45479764 PRISM Pechora River Integrated System Management Final Report First Phase 2003 2005

8/6/2019 45479764 PRISM Pechora River Integrated System Management Final Report First Phase 2003 2005

1/16

Dr. Mennobart van EerdenGeneral pro ject manager PRISM

I'm convinced

Ih a llh e n e c e s -IV1 0 eX le n dre S e a rC h J naC llV llle s In los o e n ew a re a s

I ti r a J !o lo n g Io n o le _ p r o n r a mm eu r ln , m e n e x l

ew v e a r sPRISM is a joint venture, ready toaccomplish its goals set at thestart of formulating the first ideasof this project in 2001!

PRISMPechora River Integrated System Management

Final report first phase: 2003-2005

Van Eerden, M.R., Leummens, H., Ponomarev, v ., Pedroli, B., Roos, M. and De Vries, M. (Eds.) 2005.PRISM Pechora River lntegrated System Management; Final report first phase: 2003-2005.

RIZA, Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment, Lelystad, the Netherlands & Institute of Biology,

Komi Science Centre, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia


2/16

PRISMPechora River Integrated System Management

F in al rep ort tirs t p hase :2003-2005

Preface 4

1 Introduction 6

1.1 Background of the PRISM project 6

1.2 A river basin approach 6

1.3 Aims of PRISM 6

Mutual interests of co-operation 7

Strategie objectives 7

Specific aims 8

Produets planned 8

2 Russian-Dutch partnerships extended 9

2.1 Partners 93 Summary report PRISM I: 2003-2005 10

3.1 General 10

3.2 Project management 103.3 Activities and achievements 11

Contracts signed 11

Fieldwork 11

Study tours 11

Training and internships 11

Communication 12

3.4 Deliverables PRISM phase I 13

3.5 Financial report 14

4 Pechora Knowledge System 17

4.1 List of reports 17

4.2 Hydrology, cluster A 18Pechora River flow hydrologically modelled 18

Wild at last: coastal hydrodynamics at the delta 194.3 Biodiversity, cluster B 22

Aquatic biodiversity 22

Coastal lowlands, a hotspot for rnlgratory geese 24

Delta systems in scope 25

Upstream systems in scope 26

Forestry modelling 284.4 Socio-economics, cluster C 30

Demographic and socio-economie features of the

human population 30

The history of fisheries industry in the far North 33

Reindeer husbandry practice and perspectives 344.5 GIS and Database management, cluster D 36

Pechora-GIS: a major break-through 36

Pechora Knowledge System 36

Basin Forest Development Repro Model 37

4.6 Public awareness and communication, cluster E 38

PRISM and the public 38

Construction of a blologtcal station 38

5 Training and Study Tours 40

5.1 Oil and gas sector stakeholders study tour 40

5.2 Forestry sector stakeholder study tour 42

6~~~~ ~

7 Evaluation and perception of PRISM 468 Discussion on future direction of PRISM 51

8.1 Past and present planning 51

8.2 The future of PRISM 53Letter of support, 22 February 2005 55

2


3/16

Pechora

PRISM is part of the Water for Food and Ecosystems

Programme which has been made possible with financial

support from the Partners for Water Programme. Partners forWater Programme combines the efforts of the Netherlands

Government and private sector, towards worldwide, sustaina-

bie, integrated water resources management.

Pechora river basin in North-East European Russia

PRISM operates under the Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU) between the Netherlands and the Russian Federat ion.

3


4/16

P r e f a c eThe ever-increasing population of man kind imposes serrous

threats to the functioning of ecosystems all over the world.

Many examples include degradation, pollution, disturbance andthe large-scale extinction of plant and animal species. By con-

trast to many systems in the temperate and tropical part of theearth, the boreal and arct ic reglens are still largely unspoiled

and less densely populated. In Russia, the Pechora River isone of the few remaining large river systems in Europe, whichstill have an almost unchanged hydrological catchment area.

