The Blueprint and Council Conclusions:

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1 The Blueprint and Council Conclusions: Essential to address the challenges that threaten the water ecosystems and their services on which society depends Proposed solutions include assessment of the costs and benefits of water measures, further implementation of the concept of payment for ecosystem services and the promotion of green infrastructure, and guidance for the uptake of NWRM Member States were urged to '' improve implementation of the WFD and other relevant EU legislation and reduce hydro-morphological pressures in river basins using whenever possible green infrastructure, best available techniques and mitigation measures, thus reducing the EU s vulnerability to floods and droughts, supporting biodiversity and soil fertility as well as improving the status of waters.''

2 Specific Blueprint objectives Voluntary Regulation Conditionality Funding priority Maximisation of the use of Natural Water Retention Measures (Green Infrastructure) CIS Guidance by 2014 Greening of CAP pillar as of 2014 Structural & Cohesion Funds & EIB loans ( ) Implementation of ecological flow CIS guidance Water accounts/ecological flows by 2014 Application of target setting Reduction of flood risk Reduction of drought risk Better calculation of costs and benefits CIS guidance target setting by 2014 Through Green Infrastructures European Flood Awareness System Through Green Infrastructures European drought observatory in CIS Guidance by 2014 Flood Risk Management Plans by 2015 Enforcement of WFD requirements (on-going)

3 Blueprint Measures Improvement of irrigation systems and management efficiency measures at the buildings level Managing water demand water efficient products Protecting the water ecosystems NWRM Crop management Restoring Longitudinal /lateral continuity Soil management Reducing water pollution at source Restoring riparian area Restoring lateral connectivity Distribution networks Water reuse & recycling Water storage Treatment of brackish or sea water Transfers Improving availability of clean water

4 Natural Water Retention Measures Measures that aim to safeguard and enhance the water storage potential of ecosystems and aquifers, by restoring or natural features and characteristics of water courses and restoring ecosystems. Measures that use nature to regulate the flow and transport of water so as to smooth peaks and moderate extreme events. They are a component of Green Infrastructure contributing to integrated goals dealing with nature and biodiversity conservation and restoration, landscaping, etc.

5 to support the Blueprint and to carry out the impact assessment: to cover the different aspects of Green Infrastructure Strategy: Blueprint follow up -delivery studies: ''Support Policy Development for Integration of Ecosystem Services Approach with WFD and FD Implementation'' Studies launched by DG ENV PP:'' Integration of Natural Water Retention Measures in river basin management''

6 (mostly) Forest & Semi-natural Areas (mostly) Agricultural Areas (i.e. arable) (mostly) Artificial Areas (i.e. Urban) (mostly) Wetlands and Water Bodies M1 Continuous cover forestry M2 Maintaining and developing riparian forests M3 Restoring and maintaining meadows and pastures M4 Afforestation of agriculture land M5 Buffer strips M6 Crop practices M7 Tillage M8 Terracing M9 Green cover M10 Early sowing M11 Filter strips and swales M12 Permeable surfaces and filter drains M13 Infiltration devices M14 Basins and ponds M15 Green roofs M16 Artificial ground water recharge M17 Wetland restoration M18 Restoration of lakes M19 Shallow impoundments on tributaries of reservoirs M20 Floodplain restoration M21 Bank structure M22 Re-meandering

7 Physical Impacts improving soil s water storage capacity limiting soil erosion increasing groundwater recharge conserving water in natural systems decreasing flow velocity, controlling runoff reducing flood peaks Nutrient retention, dilution, and remediation ESS flood hazard reduction water flow regulation water purification, water provisioning soil quality improvement, provision of habitat cultural services Air quality improvement Climate regulation. WFD objectives: water purification services, Improvement: physico-chemical, HYMO biological quality elements FD objectives: Promoting nonstructural initiatives Reducing likelihood/extend of flooding, Reduce flooding consequences,

8 Pilot Project: Integration of NWRM RB management a detailed assessment of effectiveness, costs and benefits of natural water retention measures, supporting further scenario modelling further development and maintenance of a catalogue of measures and case studies, to be integrated into WISE targeted information and communication events in a representative selection of river basins with operators and stakeholders a contribution to the WFD Common Implementation Strategy and to the 2015 River Basin Management Plans.

