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Workshop on Agricultural Nutrient Reduction: HELCOM's Contribution to Baltic Sea Protection

This workshop will discuss HELCOM's achievements in reducing nutrient loads in the Baltic Sea, future work on nutrients, and how the Baltic Sea Regional Project contributes to this work. It will also address the challenges and potential solutions for reducing nutrient pollution from agriculture. Join us in Vilnius in September 2004 to learn more.

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Workshop on Agricultural Nutrient Reduction: HELCOM's Contribution to Baltic Sea Protection

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  1. Workshop on Agricultural Nutrient Reduction,Vilnius September 2004HELCOM- on the way to nutrient load reduction Kaj Forsius HELCOM

  2. Content • Presentation of HELCOM • Results and trends in nutrient loads • Future work on nutrients • How does the BSRP contribute to this work • Conclusions

  3. The Baltic Sea Area • 85 million people • Brackish water • Low temperature • Long residence time of water • Slow degradation of hazardous substances

  4. Helsinki Commission(HELCOM) • Governing body of the Helsinki Convention • International co-operation for the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area since 1974 • 1992 the new Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area was signed (entered into force Jan 2000)

  5. Aim of the Convention • to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution • to restore the ecosystem and preserve its balance • to ensure sustainable use of the natural resources

  6. HELCOM achievements • Political achievements • Environmental achievements: - Joint monitoring and assessment programmes - Network of Baltic Sea Protected Areas • Better protection to prevent and respond to pollution from ships - Stricter control on industry - Improved treatment of wastewater - Hot Spots programme, etc. All resulting in visible improvements of the Baltic Sea, fauna and flora in the Baltic Region

  7. HELCOM’s priority areas of work Based on the eco-system approach: • Joint monitoring and assessment; • Nature conservation and biodiversity; • Eutrophication; • Hazardous substances relevant for the Baltic Sea; • Maritime safety and shipping, including response activities

  8. point sources point sources Background Background load 20% 10% 27% 31% Diffuse Sources Diffuse sources 59% 53% Overall results from the Fourth Pollution Load CompilationNitrogenPhosphorus Discharges from different sectors

  9. Phosphorus

  10. Nitrogen

  11. Ministerial Declaration 1988: 50 % Reduction Target Point sources • Good progress in phosphorus reduction • Progress in transition countries largely due to economical changes • ”Old” EU countries show in general smaller reductions since implementation started before late 1980’s • Progress in water protection measures in new EU countries after 1995 • Programmes established to further reduce pollution from point sources

  12. Reduction in diffuse sources • Smaller reduction than for point sources • Major changes in transition countries due to: - Changes in number of lifestock units - Use of mineral fertilizers • Long time lag before reduction measures can be seen in losses • Losses expected to increase after EU enlargement

  13. Nitrogen losses from agriculture per square kilometre agricultural land

  14. HELCOM regulationsAnnex III of the Convention Plant nutrients • E.g. animal density, manure storage, application of organic manures • Application rates for nutrients, winter crop cover • Water protection measures and nutrient reduction areas Plant protection products • Registration and approval, storage and handling • Application technology, testing of spraying equipment Environmental permits, monitoring, education,

  15. Ministerial Bremen Declaration June 2003 The Ministers acknowledged: • Agriculture main source of nitrogen input, especially in present EU countries • EU enlargement may lead to even higher nutrient inputs Measures agreed: • more sustainability through implementation of reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy • implementation of related EU directives important as well as Annex III of the Helsinki convention • to ensure efficient nutrient utilisation

  16. Further work to reduce nutrients • Less work to have new requirements • Environmental focal point influencing decision making in other fora • use of tools to assess the implications of different policy scenarios, including implementation of EU CAP • indicate the most cost-effective measures of most important pollution sources • Identify where to implement these measures • address inputs from other sources of nutrients, such as airborne nitrogen and small municipalities

  17. HELCOM and the BSRP • HELCOM has been prioritizing the use of the ecosystem approach for setting especially tailored ecological quality objectives (EcoQOs) for the Baltic Sea. • EcoQOs will provide the Baltic Sea region with the tools for setting “measurable” future policy goals and a means to evaluate management outcomes. • The BSRP goal to improve the management of all relevant activities by introducing an ecosystem approach will contribute to this work • The integration of open sea and near shore activities is important (filling in gaps)

  18. HELCOM and the BSRPSpecific interests in Component 2 • Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening, raising awareness of farmers –forms the basis of improved implementation of measures • Development of tools and mechanisms for investments -helps to implement HELCOM regulations at farm level and GAP codes • Nutrient balance calculations –link between investments and environmental effects.

  19. HELCOM and the BSRPSpecific interests in Component 2 Monitoring and assessment activities supports HELCOM work: • improved data on loads from agriculture • links the activities on land to the effects in the sea • The modelling work can contribute directly to increased use of models in HELCOM to assess changes in inputs • Helps in facilitating national programmes for nutrient reduction

  20. HELCOM and the BSRPSpecific interests in Component 2 • Land-based coastal zone management - follow up to the HELCOM JCP Hot Spots - supports the implementation of HELCOM Recommendation 24/10 on ICZM - the restoration of wetlands, small scale wastewater treatment and spawning ground interventions are important for the near-shore fishing issues

  21. Conclusions • Less progress in reduction of nutrients from agriculture • Input might increase with EU enlargement • Effective implementation of regulations in Annex III and EU measures needed • Specific tailor-made measures for the Baltic Sea Area should be considered • The BSRP helps in implementing different aspects of agricultural measures

  22. For more information Please contact: Helsinki Commission Secretariat Katajanokanlaituri 6 B FI-00160 Helsinki Finland http://www.helcom.fi

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