Transboundary Water Management in the Danube Basin

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H.P. Nachtnebel Module 8: Danube and Transboundary Issues

Module 8:

Transboundary Water Management in the Danube Basin

H.P. Nachtnebel

Dept. of Water-Atmosphere-Environment

Module 8: Danube and Transboundary Issues

Structure of presentation

• Situation in the Danube basin (1990-)

• Identification of drivers and changes period from 1990- today

• Strategy for a transboundary approach

• Development of a transboundary cooperation

• Modes of cooperation

• Joint actions (Convention, SAP, Survey…)

• Analysis of benefits and deficits

H.P. Nachtnebel

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• In this presentation figures and transparencies from other institutions are used (ICPDR, Danube GEF…).

These slides are highly appreciated

H.P. Nachtnebel

History of Cooperation

• Belgrade declaration (1948): Navigation along the Danube

• Bukarest declaration (1985) joint water quality standards and monitoring principles

• < 1990 cooperation was based on bi-lateral agreements

• PCU establishment in Brussels (1990)

• Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin (EPDRB) was initiated in 1991

• Convention on cooperation for the protection and sustainable use of the Danube river. Signed in 1994

• International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River Basin (ICPDR) in Vienna (1994)

• Danube river convention (1994)

• Strategic Action Plan (1995)

• 1st RBMP Danube (2009)

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Organisational Development

• From bilateral to multi-lateral cooperation

• From national to international law

• From single objectives (navigation, water quality..) to a multi-objective (integrated) approach

• The role of scientific institutions

• The role of NGO‘s

• The ICPDR

The Danube basin

• Political situation and changes

• Economic situation and development

• Environmental state (water use, agriculture, wetlands, pollution)

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Some Figures About The Basin

• Countries:

• Moldavia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia,

Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany

• Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Albania, Kosovo, Makedonia

• Figures:

• Length: 2857 km

• Area: 817.000 km2

• Population: 80 Mio.

H.P. Nachtnebel

Political Changes in the Danube Basin

-1989

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Political Changes in the Danube Basin

-1989

-1994

H.P. Nachtnebel

Political Changes in the Danube Basin

-1989

-1994 today

H.P. Nachtnebel

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Political Changes in the Last 20 Years

• Collapse of Yugoslavia in a civil war

ten thousands were killed, hundred thousands were expatriated

• New states have been established

Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia- Hercegowina, Makedonia, Montenegro

• Politically unsettled problems (Kosovo, Transnistria)

• Political transition:

CZ,SLW,HU,SLV,BLG,ROM,CRO are EU members

• MA, SE are accession states

COUNTRY

GERMANY AUSTRIA

of the state POPULATION^*

in DRB

82,398,326 9.300 11.49 8,188,207 7.700 9.51 CZECH REPUBLIC 10,249,216 2.800 3.46

SLOVAKIA 5,430,033 5.200 6.42

HUNGARY 10,045,407 10.045 12.60

capita million %

SLOVENIA 1,935,677 1.700 2.10

CROATIA 4,422,248 3.000 3.71

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 10,655,774 9.800 12.11 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 3,989,018 2.900 3.58

BULGARIA 7,537,929 3.500 4.32

ROMANIA 22,271,839 21.000 25.94

MOLDOVA 4,439,502 1.100 1.36

UKRAINE 48,055,439 2.650 3.27

ICPDR TOTAL 219,618,615 80.850 99.88

ALBANIA 3,582,206 0.010 0.01

ITALY 57,998,353 0.020 0.02

MACEDONIA 2,063,122 0.010 0.01

POLAND 38,622,660 0.040 0.05

SWITZERLAND 7,318,638 0.020 0.03

BASIN TOTAL 329,203,593 80.950 100.00

of the state TOTAL AREA

in DRB

357,021 56,184 7.01 83,858 80,423 10.03 78,866 22,870 2.85 48,845 47,084 5.87 93,030 93,030 11.61

km² km² %

20,273 16,422 2.05 56,542 34,965 4.36 102,350 88,635 11.06 51,129 36,636 4.57 110,910 47,413 5.92 237,500 232,193 28.97 33,843 12,834 1.60 603,700 30,520 3.81 1,877,867 799,209 99.72

