Urban Water Management".

The 2011 prize was awarded at a special ceremony on World Water Day, 22 March to the following programmes:

Category 1,‘Las Pinas-Zapote River System Rehabilitation Programme, Philippines’ , for its outstanding contribution towards improving the living environment and its demonstrable and tangible impact on improving people’s quality of life within a metropolitan river basin;

Category 2, ‘A Participatory and Learning Based Approach to Raising Awareness on Water and Sanitation, Durban, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa’, for its innovative approach to communication and awareness raising in poor areas and its outstanding contribution to addressing key challenges related to water and sanitation in an urban area.

For further details visit the United Nations website:  (http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/)

 

WISE - new and improved version of the web
portal Water Information System for Europe.

(Posted 04 April 2011)

On World Water Day, 22 March, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and partners presented a new and improved version of the web portal WISE. WISE, which was made publicly available for the first time on 22 March 2007, brings together all the information collected from Member States at EU level and on surface and ground water, including data on bathing waters.

The new version of the web portal offers easy access to water statistics compiled by Eurostat and model-based services developed by Joint Research Centre (JRC) in addition to the water policy website maintained by DG Environment and the Water Data Centre maintained by the EEA. Interactive maps also provide a user-friendly visualisation of the status of water bodies as reported under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

You can view the new portal at:  (http://water.europa.eu/)

 

PROJECTS

Minister starts works at Mayesbrook Climate Change Park

(Posted 22 April 2011)

Richard Benyon, Minister for the Environment, helped start the work to create the UK's first 'Climate Change Park' at Mayesbrook in Barking, east London on 16 March 2011. This is the £1 million first phase of a project to transform a rundown 45-hectare park into a showcase of how public greenspace can help a community to cope with the risks from climate change, such as increased flooding and higher summer temperatures. The Mayesbrook Climate Change Park is being delivered by a partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations including the Thames Rivers Restoration Trust, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Environment Agency, GLA, London Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Design for London, RSA insurance company and the SITA Trust.

For the full text of the press release and to find more about the project visit the Thames River Restoration Trust website:

(http://www.trrt.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15960)

 

LIFE+ 2011

Call for proposals is now open

(Posted 22 April 2011)

The fifth LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 26 February 2011, with up to €267 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings:

  • nature and biodiversity;
  • environment policy and governance; and
  • information and communication.

Project proposals should be sent to the relevant national authority no later than 18 July 2011. National authorities will then send received proposals to the European Commission by 9 September 2011. The Commission will check the outline projects against the LIFE+ eligibility criteria and will assess proposals on the basis of the LIFE+ selection and award criteria. The earliest possible starting date for 2011 projects is 1 June 2012.

For further details visit the LIFE Programme website:  (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm)

 

WISER Project

Water bodies in Europe: Integrative Systems to
assess Ecological status and Recovery

(Posted 22 April 2011)

The WISER project is funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme, Theme 6, (1/03/2009- 29/02/2012). WISER supports the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to establish a framework for water policy and management in Europe by developing tools for the integrated assessment of the ecological status of European surface waters. The project will analyse existing data from more than 90 databases compiled in previous and ongoing projects, covering all water categories, organism groups and environmental stressor types. Field-sampling campaigns will supplement the data on lakes and coastal systems.

Six new deliverables were made available in March 2011:

  1. D3.2-3: Report on the most suitable lake macrophyte based assessment methods for impacts of eutrophication and water level fluctuations
  2. D3.4-3: Guidelines for standardisation of hydroacoustic methods
  3. D4.1-2: Assessment of pigment data potential for multi-species and assemblage indices
  4. D5.2-1: Analysis of applied modelling approaches in the case studies
  5. D5.3-1: Temperature effects on hypoxia and benthic fauna
  6. D6.3-1: Report from workshop on among BQEs, habitats and systems comparisons

For further information visit the WISER website:  (http://www.wiser.eu/)

 

SPI-Water - Science-Policy Interfacing
in Water Management

 (Posted 22 April 2011)

The SPI-Water cluster consists of three EC FP7 projects dealing with Science-Policy Interfacing in Water management: STREAM, WaterDiss2.0 and STEP-WISE.

These projects have as the main objective the dissemination and uptake of FP environmental research results with tangible impact on economic growth and social welfare.

