Workshop on Agricultural Nutrient Reduction,Vilnius Workshop on Agricultural Nutrient Reduction,Vilnius September 2004September 2004

HHELCOM- on the way to nutrient load ELCOM- on the way to nutrient load reductionreduction

Kaj Forsius Kaj Forsius HELCOMHELCOM

ContentContent• Presentation of HELCOMPresentation of HELCOM• Results and trends in nutrient loadsResults and trends in nutrient loads• Future work on nutrients Future work on nutrients • How does the BSRP contribute to How does the BSRP contribute to

this workthis work• ConclusionsConclusions

The Baltic Sea Area

• 85 million people• Brackish water• Low temperature• Long residence time

of water• Slow degradation of

hazardous substances

Helsinki Commission(HELCOM)

• Governing body of the Helsinki Convention • International co-operation for the protection of

the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area since 1974

• 1992 the new Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area was signed (entered into force Jan 2000)

Aim of the Convention

• to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution

• to restore the ecosystem and preserve its balance

• to ensure sustainable use of the natural resources

HELCOM achievements• Political achievements

• Environmental achievements: - Joint monitoring and assessment programmes- Network of Baltic Sea Protected Areas

- Better protection to preventand respond to pollution from ships

- Stricter control on industry- Improved treatment of

wastewater- Hot Spots programme, etc.

All resulting in visible improvements of the Baltic Sea, fauna and flora in the Baltic Region

HELCOM’s priority areas of work

Based on the eco-system approach:• Joint monitoring and assessment;• Nature conservation and biodiversity;• Eutrophication;• Hazardous substances relevant for the Baltic

Sea; • Maritime safety and shipping, including

response activities

Overall results from the Fourth Pollution Load Compilation

Nitrogen Phosphorus

point sources Background

Diffusesources

27%20%

53%

point sourcesBackground load

DiffuseSources

31%

10%

59%

Discharges from different sectors

Phosphorus

© N at io n al L and Sur ve y o f F in lan d1 4 4 /M Y Y /0 3F inn ish E n vir o nm en t In stitu teSY K E , F IN L A N D 2 0 03

DENM ARK1490 t

GERM ANY1200 t

SW EDEN 6850 t

FINLAND6790 t

POLAND18730 t

ESTO NIA1370 t

LITHUANIA 780 t

LATVIA1470 t

RUSSIA2540 t

P Point source d ischargetota l

P tota lNatural background lossesP tota l Diffuse source losses

© N atio n al L and Su r ve y o f F in lan d1 4 4 /M Y Y /0 3F inn ish E n vir o nm en t In st itu teSY K E , F IN L A N D 2 0 03

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

DENMARK62240 t

GERM ANY31500 t

SWEDEN 175610 t

FINLAND146560 t

POLAND229990 t

ESTONIA32990 t

LITHUANIA35560 t

LATVIA54070 t

RUSSIA53720 t

N Poin t source d ischargeto ta l

N to ta lNatura l background lossesN D iffuse source lossesto ta l

Nitrogen

Ministerial Declaration 1988: 50 % Reduction Target

Point sources • Good progress in phosphorus reduction• Progress in transition countries largely due to

economical changes• ”Old” EU countries show in general smaller reductions

since implementation started before late 1980’s• Progress in water protection measures in new EU

countries after 1995• Programmes established to further reduce pollution

from point sources

Reduction in diffuse sources

• Smaller reduction than for point sources• Major changes in transition countries due to:

- Changes in number of lifestock units- Use of mineral fertilizers

• Long time lag before reduction measures can be seen in losses

• Losses expected to increase after EU enlargement

Nitrogen losses

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

tonn

e N/

km2

Nitrogen losses from agriculture per square kilometre agricultural land

HELCOM regulations

Annex III of the Convention

Plant nutrients• E.g. animal density, manure storage, application of

organic manures• Application rates for nutrients, winter crop cover• Water protection measures and nutrient reduction areas

Plant protection products• Registration and approval, storage and handling• Application technology, testing of spraying equipment

Environmental permits, monitoring, education,

Ministerial Bremen Declaration June 2003

The Ministers acknowledged:• Agriculture main source of nitrogen input, especially in

present EU countries• EU enlargement may lead to even higher nutrient

inputs

Measures agreed:• more sustainability through implementation of reforms

in the Common Agricultural Policy• implementation of related EU directives important as

well as Annex III of the Helsinki convention• to ensure efficient nutrient utilisation

Further work to reduce nutrients

• Less work to have new requirements• Environmental focal point influencing decision making

in other fora • use of tools to assess the implications of different

policy scenarios, including implementation of EU CAP– indicate the most cost-effective measures of most

important pollution sources– Identify where to implement these measures

• address inputs from other sources of nutrients, such as airborne nitrogen and small municipalities

HELCOM and the BSRP

• HELCOM has been prioritizing the use of the ecosystem approach for setting especially tailored ecological quality objectives (EcoQOs) for the Baltic Sea.

• EcoQOs will provide the Baltic Sea region with the tools for setting “measurable” future policy goals and a means to evaluate management outcomes.

• The BSRP goal to improve the management of all relevant activities by introducing an ecosystem approach will contribute to this work

• The integration of open sea and near shore activities is important (filling in gaps)

HELCOM and the BSRP Specific interests in Component 2

• Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening, raising awareness of farmers –forms the basis of improved implementation of measures

• Development of tools and mechanisms for investments -helps to implement HELCOM regulations at farm level and GAP codes

• Nutrient balance calculations –link between investments and environmental effects.

HELCOM and the BSRP Specific interests in Component 2

Monitoring and assessment activities supports HELCOM work:o improved data on loads from agricultureo links the activities on land to the effects in the sea

• The modelling work can contribute directly to increased use of models in HELCOM to assess changes in inputs

• Helps in facilitating national programmes for nutrient reduction

HELCOM and the BSRP Specific interests in Component 2

• Land-based coastal zone management - follow up to the HELCOM JCP Hot Spots - supports the implementation of HELCOM Recommendation 24/10 on ICZM- the restoration of wetlands, small scale wastewater treatment and spawning ground interventions are important for the near-shore fishing issues

Conclusions

• Less progress in reduction of nutrients from agriculture

• Input might increase with EU enlargement• Effective implementation of regulations in Annex

III and EU measures needed• Specific tailor-made measures for the Baltic Sea

Area should be considered• The BSRP helps in implementing different

aspects of agricultural measures

For more information

Please contact:

Helsinki CommissionSecretariatKatajanokanlaituri 6 BFI-00160 Helsinki Finlandhttp://www.helcom.fi