28,748 126 0.01

301,230 565 0.07

25,333 109 0.01

312,685 430 0.05

41,290 1,809 0.23 2,587,153 802,248 100.00

% in state

DRB

15.74 95.90 29.00 96.39 100.00 81.00 61.84 86.60 71.65 42.75 97.77 37.92 5.06

0.44 0.19 0.43 0.14 4.38

*) as of July 2003

name status

flag

EU CP

 

EU 

 

EU 

 

EU CP EU CP EU CP EU CP EU CP Apl CP

 CP

 Obs Acs CP Acs CP

 CP

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Economic development after political changes

• Industrial Production* (1990-1992)

CSR -40 %

Hungary -32 %

Romania -54 %

Bulgaria -54 %

• Economical Growth Rate* (1992 - 1995)

Country 1992 1993 1994* 1995*

Czech Rep. -7.0 -0.3 2 3.5

Hungary -4.5 -2.0 1.5 3.0

Romania -15.0 1.0 1.0 1.5

Bulgaria -7.7 -4.0 -2.5 -1.0

Economic indicators (estd. in 2002)

GDP on PPP [ Euro / capita ]

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

DE AT CZ SK HU SI HR CS BA BG RO MD UA

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H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Economic Status and Development

GDP

(€/capita/year)

Austria 25 521

Bulgaria 8 010

Croatia 7 460

Czech Republic 13 226

Germany 29 215

Hungary 11 243

Moldova 350

Romania 5 260

Serbia 950

Slovakia 11 150 Slovenia 14 700

Ukraine 3 700

Water, Agriculture and Environment

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Impacts on Water Quality & Environment

1.) Consumptive Use:

 Nonpoint Pollution:

–* Agriculture –* Traffic

–* Waste Water in Rural Areas

 Point Pollution:

–* Industries

–* Waste Water in Municipalities –* Life Stock Farming

–* Dumping Sites

2.) Nonconsumptive Use

• Hydropower

• Navigation

• Recreation

Water and environment

• Agriculture is still a quite important economic factor

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Water and environment

• Agriculturalal water demands are still quite high

• Substantial agricultural exports

Module 8: Danube and Transboundary Issues H.P. Nachtnebel

Water and environment

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Water and environment

• Substantial agricultural exports

• High nutrient loads (pesticides,…) from agriculture

Environmental Problems and Pressures

• Water pollution in tributary basins (also in drinking water)

• Nutrient load and euthrophication

• Sensitive ecological areas are endangered

• The Black Sea is endangered (it accumulates all the pollutants)

• Morphological changes of the rivers

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Aquatic pollution

• Mismanagement of nutrients in the Danube Basin has led to severe ecological problems

(deterioration of groundwater, eutrophication of rivers, lakes and the Black Sea)

• These problems are directly related to social and economic issues

(e.g. drinking water supply, tourism and fishery as

suffering sectors; agriculture, nutrition, industry and waste water management as responsible sectors).

BOD-Loads

• Conclusion:

• The problems are in the tributaries

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Aquatic Pollution:

Other Pollution Sources (2)

• from Petrochemical Industries

• Accidential spills from mining industries, from ship collision

• Biological micropollutants from untreated waste waters

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Aquatic Pollution:

Nonpoint Pollution in Agricultural Areas:

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Human Intervention

• Numerous reservoirs for irrigation supply

• Water abstraction

• Channelisation of rivers

• Environmental degradation

Major Hydraulic Structures

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Heavily Modified Water Bodies

• Schaffung einheitlicher Umweltstandards

• Dokumentation der Umweltsituation im Donauraum

Hydromorphological State of the Danube

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• Schaffung einheitlicher Umweltstandards

• Dokumentation der Umweltsituation im Donauraum

Hydromorphological State of the Danube

Pressures on wetlands

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Summary of problems

• Environmental degradation in the basin

• High nutrient and BOD loads

• No coherent data base

• No clear vision for the basin

• Large economic gradient

• Political changes and new governmental principles

• No public participation

Joint Strategy

• Definition of the problems

• Turn problems into objectives

• Develope a legal framework

• Agree on joint principles

• Identify actors

• Develope an institutional setup

• Develope an action plan including financing

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After the Political Changes in Eastern Europe a New Initiative Started:

 Support of the Countries to Develope New Legislation

• Support of the Countries in Collaboration

• Support to Develope a Joint Strategy for Environment and Water

Structural-Administrative Framework

• A structure (organisational and legal basis) is needed to execute programs

• PCU was moved to Vienna (1991)

• ICPDR was established (1995)

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Organisational Structure in 1990

has been established to implement the objectives and provisions and to achieve the

goals of the Danube River Protection Convention

The International Commission for the Protection of the

Danube River ( ICPDR )

Photo WWF

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H.P. Nachtnebel Module 8: Danube and Transboundary Issues CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)

–Implementation of Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC) –Decision making, mgmt and coordination of regional cooperation –Approval of the budget and annual work programme –Follow up of activities and evaluation of results from Expert Groups –Joint Action Programme

Ecology ( ECO EG ) –Habitats and species

protection areas –Management of

wetlands and floodplains Tisza RBMP

(ad-hoc Tisza Group ) –develop the Tisza River

Basin Management Plan –incorporating:

• flood protection and

• water quality

Cartography and GIS

( RBM / GIS ESG ) Danube – Black Sea

Joint Technical Working Group

Standing Working Group

–co-ordinate the ICPDR work between meetings –prepare main strategic

issues for the ICPDR –guide the activity of the

Expert Groups

UNDP/GF Danube Regional Project – Creation of sustainable ecological condi-

tions for land use and water mgmt – Capacity building and reinforcement of

trans-boundary cooperation – Strengthening public involvement in

environmental decision making – Reinforcement of monitoring, evaluation

and Information System Legal and Administrative issues

(ad-hoc S EG ) –Legal issues –Administrative issues –Financial issues

Permanent Secretariat (PS)

–Supporting the ICPDR sessions –Supporting the Expert Groups –Coordinating the work programme –Supporting project development and implementation –Maintenance of the Information System

River Basin Management ( RBM EG ) –Integrated river basin

management –Implementation of the

EU Water Framework Directive

Emissions ( EMIS EG ) –Emissions from point

sources –Emissions from diffuse

sources –Guidelines on BAT

Economic Analysis ( RBM / ECON ESG )

Monitoring, Laboratory and Information Mgmt

( MLIM EG ) –Trans-National

Monitoring Network –Laboratory Quality

Assurance

Accident Prevention and Control

( APC EG ) –Acciddental pollution

incidents –AEWS operation –Accident prevention

Flood Protection ( FP EG ) –Preparation and imple-

mentation of Action Plan for Sustainable Flood Protection

I C P D R S t W G

M o n i t o r i n g A s s e s s m e n t

P r e s s u r e s M e a s u r e s

F l o o d R B M

R B M P C o o r d i n a t i o n a n d G u i d a n c e

S e r v i c e s u p p o r t

I n f o e x c h a n g e M a n d a t e & R e p o r t

a d h o c S E G

a d h o c P P C o m m . G r o u n d -

w a t e r

T i s z a

A E W S

A P

F l o o d r i s k

L E G E N D

H y d r o - m o r p h o l o g y

a d h o c G I S a n d

I n f o

N O T E F u r t h e r T a s k G r o u p s m a y b e c r e a t e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n e e d s

T a s k G r o u p

Activities in the 1990-ties

• A draft version of the convention for sustainable use of water resources was elaborated by Austria (defines the general objectives and principles)

• PCU financed national reports about the environmental state. IUCN took responsiblity for reviewing and

harmonsing the national reports

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Activities in the 1990-ties

• PCU initiated The Convention and the Environmental Programme for the Danube river (EPDRB) (includes the steps to achieve the tasks of the convention)

• World Bank launched the Strategic Action Plan (to provide technical information and to prepare a set of actions)

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H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Goals of the Convention:



Sustainable and Equitable Water Management Including Conservation, Improvement, and Rational Use of Surface and Groundwater



Control of Hazards Originating from Accidental Spills, of Hazardous Substances, and Natural Phenomena such as Floods and Ice



Reduction of the Pollution Load to the Black Sea

H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Goals of the EPDRB:

• Development of the Operational Basis for Strategic and Integrated Management of the Danube River

Environment.

