3. The Baltic Sea Area
• 85 million people
• Brackish water
• Low temperature
• Long residence time
of water
• Slow degradation of
hazardous
substances
4. 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)
5. 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
6. HELCOM achievements
• Political achievements
• Environmental achievements:
- Joint monitoring and
assessment programmes
- Network of Baltic Sea
Protected Areas
- Better protection to prevent
and 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
7. 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
8. Overall results from the Fourth Pollution Load
Compilation
Nitrogen Phosphorus
point sources Background
Diffuse
sources
27%
20%
53%
point sources
Background load
Diffuse
Sources
31%
10%
59%
Discharges from different sectors
11. 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
12. 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
13. Nitrogen losses from agriculture per
square kilometre agricultural land
Nitrogen losses
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
Finland
Sweden
Denmark
Germany
Poland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Russia
tonne N/km2
14. 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,
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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)
18. 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.
19. HELCOM and the BSRP
Specific interests in Component 2
Monitoring and assessment activities supports
HELCOM work:
o improved data on loads from agriculture
o 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
20. 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
21. 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
22. For more information
Please contact:
Helsinki Commission
Secretariat
Katajanokanlaituri 6 B
FI-00160 Helsinki
Finland
http://www.helcom.fi
Editor's Notes
When the phosphorus discharges from point sources are calculated as unit loads per inhabitant, EU members can be seen to have the lowest unit loads in general, while the highest loads are in Poland. When nitrogen losses from agriculture are calculated per square kilometre of arable land, the EU member countries have the highest loads
In 1998 Annex III, part 2 of the Convention, criteria and measures to prevent pollution from agriculture, was included in the convention.
These requirements contained similar requirements as the former Recommendations in this field.
The convention more binding and the requirements were compiled in a more structured way.
Results of a danish project:
Several countries have a comprehensive and coherent legislation covering the most important aspects. Most countries have implemented legislation concerning manure storage and application of organic manure and fertilisers as well as handling of wastewater. Legislation and rules are followed up by regulations, GAP-codes, and other measures, eg. recommendations in order to ensure implementation in agricultural practice.
This evaluation reveals that the nitrate directive (maximum 170 kg nitrogen from organic manure) has been implemented in most countries. Most countries have legislation and GAP codes concerning winter crop cover, soil erosion, and special nutrient reduction areas.
The two major weak points are the lack of knowledge of what is really happening at farm level and what are the real effects on the aquatic environment.
The commenced national implementation of the Water Framework Directive in HELCOM Contracting Parties being EU member states as well as EU accession countries is expected to include nutrient loads from draining rivers of the catchment area to the Baltic Sea.
The river basin approach within the Water Framework Directive, other relevant directives, Annex III, the Baltic Sea Regional Project (GEF project), the WGA report on “Assessment of the Status of the Implementation of the Environmental regulations of Agriculture in the Baltic and partly the North Sea Areas” and the revised CAP as well as national programmes will be the main tools to reduce the environmental problems from the agricultural sector.
Efficient Nutrient utilisation
Implementation of balanced fertilization in the Baltic Sea catchment area
Balanced fertilization is one of the key measures (of Annex III) to control nutrient discharges from arable farming. In order to avoid excess fertilizer use with the expected intensification of agriculture in the coming years.
It must be remembered that other sources such as airborne inputs and scattered settlements should be addresses as well.