  • The STREAM project intends to tackle the issue of water research awareness gap by bringing water technologies to the interest of those that seek implementation. The main objectives are to review the main research and technology development on water management, focusing on the results of projects under the FP6 and FP7 programmes, but also of other European programmes and to disseminate the state of the art on researches and technological developments on water management targeting information to the main stakeholders. A diversified series of dissemination and communication actions will be tailored to different stakeholders: policy makers, researchers, SMEs, industries and consumers.
  • The STEP-WISE project, Science, Technology and Policy Interfacing using WISE–RTD. The WISE-RTD Web Portal has already been implemented to serve as a dissemination tool, linking diverse EC Water Framework Directive policy aspects to FP RTD (and LIFE) results, thus bridging the science policy gap in information exchange. Amended WISE-RTD will include also other (EC) Directives that relate to water policies. By uploading these projects/RTD results using a dedicated tool WPIS (Web Portal Input System) to the WISE-RTD Web Portal, the information automatically become linked to the diverse sets of policy instruments.
  • WaterDiss2.0 project. The general objective of the project is to speed up the transfer of research outputs (FP6&7) relevant to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) to water management institutions. The dissemination and uptake of the results of past research projects will be analysed and strategies for improving the uptake will be developed. Identified dissemination activities (brokerage events, training, e-seminar) will be carried out in cooperation with the project consortiums throughout Europe. The general objective of the project is to boost the transfer of research outputs with a targeted time lag of only 3 – 5 years by identifying project-specific uptake barriers and designing and implementing tailored strategies for improving uptake.

For further information on the three projects visit the SPI-Water cluster website: (http://www.spi-water.eu/spi-water.cgi)

 As a part of the WaterDiss2.0 project a new sub-group of the online KTN Sustainable Water Management group has been set up on the  _connect website:  (https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/waterdiss-2.0)

 

Defra River Improvement Fund

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This is a grant funding from Defra in collaboration with the Environment Agency, for projects contributing toward meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive and achieving Good Ecological Status, the Habitats Directive and the EU Eel Regulation. The fund is administered by the Association of River Trusts (ART) and funds disbursed to local Rivers Trusts for approved projects, related mainly to fish passage, SAC & SSSI habitat, Salmon Action Plans and Eel Management Plans.

For further information visit the ART web site:

(http://www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk/projects/defra_ri/defra_river_improvements_fund.html)

 

URSULA – urban river corridors and
sustainable living agendas

A Seminar Series from
Autumn 2010 to Autumn 2011

(Updated 04 April 2011)

The research addresses the hypothesis that there are significant social, economic and environmental gains to be made by integrated and innovative interventions in urban river corridors. The project URSULA tackles river corridor issues holistically by treating the river and its urban setting as a system. Over 4 years the project will produce innovations, tools and knowledge to help guide the regeneration of urban river corridors worldwide.

The seminars take place monthly, on Wednesday at the University of Sheffield. Each talk is open to members of the public as well as University students and staff.

The last presentation by Bryan Ellis, Emeritus Professor at Middlesex University on ‘Urban Diffuse Pollution; Sources, Impacts and Mitigating Approaches ~ How far are we from realising sustainable outcomes?’ took place on 30 march 2011. Webcast is now available of Liz Sharp's seminar 'Science for the new water management: People, pollution and plumbing'

For further details visit the project’s website:  (http://www.ursula.ac.uk/)

 

PUBLICATIONS

The Itchen Initiative

Smarter water management for people and nature

WWF-UK, March 2011, 66 pages

(Posted 22 April 2011)

The new report suggests a fresh approach - working with industry, government and local communities, combining innovation and incentive schemes to create smarter water management that benefits people and nature. This report sets out the reforms that are necessary if we are to restore many rivers and wetlands in our country that currently have too much water taken from them, and if we are to safeguard our natural heritage and water supplies in the face of climate variability and a rising local population. The proposed reforms are based on more flexible, cost-effective, and in tune with water’s natural variability approach to water. The report sets out 10 recommendations that are required to achieve the proposed reforms.

For more information and to red the findings of the Itchen initiative or read the executive summary visit the WWF website:

(http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/safeguarding_the_natural_world/rivers_and_lakes/?4794/The-Itchen-Initiative---smarter-water-management)

 

Dealing with the Deluge

Urban Water Management in a Changing Climate

RSA/WWF Partnership, January 2011, 53 pages

(Posted 22 April 2011)

WWF and RSA explore how natural urban drainage and water management schemes in towns and cities can mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the impact of flooding. The report includes a number of case studies.