• Protect and Enhance Environmental Values

• Contribute to Economic Wellfare

• Safeguard Public Health

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H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Principles of the EPDRB:

• Integrated Approach:

- Air-Land-Water-Biological System

- Different Economic & Administrative Structures

• Participatory Approach:

- National Priorities are Important - Consensus at Every Step of Development - Information Sharing

- Joint Decision Making

• Integration of Public and Private Sector

- Private Investment - Public Investment - International Funds

A legal frame for co-operation to assure the protection of water and ecological resources and their sustainable use in the Danube River Basin

To assist the implementation of the EPDRB the Danube River Protection Convention was elaborated

signed: 29 June 1994, Sofia entered into force: 22 October 1998 Permanent Secretariat: since 1 October 1999

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Contracting Parties

HUNGARY AUSTRIA BULGARIA CROATIA CZECH REPUBLIC EUROPEAN UNION GERMANY

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA MOLDOVA

ROMANIA

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO SLOVAKIA

SLOVENIA UKRAINE

29-Aug-99

11-Jul-05 22-Oct-98 19-Aug-03 22-Aug-98 22-Aug-98 13-Mar-03 Contracting Party

Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party 22-Oct-98

Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party Contracting Party

02-Aug-99 22-Oct-98 22-Oct-98 22-Oct-98 22-Oct-98 Contracting Party 22-Oct-98

COUNTRY Status Since COUNTRY Status Since

Contracting Party

Observers

OBSERVER ORGANISATION DANUBE COMMISSION

WORLD WIDE FOUND FOR NATURE

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DANUBE RESEARCH

CONVENTION ON WETLANDS OF INTL. IMPORTANCE ESP. AS WATERFAWL HABITAT DANUBE ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE

INTENATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE BLACK SEA GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP

UNESCO - INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL PROGRAMME

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR WATER WORKS IN THE DANUBE BASIN

DC Abbreviation

WWF IAD RAMSAR

DEF REC BSC GWP IHP IAWD

DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION DIE DONAU

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H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Actions in the first Phase from 1991-1995:

 Pre-Investment Actions

- Studies in Areas of Acute Environm. Concerns - Screening of Pollution Sources

- Identification of High Priority Areas

- Selection of a Few Pilot Projects (in PhaseII)

• Accident Emergency Warning System - Oil Spills, Toxic and Hazadous Substances

• Strategic Action Plan

 Institutional and Technical Building Blocks- - Inventories

- Analytical Tools for Planning / Management - Institutional Strengthening

H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

The Strategic Action Plan:



Reduce the Negative Impacts of Activities in the Danube River Basin and on Riverine Ecosystems and the Black Sea

•

Maintain and Improve the Availability and Quality of Water in the Danube River Basin

•

Establish Control of Hazards from Accidental Spills

•

Develop Regional Water Management Co-operation

•

Support of the the Implementation of the Convention

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H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Scope of Actions:



Policy, Legal and Regulatory Measures

•

Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building

•

Investment in Pollution Control

Ranking of pollution sources Investment plans

•

Management Programmes for Water and Environment at the National Level

•

Public Awareness and Participation

•

Applied Research

H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Principles and Strategies:

These actions should be based on the following principles:

 Precautionary Principle

 Best Available Technique

 Best Available Practice

 Control of the Pollution at the Source

 The Polluter Pays Principle

 Regional Co-operation

 Shared Information

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H.P. Nachtnebel

Danube Basin

Principles and Strategies:

These actions should be based on the following principles:

 Precautionary Principle

 Best Available Technique

 Best Available Practice

 Control of the Pollution at the Source

 The Polluter Pays Principle

 Regional Co-operation

 Shared Information

The Strategic Action Plan:

 Reduce the Negative Impacts of Activities in the Danube River Basin and on Riverine Ecosystems and the Black Sea

• Maintain and Improve the Availability and Quality of Water in the Danube River Basin

• Establish Control of Hazards from Accidental Spills

• Develop Regional Water Management Co-operation

• Support of the the Implementation of the Convention

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Hot Spots

The Actors:

Governments at National, District and Local Level

• Private Companies

• Public Authorities

• The Public

• NGO’s

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Activities, Outcomes, Achievements

Joint and Agreed Data Sets

• International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO) 1980-

• Bukarest declaration (1985)

• Fondation Cousteau (1992)

• Joint Danube Survey (JDS1-JDS4) (2001-)

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Approach for Nutrient Management

