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HELCOM and the Baltic Sea

HELCOM and the Baltic Sea. Antti Räike Finnish Environment Institute. The most serious threats. Eutrophication Contaminants Transport of oil - Intensively studied - Poorly known - Expanding. Indicator of eutrophication: Chlorophyll a concentration.

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HELCOM and the Baltic Sea

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  1. HELCOM and the Baltic Sea Antti Räike Finnish Environment Institute

  2. The most serious threats Eutrophication Contaminants Transport of oil - Intensively studied - Poorly known - Expanding

  3. Indicator of eutrophication:Chlorophyll a concentration Source: JRC

  4. Long term trends of riverine nutrient fluxes into the Archipelago Sea Phosphorus Nitrogen • Phosphorus • Nitrogen

  5. HELCOM 50% reduction goal • Ministerial declaration in 1988 • Anthropogenic loading should be reduced by 50% from 1987 levels by the year 1995 • Situation in 2000 • Point source loads have substantially decreased • Nutrient losses from agriculture • Especially phosphorus losses remain in a high level • More specific targets have been elaborated

  6. HELCOM BREMEN DECLARATION • Ministerial declaration in 2003 • One of the main sources of the still excessive inputs of nutrients are: • Nitrogen from agriculture… • …also losses of phosphorus give rise to concern in several countries • Organic farming can contribute to marine environment protection. Therefore the promotion of organic farming in addition to the contribution of agro-environmental measures can help to reduce negative impacts from agricultural sources.

  7. COMBINE PLC Air Water

  8. HELCOM LAND • Responsible for reducing pollution from all sources on land within the Baltic Seas catchment area • Propose actions and promote investment activities in order to reduce emissions and discharges to the Baltic Sea Area • Harmonize HELCOM recommendations in the field of land based pollution with EU and other relevant organizations • Follow up the implementation of HELCOM recommendations (six recommendations closely linked to agriculture)

  9. HELCOM MONAS • Responsible for monitoring of open sea areas and coastal waters (COMBINE) • Identify and quantify the anthropogenic discharges/losses of pollutants (PLC) • Detect changes in loading and possible effects in marine environment • Make periodic assessments and annual indicator reports

  10. The Baltic Sea Regional Project • Managed by HELCOM and the Project Implementation Team • Component 2. Land and Coastal Management Activities • Increases awareness of environmental issues related to agriculture among farmers and communities • Invests in and implements environmentally responsible farm management practices • In the long-term, improves the economic welfare and standard of living within the farming community while reducing agricultural pollution

  11. Pollution load compilation (PLC) • The aim is to get a comprehensive overview of the total amount of loading to the Baltic Sea • Air and Water parts separately • Based on monitoring data • Parameters: nutrients, organic matter, heavy metals • Riverine transport and direct point sources • PLC Water (PLC-1 1987, PLC-2 1990, PLC-3 1995, PLC-4 2000) • Next PLC in 2006

  12. PLC-4 • Data collection in 2000 • Report will be published in 2004 • Whole BS catchment area included • Also data on discharges/losses into freshwater • Data requirements ‘exploded’ • Source apportionment and retention of nutrients • Quantify the major sources of loading

  13. Different source categories in PLC Water • Point sources • Municipalities • Industry • Fish farming • Diffuse sources • Agriculture (including managed forestry) • Scattered dwellings • Storm water overflows • Atmospheric deposition (on lakes) • Natural leaching

  14. N Diffuselosses into freshwaters in 2002 P Totalload into freshwaters in 2002 Source: HELCOM PLC-4

  15. Important questions related to agriculture • Total amount of losses • Location of fields (retention) • Seasonal timing of losses • Bioavailability • Time lag (e.g. Latvian rivers) • Nutrient ratios (limiting nutrient) • If P load decreases what happens to N • ‘Stålnacke hypothesis’

  16. Concluding remarks • To reach the 50% reduction goal agriculture is in key position • Organic farming is part of the solution • More accurate estimates of losses needed

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