WWF and RSA call for urgent action to meet the challenges:

  • Development by relevant authority of a policy and regulatory framework that encourages sustainable surface water management.
  • Leadership by example and increase capacity and innovation within the sector.
  • Improvements in awareness and understanding of surface water impacts and greater encouragement for take-up of SuDS.

The report is available online at the Partnership’s website:  (http://www.wwfrsapartners.com/)

 

Persistent Organic Pollutants in
Scottish Freshwater Biota

Monitoring options, current levels
and the way forward

(Posted 22 April 2011)

To get a better understanding of the levels of persistent organic pollutants  (POPs) in Scotland’s freshwater environments, in 2004 SEPA began monitoring contaminant concentrations in the tissues of eels (Anguilla anguilla). SEPA scientists chose eels as the ‘biomonitor’ species because of their high fat content and long lifespan, which make them ideal for measuring long-term POP accumulation.  However, the eel population of Europe is in decline so they wanted to find potential alternative species. A research project was therefore run in parallel with the existing eel monitoring efforts. This new SEPA report describes the research project and its findings as well as the results and future direction of the eel monitoring programme.

The results from the monitoring and research project are helping to shape SEPA’s future freshwater monitoring programmes under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The results will also contribute to the work of important partner organisations such as Marine Scotland, who are responsible for Scotland’s eel management plan and other related activities.

The report is available online at the SEPA website:

(http://www.sepa.org.uk/science_and_research/data_and_reports/water/pollutants_pops_in_biota.aspx)

 

Third Follow up Report to the Communication on water scarcity and droughts in the European Union

Report from the Commission to the European
Parliament and the Council
COM (2007) 414 final

(Posted 04 April 2011)

In the run up to a major water policy review in 2012, the third and final report presents the water management measures introduced by Member States to tackle water scarcity and droughts and highlights the areas for further action. The report confirms that water scarcity and drought is not limited to Mediterranean countries. Apart from some sparsely-populated northern regions with abundant water resources, this is a growing issue across the EU. The Commission will further address this growing challenge in a review of EU water scarcity and drought policy which will form part of a “Blueprint” for safeguarding Europe's waters scheduled for 2012. Over the next months, the focus will be on filling in the knowledge and data gaps and carrying out an impact assessment.

The report is accompanied by a staff working paper on the details of the activities carried out in the Member States. Both documents are available on the Europa website:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/quantity/eu_action.htm#2010)

 

Guidelines on the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives in estuaries and coastal zones

With Particular Attention to Port Development and Dredging

European Commission: January 2011

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This document provides sector specific guidance on the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives in estuaries and coastal zones. The guidance has benefitted from discussions held in the context of a specific working group with representatives from Member States, stakeholder organisations and environmental NGOs. The development of the guidelines followed a request of the ports and maritime services sector. It was one of the main action points that emerged from the Commission’s 2007 Ports Policy Communication. The guidelines aim to clarify issues related to the application of the EU environmental legislation to port development projects and to address legal uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

The document is available at the Commission’s website:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/docs/guidance_doc.pdf)

 

Integrating biodiversity and nature protection
into port development

Commission Staff Working Document, SEC(2011) 319 final

European Commission, Brussels, 08.03.2011

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This Commission working paper, which accompanies the above guidelines, puts the recommendations in a policy context.

The document is available at the Commission’s website:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/docs/sec2011_319pdf.pdf)

 

Making the case for the sound management
of Marine Protected Areas

Report to LINK by Scottish Association for Marine Science

Compiled by: Elanor Bell, Ruth Brennan, Thom Nickell, Tavis Potts, Branka Valcic,
Helen Wilson, published 21 March 2011

(Posted 04 April 2011)

The purpose of this scientific report is to inform the LINK position on the sound management of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NC-MPAs) following their designation under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. If well planned, appropriately resourced and properly managed, MPAs can play an important role in both nature conservation and the wider economy, benefiting marine industries as well as helping to mitigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. The new Scottish legislation is based on the three pillar approach to marine conservation in Scotland, as elaborated in the draft Strategy for Marine Conservation in Scotland (Marine Scotland 2010). The three pillars are wider seas policies and measures, species conservation and site protection.