• Understanding the situation

• Understanding the processes

• Identification of origin of nutrients

• Proposal of a strategy

Understanding the Situation

– the nutrient balance in the catchment with main emphasis on diffuse pollution (e.g. agriculture, air pollution) and the transport, retention and losses of nutrients in the catchment

– the transport, retention and losses of nutrients and ssediments along the Danube River and

– the effect of riverine nutrient discharges on the parts of Western Black Sea directly influenced by the Danube River plume

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Understanding the Processes

– the MONERIS-emission model based on a GIS data base,

– the Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM) for the description of the transport and transformation processes in the river system,

– the Danube Delta Model (DDM) for the

quantification of nutrient transport in the Danube Delta and (iv) the Shelf Model for modelling the direct impact of the Danube load on the Western Black Sea. Based on these models the whole system can be considered as a complex unit and scenarios can be developed as a basis for scenario evaluation

Outcomes

– a method to establish comparable, basin-wide, periodic nutrient balances considering the national data availability and

– the evaluation of different solutions for future nutrient management strategies considering socio- economic developments in the Danube Basin.

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Nutrient loads (N and P)

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Achievements

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DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT Developing and Utilizing Tools

» River Basin Management (EU WFD),

» Danube GIS,

» Economic Instruments

» Contaminated site risk assessments

Development of an Alarm Model for the Danube

• Accidential spills and hazardous events may endanger long sections of the Danube

• A simple pollution propagation model was developed

• All the institutional levels were identfied

• A communcation network was established

• Responsibilities were assigned in all countries

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Financing:

• Phase I: 1991-1994

57,6 million USD

(49,2 million from international sources) EC (Phare), UNDP, World Bank (GEF)

• Phase II: 1995-

Riparian Countries, EC (Phare), World Bank

What Can We Learn from the Danube ?

Organisations Working in Specific Sectors at the Basin Level were very helpful

- Navigation - Water Suppliers

- Scientific Organisations and Networks

* Hydrology

* Meteorology

* Limnology

Information Sharing: from a Bilateral to Basin Wide Approach

- Monitoring Systems

- Emergency Warning System - International Agreements - Phasing of the Implementation

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What Can We Learn from the Danube?

• Establishment of Joint Institutions - Danube Commission

- Task Force - Bureau

 External Mediator + Financial Support

• Inclusion of NGO’s (WWF, IUCN)

• In Some Countries Changes of Legal Structure and Administration

Summary and Conclusions:

• The EPDRB, the SAP and the Convention improved collaboration among the countries

• Countries have adopted new standards following EU standards

• Major improvement in water quality concerning point pollution

• A Task Force and a bureau has been implemented

• Some Countries will join soon EU

• Still several transboundary problems exist

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•

Thank you !!

• Deficits in harmonising land use with water quality (surface and groundwater bodies)

• Basin wide flood forecasting system

• Pending decisions in joint water related conflicts (e.g.

Gabcikovo)

What has not been achieved ?

Transboundary Water Management

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Overview of Project Components

RBM Tools (1.1) Agriculture - Policies (1.2) Agriculture - Pilot Projects

(1.3) Wetlands (1.4) Industry (1.5) Water Tariffs (1.6) Pollution Charges, Fines,

Incentives (1.7) Phosphorus Reduction -

Detergents (1.8)

Monitoring, Laboratory &

Info Management (2.2) Inter-ministerial Mechanisms (2.1)

Accident Emergency Response (2.3) DANUBIS (2.4) (MoU) Danube-Black Sea Cooperation (2.5)

NGO Institutional Development (3.1) NGO Small Grants Programme (3.2) Communication Strategy and Public Awareness Campaigns (3.3)

Indicators for Project Monitoring&Evaluation (4.1)

Monitoring Nutrient Removal Capacities of Wetlands (4.3)

Study on Pollution Trading

& Economic Instruments for Nutrient Reduction (4.4) Trainings & Workshops (2.6)

Strengthening the Implementation Capacities for Nutrient Reduction and Transboundary Cooperation in the Danube Basin

Objective 1 Support for Policy

Development

Objective 2 Capacity Building &

T-B Cooperation

Objective 3 Public Participation &

Awareness

Objective 4 Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects

Analysis of Sediments in the Iron Gate, impact assessment of heavy metals (4.2)

Public Participation and Access to Information (3.4)