The surrounding landscape consists of forests merely and thelargest pristine forests in Europe occur in this region. As such

it is an example of a natural system, which can be used as areference area for ecological restorat ion and management as

for example required by the EU-Water Framework Direct ive. Bycontrast to the majority of river systems in Europe, agriculture

has always played a minor role in this region. thus leaving outwell-known negative effects like drainage, eutrophication and

erosion.

However, due to very large reserves of oil, gas, minerals andforestry products, the economie exploitation of this region has,

not surprlsingly, started to expand. This development is veryfast and the economical changes in this part of the world are

immense. From a top-down, state-regulated, socialist party

governed community only 15 years ago, the society now faces

the drastic turn towards a more capitalistic development, inwhich private investors take a larger position, This economie

and social reform leads to unequal chances for the differentparts of the society. Especially the rural communities nowadays

face great problems given the withdrawal of the state. Thelarge-scale use of natural resources imposes other, but alsoserious, problems to become solved; sateguarding the environ-

ment from pollution is one issue. The huge oil spill near Usinskin 1994 caused a lot of damage and enormous efforts are

undertaken to restore disturbed habitat and prevent suchdisasters in future. Pipeline quality and management form one

aspect, besides secure tanker operations overseas in order toguarantee the safe transport of oil produets abroad. However,

the remote and sparsely populated territory makes control

difficult, whereas the boreal and tundra vegeration as weil asthe aquatic environment only slowly reeover from disturbance.

Fragmentation of habitat as a result of pipeline and road con-struction causes another constraint on the functioning of the

ecosystem. Although two of the largest European terrestrialnature reserves occur in this area, measuring some 2.5 million

ha, there is a clear need to identify the desired structure of the

entire system, now developments happen to be so fast. Landuse planning and regiorial development need to be based onmulti-criteria argurnents, derived from several disciplines andpolitically explicit stakeholder groups.

The PRISM programme is a joint venture between Russian and

Dutch governments. lt functions under the MOU between bothcountries and as such directs the focal points. In PRISM, being

a Partners for Water initiative as weil, also private partnershipwas stimulated. This extension brought about new insights to

the public awareness part of the project, which were furtherenlarged through the participation of three Russian NGO's.

Central aim of PRISM is to contribute to a wise-use develop-

Excursion to Ameland NAM gas drilling site, December 2003

ment of natural resources throughout the river basin, whereinvestments are supposed to contribute to the sustainable

development rather than lead to over-exploitation of the envi-

ronment. The challenge is to face the future without the fear oflosing the unique identity of the area.

How far have we come? Roughly speaking halfway, so it is the

right moment to look both back and forth; before one is toundertake any attempt for integrated management one needs

to explore and describe the state of aftairs in the different

fields of interest. Therefore, in this first phase of PRISM, wecarried out basic investigations in the fields of hydrology, bio-logy, soclology and economy. A literature study on Russian

bibliography related to the Pechora basin was carried out andmethods of how to assess the wealth of biological diversifica-

t ion were developed. Working with a multi-disciplinary team notonly provided new ways towards the answers to the questions

asked, but was also very useful to build on old relationshipsand create new contacts. PRISM focuses upon the upstream

as weil as the delta part of the basin. While the Pechora Deltawas studied intensively during the f irst years, the upstream

parts deserved more attention in this phase of the project.Therefore, the activities have been directed on those quest ions,which especially relate to this area. One important economie

activity in this region. which has a large-scale effect on landuse, is forestry management. Although currently in a poor

state of economie development, the future use of the immenseforests will become a major issue soon. To serve future

deelsion support, a hydrological flow model and a forestrymanagement model were developed. Such models are an in-

dispensabie prerequisite for a proper management of the data

and tor being able to judge the system on facts, not just

general procedures or ideas.

4


5/16

After two years of joint co-operation, I am pleased to present

the outcome of a series of studies and activities undertaken in

this area. This summarizing report addresses to the mainresults and serves the purpose to give the overview rather

than all details at length, To provide the reader with more basicdata as weil, a CD-rom with full texts of literature reviews,

expedition reports and modelling studies of the river basinstructure and dynamics (Pechora GIS, modelling results), goes

along with this report. I wish the reader a lot of reading pleasure.