The report is available online at the LINK website:  (http://www.scotlink.org/public/itemlisting.php?id=592)

 

Impacts of climate change on disadvantaged
UK coastal communities

Mary Zsamboky, Amalia Fernández-Bilbao, David Smith, Jasper Knight and James Allan

Published by Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 63 pages, March 2011

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This study explores the vulnerability to climate change of communities in disadvantaged coastal areas of the UK, combines four case studies with a literature review and analysis of likely impacts, interviews and a workshop, and provides recommendations for improving their resilience to climate change as part of national and local adaptation responses.

The document is available on the Joseph $Roentree Foundation website:

(http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/impacts-climate-change-disadvantaged-uk-coastal-communities)

 

EVENTS

Water & Environment 2011: CIWEM's Annual Conference 2011

Big Society: Future Environment

06 April 2011, London

(Posted 22 April 2011)

This two-day Annual CIWEM Conference addressed multidisciplinary issues across all areas of the global water and environment sector and also focused on the issue of the “Big Society” the governments programme and the implications for the environment sector.

Delegates Notes, the presentations and other relevant documents are available for download at the conference organiser’s website:  (http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/438/show)

 

MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend

(Posted 22 April 2011)

Beachwatch Big Weekend is now in its 18th year with thousands of volunteers taking part every year, making it the most influential fight against marine litter in the UK. The annual event takes place on the 3rd weekend of September every year and the data collected is used for the annual MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend report.

For details how to get involved and to read the 2010 Beachwatch report visit the Marine Conservation Society website:

(http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/Clean%20seas%20and%20beaches/Beachwatch/Beachwatch)

 

Catchment SCIENCE 2011

Catchment scale research and evaluation for
agriculture and water quality

14 - 16 September 2011, Dublin, Ireland

(Posted 04 April 2011)

This international conference, aimed at scientists, policy makers, farmers and land managers, is jointly hosted by the Irish Agricultural Catchments Programme (Teagasc / DAFF) and the UK Demonstration Test Catchment Projects (Defra / EA). This conference will bring together international experts to address the questions:

  1. Can we manage agricultural catchments for economic and environmental objectives?
  2. Where are we seeing successes and why?

These questions will be explored in four themes:

  1. Scale issues - networks, observatories and farms. What works best for which stakeholders?
  2. Catchment uncertainty - empirical and modelling experiences; uncertainties in science & policy
  3. Counting the cost - socio-economic implications of catchment-scale agri environmental measures
  4. Case Studies - examples of environmental mitigation policies and evaluation science; future challenges

For further details visit the conference website: (http://www.jorireland.com/events/CatchmentScience2011/outlineprogram.php)

 

European waters Conference ‘Future of European Waters’

Speech by Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment

Gödöllő (Budapest), Hungary, 25 March 2011

(Posted 04 April 2011)

We need an integrated approach, for the future of water resources in Europe; the various Union policies must be coordinated for the protection of water. This was concluded in the informal meeting of the Environment Council, on 25 March 2011, in Gödöllő. The Hungarian Presidency aims to facilitate the adoption of a closing document (conclusions), on the sustainable utilisation of water, by the Environment Council, which is due to take place in June.

You can download the speech by Janez Potočnik at the Commission’s website:

(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/215&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)

Further information on the meeting is available at the Hungarian EU Presidency website:

(http://www.eu2011.hu/news/europe-needs-integrated-water-policy)

 

Hydro Power in England and Wales - Addressing
the Key Ecological Issues

CMS Conference, 03 March 2011, London

(Posted 04 April 2011)

The UK Government has launched a series of initiatives to increase the amount of small scale hydropower as part of its wider renewables programme to help meet the challenges of climate change. It is important that any hydropower development is sustainable with minimum damage to the environment. The aim of this conference was to focus on a number of ecological issues in the context the Hydropower Good Practice Guidelines in order to better understand key issues and what needs to be done to resolve these.

For further information, presentations and related documents visit the CMS website:

(http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/444/show)

 

SNIFFER's annual Flood Risk Management Conference 2011

9 – 10 February 2011, Edinburgh

(Posted 04 April 2011)

SNIFFER's annual Flood Risk Management Conference 2011 was hosted by the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) with support from the Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water, the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS Group) and Scottish Environment Link.

Presentations from the event and a conference record are available on the SNIFFER website by searching on project code FRM23:

(http://www.sniffer.org.uk/news/4122/SNIFFERs-annual-Flood-Risk-Management-Conference-2011-sucessfully-held.aspx)