Towards risk-based management of European river basins The RISKBASE key messages. Jos Brils et al.!

Transcription

1 Towards risk-based management of European river basins The RISKBASE key messages Jos Brils et al.! Common Forum meeting, Trieste, Italy, 5 July 2010

2 Et al. A big thanks to all these and other RISKBASE friends!

3 RISKBASE EC FP6 Coordination Action project (Sept Dec. 2009) Review and synthesis of FP projects, and other major initiatives, related to integrated risk assessment based management of the (ground)water/sediment/soil system at the river basin scale aimed to deliver (a.o.) a generic approach (guiding principles) to integrated risk-based management of European river basins Website:

4 RISKBASE aims to inspire the WFD process

5 The WFD objective no or very minor deviation Ecological status HIGH slight GOOD moderate MODERATE Prevent deterioration major POOR restore through Programme of Measures (PoM) severe BAD Source: D Eugenio, 2003

6 WFD to date (2010) First cycle of River Basin Managements Plans: Focus an how instead of why : measure has become objective! Low ambition : mostly only conservative PoM included Big questions marks even to effectiveness of these PoM Ecological status data (& other available science) hardly/not used!!! RISKBASE: River basin systems too complex for linear optimization approaches No longer effective to deal with one issue at a time If we want to be effective we need a different approach

7 Different approach: risk-based management Be well informed Manage adaptively Take a participatory approach Source: Brils & Harris, 2009

8 1 st key-principle: be well informed (1) Key conclusion: scientific understanding is very important basis for improving river basin management Source: Brils & Harris, 2009

9 1 st key-principle: be well informed (2) A lot new insights, tools etc. available at a.o.: & SETAC on: Key conclusion: The introduction of effectbased monitoring (biotests, biomarkers, effectdirected analysis) helps to unravel causal links between chemistry and biology

10 Available but not used in 1 st RBMP (examples) Flooding will mobilize historic contamination Contaminants reach surface water via ground water Source: Brils & Harris, 2009

11 2 nd key-principle: manage adaptively Adaptive management is learning together to manage together (Pahl-Wostl, 2007) Cartoon source: Brils & Harris, 2009

12 3 rd key-principle: take a participatory approach Whom to involve for what risk to be managed? Source: IRGC, 2008, see:

13 A generic framework for the participatory process Source: Stern & Fineberg, 2003

14 Communication is key in participatory processes Communication difficulties originate from the jargon used in the different communities Source: Brils & Harris, 2009

15 Ecosystem services as new, common language? Many see a huge potential in the application of the ecosystem services (ES) concept due to several attractive features (but hardly demonstrated in practice yet): Guiding concept to sustainable management of soil, sediment, and water resources Addition to sustainability concepts such as: Societal Cost Benefit Analysis (SCBA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Cradleto-Cradle (C2C), People-Profit-Planet (PPP) Broadens scope / widens perspective (more systemic view) Common language (thus facilitating participatory approaches)

16 Ecosystem services tested in practice Pilot project: Buulder Aa (Deltares & Waterboard De Dommel) Picture:

17 B current situation A B Preliminary conclusions: yes ES broadened scope! yes ES facilitated communication! A WFD objective

18 Transition of EU environmental policy towards ES Year Policy Scope (exact extracts from policy text) 1979 Birds Directive conservation of all species of naturally occurring birds measures to maintain the population of the species referred to in Article 1 conserving single species 1992 Habitats Directive measures to maintain or restore, at favourable conservation status, natural habitats and species of wild fauna and flora 2000 Water Framework Directive prevents further deterioration and protects and enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems achieve the objective of at least good water status conserving status of communities of species 2002 Working document Natura 2000 network community-wide network of nature protection areas to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. enhancing connectivity 2006 Proposed Soil Framework Directive 2008 Marine Strategy Framework Directive preservation of soil functions current scientific knowledge on soil biodiversity and its behaviour is too limited to allow for specific provisions applying an ecosystem-based approach to the management of human activities while enabling a sustainable use of marine goods and services sustaining Ecosystem Services

19 Some definitions Ecosystem A dynamic complex of plant, animal, and micro-organism communities and the non-living environment interacting as a functional unit Ecosystem services (ES) The benefits people obtain from ecosystems The services of nature Biodiversity The variability among living organisms within species and populations, between species, and between ecosystems Serves as the foundation for all ecosystem services Source: Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision Makers (WRI)

20 River basin ecosystem services Source: and Brils & Harris, 2009

21 Ecosystem services and human well-being 4 Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005

22 Ecosystem services and biodiversity (1) According to EC DG Environment: From an economic perspective, biodiversity provides benefits for present and future generations by way of ecosystem services. It is difficult to put precise monetary values on these services worldwide, but estimates suggest they are in the order of hundreds of billions of Euros per year. These services underpin EU growth, jobs and well-being Source: EC Communication (2006): Halting Biodiversity Loss by 2010 and Beyond: Sustaining ecosystem services for human well-being See also:

23 Ecosystem services and biodiversity (2) According to several policy and scientific documents, biodiversity seen as: indicator for the health/functioning of ecosystems and specifically its potential to deliver ES foundation for all ES ES: the ecosystem provides biodiversity. This overlaps with indicator function, but also stresses the intrinsic value of biodiversity Source: Van der Meulen, Rutgers, Breure & Brils, 2010: Ecoysteemdiensten: wat zijn dat?

24 Important notion: ecosystem services are coupled Food production Food production Habitat Soil retention Habitat Soil retention Nutrient removal Nutrient removal Source: Brauman, final RISKBASE conference, Mechelen, 2009

25 Conclusions

26 Risk-based river basin management involves integrated application of the three key-principles (informed, adaptive, participatory), but It is human nature to stay within our own comfort zones Source: Brils & Harris, 2009

27 RISKBASE key recommendations For scientists: Be pro-active, on a personal level, in trying to bridge the gap from science to policy/management and communicate transparently on the uncertainties/error margins that go with your scientific findings For river basin managers: Be pro-active, on a personal level, in trying to bridge the gap from management to science; more actively seek out the knowledge that you need Develop a network of more well designed, coordinated and monitored learning catchments and apply here the three keyprinciples to risk-based management

28 Read more? RISKBASE booklet (Brils & Harris, 2009) available at: RISKBASE Springer book, in prep. How to manage adaptively & learn together: Risk governance:

29 WFD beyond 2010: Let actions speak louder than words! Thank you for your attention