Finally I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Project

Management Team members Vasily Ponomarev, HaraidLeummens, Bas Pedroli, Mervyn Roos and Marina de Vries,

who were indispensable during all phases of the project, to all

project workers who gave their utmost when compiling data,provided texts, or shared their hospitality in the field, and in

particular to the Steering Committee which supported us the

last few years. Marjolein Munsterman helped substantiallyduring the phase of final editing the texts. Louise de Jong was

rnanaging off icer on behalf of Partners for Water.

River . -How far will we get? Considering this question, I'm convincedthat the necessity to extend the research and activities

into some new areas will be granted by protongatton of

the programme during the next few years. The presentpartnership serves a sound basis for such enterprise,

especially the fact that the Russian government and lea-

ding industries have expressed their interest in our appro-ach and as such are willing to actively support the pro-

gramme. As said before, PRISM is a joint venture, readyto accomplish its goals set at the start of formulating thefirst ideas of this project in 2001!

Dr. Mennobart van Eerden

General project manager PRISM

Pechora River Integrated System Management

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

Oirectorate General Rijkswaterstaat

Institute for Inland Water Management and Wastewater

Treatment RIZAP.O.Box 17

NL 8200 AA Lelystad

The Netherlands

e-mail: [email protected]

website: http://www.prism-pechora.nl

5


6/16

1 In t r o d u c t io n1 1 Background of the PRISM

project

The PRISM programme provides essent ial information to, and

will also profit from the running co-operation between Russian

Ministry of Natural Resources and the Netherlands Ministries

of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, and of

Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. Also cross-links with otherrunning projects in the area will be profitable for this project.

As indicated above, a relatively long co-operat ion has already

been established between especially RIZA en the Insititute ofBiology in Syktyvkar on the ecology of the Pechora delta. As

from 2000, the NL Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food

Quality and Alterra Green World Research have joined this co-operation, at the same time widening it towards the whole

Pechara River Basin. This partnership has been confirmed by

the relevant ministries in a joint workshop held at 23 March

2001 in Lelystad, where 6 Russian researchers and policy

makers were present. In August 2001 a team of 8 representati-

yes of the partners started preparing a joint applied research

initiative under the Water for Ecosystems Programme in res-ponse to initiatives expressed during the World Water Forum in

2001.

Since this project builds upon the existing good working rela-

t ionships between several institutes and universities in Russia

and The Netherlands, it will clearly enhance the stabilisation ofthese relationships, and will be able to extend it into astrong

network of Russian and West-European river basin researchers.

As the spin off of the studies carried out in the Pechora river

catch ment thus far, already good contacts exist with researchersfrom other West-European countries, especially Norway, Finland

and UK (e.g, European Commission funded research projects

TUNDRA and SPICE). But since the Pechara River has potentials

to serve as a unique natural reference for the Rhine in certainaspects, also fruitful future contacts are envisaged with

German and Swiss researchers. Besides, within the framework

of CBD, the calibration and adequate use of biodiversity indica-

tors is a hot scientific item, in which the contribution from very

well-experienced Russian scientists is much appreciated.

1.2 A river basin approachThe Pechara River (Northeast European Russia, 1860 km) isthe only European River comparabie in dimensions with the

Rhine that is still virtually untouched by human influences.

E.g. practically all European salmonids (12 species) s till occur

in this river. The Delta is an important breeding area for migra-

tory birds, wintering in Western Europe and Africa.

Especially in the Delta, on initiative of the Institute of InlandWater Management RIZA in Lelystad NL, a close co-operat ion

has been built up between Russian and Dutch scientists, tostudy the ecosystem dynamics. Between 1995-1999 many

aspects of breeding bird ecology, predation, land - water inter-actions, river hydrology, fish- and hydrobiology have been studied,

leading to a first jointly written compendium on the Structure

and Dynamics of the Pechara Delta Ecosystems (Van Eerden(ed.), 2000).