9 Support Policy Development for Integration of ESA with WFD and FD Implementation Develop guidance for how to take ecosystem services on board in the next WFD planning cycles and as part of the implementation of the Floods Directive. Involves: Development of a framework that can help river basin managers select measures that will optimise the delivery for ecosystem services and also deliver the objectives of the WFD and FD. Interviews with selected river basin planners (testing guidance) Organisation of expert workshops and interactions with CIS groups (formulating guidance, forum)

10 ESA Integration with WFD and FD

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12 Links with Biodiversity Strategy: Target 2 ''by 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems '. Improve knowledge of ecosystems and their services in the EU (Action 5) (MAES WG) Development of a Green infrastructure Strategy (Action 6) Ensure no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services (Action 7) (NNL WG)

13 MAES and Freshwater Pilot Mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES): Analytical Framework, Typology of ecosystems and ecosystem services The assessment should, to the extent possible, be based on existing legal reporting obligations and other, existing data sources Six pilots, one on Freshwater Ecosystems: support for MS assessment and mapping of freshwater ecosystems and associated services, taking to account conceptual approaches of related directives.

14 EEA 2013 activity on freshwater and biodiversity Explore possibilities of linking WFD and HD information: Analyse different aspects of broad inland water types linking information on status and pressures from WFD to information on freshwater habitats and species from Habitat Directive (HD). Characterize the broad types by analysing: Ecological status/potential Pressures and impacts Ecosystem services and goods related to the broad types Measures for improving the status of the broad types.

15 Links with Biodiversity Strategy: GI Green Infrastructure: spatial structure using ecosystembased approaches to deliver multiple benefits integrate GI elements into river basin management contribute to delivering good water quality and reducing the impacts of floods and droughts innovative solutions for drinking water and wastewater treatment EC Communication on GI (commitment in Resource Efficiency Roadmap and Biodiversity Strategy) expected in spring 2013 More information:

16 Links with Common Strategic Framework Funds (CSF) Draft legislative package framing cohesion policy for Proposals for EU investment is targeted on Europe's long-term goals for growth and jobs ("Europe 2020") and sustainable development CSF Funds: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the European Social Fund (ESF) the Cohesion Fund (CF) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

17 CSF - Thematic objectives Linked to Multifunctional Measures Among the 11 thematic objectives, 3 on sustainable growth: 1. Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors 2. Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management 3. Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency Investment priorities setting aims for intervention for every thematic objective

18 Climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management: Priorities: supporting dedicated investment for adaptation to climate change; promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems; Opportunities : Ecosystem-based adaptation: Preserving natural areas, biodiversity, water quality & quantity, ecosystem services New/Improved recreational areas = positive health effects New jobs & activities

19 Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency Priorities: [ ] investments in water sector ; protecting biodiversity, soil protection and promoting ecosystem services including NATURA 2000 and green infrastructures; Improving urban environment including regeneration of brownfield sites and reduction of air pollution. Opportunities: Implementation of River Basin Management Plans Investments in green infrastructure: Preservation of ecosystem services, Floodplains, river re-naturation, wetlands

20 Links with Agricultural policy CAP mainly EAFRD (as PES): Afforestation and creation of woodland, establishment of agro-forestry systems, prevention and restoration of damage to forests, investments for the resilience and environmental value of forest ecosystems, forest environmental climate services Agri-environment climate commitments Natura 2000 and Water framework directive payments LEADER for supporting local action groups on interterritorial or transnational co-operation projects

21 Links with CAP Pillar 1 - Greening '' Greening'' - % of direct payments Crop Diversification, Ecological Focus Areas (important if used wisely along water courses) Permanent Grasslands Cross Compliance standards for maintaining soil organic matter level the protection of wetlands and carbon rich soils groundwater protection

22 State of play CAP COM, EP and Council have recently started a series of Trilogue meetings Irish Presidency is hoping that an agreed position will be reached by end June transition for the 1 st pillar parts of the CAP in 2014, with the new rules coming into place only from it is still hoped that the new Rural development part will be able to start in 2014