Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Water Framework Directive

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Water Framework Directive WFD Water framework directive is a European law which aims at good water status in Europe. The law was taken in 2000 and the implementation takes 15 years. It is a great challenge to the governments to change all national laws in accordance with this directive.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation WFD-implementation River basin management Laws Public participation Characterisations Polluter Pays Principle

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Water body characterizations All waters of a certain size, which differs between countries, are in the process of being characterized according to some sort of classification system. Generally in relation to the degree of disturbance of good ecological status.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation River basin management WFD has introduced a new management for water which follows the river basins. This has required the establishment of new authorities in the EU countries. It has also initiated transboundary cooperation.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Public participation One of the key issues of this directive is public participation, as it is not possible to implement WFD without consensus. Access to information is necessary and representatives of different stakeholders should be able to take part in the decisions.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Good ecological status WFD is a unique document where the ecology is put in the centre. Defining criteria for good ecological status has been a great obstacle during the period of characterisation which is supposed to be finished in March 2005.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Classification There are classifications in different levels of water status, from good to heavily modified water bodies. The ambition is that modified waters should be restored into good status.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Polluter Pays Principle, PPP According to WFD the water user shall pay the costs for the damage. Water bodies that have got the characterisation heavily modified are on one hand subject to restoration, but on the other hand they have a weaker legal position when the cost for the damage is decided. The costs are related to the status of the water.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation PPP in practice When waters in the future are subject to new disturbance, like hydropower, industry, road construction, water extraction and irrigation etc, the water user has to pay for the damage and the restoration in relation to the classification which has been previously agreed upon.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Heavily modified water bodies NGOs in Europe have tried to watch out for waters classified as heavily modified water bodies, HMVB, as these waters are likely to be given less protection in the water courts in case of new hazardous instalments. This might conflict with restoration plans developed by local communities.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Delayed process The classification process has been subject to a certain delay, as most countries want to find out where the other countries set their priorities. They will not undertake too heavy costs when others won’t.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Need for good examples We need countries that can show examples of best practice, which other countries can learn from. We are in a situation of economic slowdown in Europe and the priorities given to the environment are not so high any more.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Peoples involvement The WFD is very expensive to implement. The involvement of the people is one key concern of the directive. But it is not clear how to establish real public participation.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation A successful case Schleswig-Holstein is a very water bound region, with farming, industry and tourism. S-H has two coastlines, both the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. 70% of S-H is farming area. WFD will especially affect farming practices, and farming activities may be restricted.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Cooperation with local people Both local people and NGOs have been involved in the implementation process together with governmental authorities. Farmers realise that they will have to accept restrictions because they understand the importance for the region of good ecological water status.

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation Taxes financing WFD S-H has a local eco-tax, which means that they have to pay for every drop of water. 40 million euros a year is collected through this environmental tax on water. And these money is needed in order to implement the WFD which is very expensive.