Water management conflicts in the Natura 2000 sites. Odra Delta Nature Park (Northwest Poland) case study

Transcription

1 Water management conflicts in the Natura 2000 sites. Odra Delta Nature Park (Northwest Poland) case study dr Kazimierz Rabski Society for The Coast (EUCC-Poland) Pl. Batorego 4/33, Szczecin, Poland photo: Małgorzata Torbé, Kazimierz Rabski

2 SOCIETY FOR THE COAST (Stowarzyszenie na Rzecz Wybrzeża) is a non-governmental (NGO) organisation established at 1996, according to the Polish Law, to realise the following most important aims: realising active nature conservation and creating platform for development of sustainable development in local and regional scale, large scale nature education (from separate publication till organized camps and field activities, media campaigns, TV and radio progammes realisations) strengthening the importance of Baltic Sea coasts and solving problems connected with wise using, sustainable development and nature conservation, also by creating platforms for co-operation between G.O., NGOs, local communities, scientific organisations and individuals involved in conservation problems of coastal zone; creating platforms of cooperation and participating in international movements dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable development supporting local initiatives based on valuable nature areas creating platforms for co-operation between G.O., NGOs, local communities, scientific organisations and individuals involved in conservation problems of coastal zone

3 Location of the case study area: Odra Delta Nature Park

4 Just to remind. There are far more then 20 European Union Directives connected with water management and water economy

5 Main water management law acts in Poland (15 acts) The most important: Water Law (Prawo Wodne) Environmental Protection Law (Prawo Ochrony Środowiska) Nature Protection Law (Ustawa o Ochronie Przyrody) Geology and Mining Law (Prawo Geologiczne i Górnicze)

6 Act of Parliament: Water Law (accrding to the last version from 2011, revised on 2017 under final preparation) Section II Water usage Chapter 1 Water usage and water service Article 29. Water usage can not bring impoverishment of water conditions and ecosystems which are dependent on water conditions (...)

7 Water management bodies in Poland (till probably 1st of January 2018) General remark: very hierarchic structure! Ministry of Environment (Ministerstwo Środowiska) Water Economy National Board (Krajowy Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej) Water Economy Regional Boards (Regionalne Zarządy Gospodarki Wodnej) Provincial (Regional) Board of Melioration and Water Devices Managements (Wojewódzkie Zarządy Melioracji i Urządzeń Wodnych) Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (National Research Institute) (Instytut meteorologii I Gospodarki Wodnej) Polish Geological Institute (National Research Institute) (Polski Instutut Geologiczny) Main Inspectorate Of Environmental Protection Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska) Voivodship (Regional) Inspectorate Of Environmental Protection (Wojewódzkie Inspektoraty Ochrony Środowiska) Voivodship Offices (Urzędy Wojewódzkie) Marshal Offices (Urzędy Marszałkowskie) County Offices (Starostwa Powiatowe) Local Communities (Gminy)

8 Nature management law background in Poland: Habitat Directive Bird Directive Act of Parliament about Environment Information Circulating, Its Protection, Public Participation in Environment Protection and Environmental Impacts Assessments Ustawa o udostępnianiu informacji o środowisku i jego ochronie, udziale społeczeństwa w ochronie środowiska oraz o ocenach oddziaływania na środowisko Nature Protection Law (Ustawa o Ochronie Przyrody)

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10 Actual law changes significant complication for water management >>Polish Waters<< one centralized institution (planned from )

11 Identification of local problems: main mission of Regional Melioration and Water Devices Managements is permanent drainage, usually without any on-going monitoring! lack of Natura 2000 local regulations respectation (is they are established!) as Conservation Tasks Plan (made for some areas instead Management Plan) lack of dialogue with local owners and stakeholders, if their not accept permanent drying bad condition of water technical devices as ditches, channels, small retaining dams, culverts which allowed water retention

12 Re-construction of flood-banks according to The Special Act of Parliament Investment unnecessary and unwanted on the areas being not settled and nature valuable, included protected. Lack of public consultation. Wrong environmental impact assessment.

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14 Society for The Coast project and application to realize water management improvement towards retention project plan 2012 technical realization responsible institiution: Regional Melioration and Water Devices Management

15 Main activities in project cleaning of ditches (about 40 km) stabilized water circulation towards retention re-building of about 20 culverts on ditches and channels reconstruction of small damms reconstruction of local water supplying system

16 Problems during realization: not proper timing (according in example to Natura 2000 regulations) lack of diligence during works necessity of permanent control from Society for The Coast staff

17 Final results: system is not working as water retaining, but mostly as drainage! The park has immense drought issues.

18 Necessity of actions to save nature values of Odra Delta Nature Park periodic / temporary blocking of water out-let from the area of approx. 450 ha (from II toll VII/VIII) channelling water facilitating by old not-rebuilt infrastructure as temporary solution permanent monitoring of undertaken actions

19 Positive, sufficient results, special on lower located parts of meadows and pastures in breeding season (IV VII)

20 Less hydrostructures, more nature, more wildness...

21 Preparation and start to negotiations to undertaken activities validation (in the light of Polish law and... traditional actions realised by state bodies responsible for water management. Main case: permanent threats of the protected areas (with special attention to Natura 2000 site) Agreement between Society for The Coast & Regional Melioration and Water Devices Management in Szczecin: preparation of all necessary documents construction a small retaining dam to control and possible stop water flow from the area reduction of drainage of all Natura 2000 site area

22 Agreement has not been implemented by Regional Melioration and Water Devices Management in Szczecin during Necessity of temporary activities to keep a proper level of water and protect values of still existing biodiversity.

23 Conclusions: 1. Lack of responsibility and amenability from State organisations to protect existing values 2. Lack of understanding and respectation needed for Natura 200o sites 3. Lack local stakeholders and NGOs strong political power to change actual situation 4. Necessity of partisan activities with hope to stabilised situation in future and treat it as good practise examples or case study 5. But also: water on wetlands used for any kind of agriculture (as extensive grazing, additional mowing) must be managed! 6. >>Let s work together to be stronger<<

24 THANK YOU!