As a follow-up of this project, and starting from the werking

relationships proven fruitful for bath Russian and Dutch part-

ners, it was likely to direct the focus to the catchment as a

whole (situated for its largest part in the Republic of Komi).Integrated study of the entire course of the river will reveal the

essential boundary conditions for biodiversity in this unique

and sensitive boreal and tundra environment. These boundaryconditions should be known to establish appropriate norms

and standards for industrial development activities in the

catch ment, which are expected to be established in the near

future (especially oil, gas and coal mining and transportation,

and mining of precious minerais).

Using a river basin approach, the project aims to identify the

interrelation of biodiversity aspects along the Pechara river, asindicated by aquatic communities (especially migratory fish),

migratory birds and forest vegetat ion communities, by:

quantifying the processes of watershed hydrology and riverdischarge of the River Pechora from souree to Delta (includingthe salt gradient in its estuary), in relation to forest manage-

ment and vegetation biodiversity (mainly boreal forest , peat

bogs and tundra), taking into account variations in soil, snow

cover and permafrost conditions;

quantifying the relation between water quality (turbidity, naturalgeochemistry conditions and pollution), water quantity (inclu-

ding dynamics in time), river morphological characteristics onthe one hand and biologlcal parameters (aquat ic invertebra-

tes, fish fauna, including feeding conditions of various f ishstocks and spawning areas) on the other hand;

quantifying the relationship between feeding and nestingbehaviour of herbivorous migratory birds and the inundation

characteristics of the breeding grounds in the Pechora delta.

1.3 Aims of PRISM

Principal aim of this Programme is to provide adequate

policy support (including a Knowledge System and a

Decision Support System) for the wise use of the eco-

systems of the Pechora Basin.

This aim relates to the recommendations of the World Water

Forum, held in The Hague in April 2001, in which an integratedbasin-wide approach of water management problems was

strongly advocated. The agenda of the World Water Forum and

Ministerial Conferences in 2003 and in 2006 are the reference

for this Program me. Starting points for the agenda are:

International collaboration & institutional co-operation; Joint effort to ensure sustainable water resources for

humanity;

The need to influence public perception in a way that humanbehaviour becomes supportive rather than a negative force

in its dealing with nature; The notion that water is not just a physical substance tohuman life but also the environment that supports all other

living things.

6


7/16

Integrated

Since it is expected that the economie development in the

still largely untouched Pechora Basin will soon result in

rapidly increasing activities, it is now the moment to starta Programme to develop direct ives and incent ives for wise

use of the water and ecosystem resources. Economie

development is considered as a boundary condition for

safeguarding a modern and sustainable nature and waterresources management.

Coalitions between organisations in NL and in Komi and

Nenets could be a streng incentive to co-operate in the

field of sustainable development, and may later be

extended to other partners.

Mutual interests of eo-operation

The Russian and Netherlands parties, initiating this pro-

gramme, have a mutual interest in this co-operation. On the

global level, both countries have a commitment for maintenance

and enhancement of biodiversity. But also more practical

mutual interests are considered essent ial. So, e.g. serious

deforestation in the vast taiga forest zone could enforce clima-te change and in the end cause wet feet in the Netherlands.

On the other hand, commercial activit ies from the Netherlands

economical sectors could weil have influence on the eco-systems in Komi. Contacts have been established with the

NAM, Shell and GASUNIE in NL and GAZPROM in Komi, which

are interested in co-operation in the framework of PRISM.

Strategie objeetives

The strategie objectives of PRISM are therefore to:

Exchange of scientific and technical information on natural

ecosystems is therefore necessary, which at the same time

can serve as a reference for the Rhine river basin managementand restoration efforts, and which can enhance international

flyway management of threatened water birds (AEWA). Also the

exchange of experience in nature protected areas management

is considered a streng stimulus for improved management inboth countries.

Finally, also pubtic awareness on environmental protection and

nature conservat ion is considered of mutual interest.

Facilitate the development and implementation of

integrated land and water use planning at the PechoraBasin level (ecosystem approach);

Stimulate the application of integrated, multidisciplinaryscientific research, aimed at implementing system based

knowledge in management direct ives towards proteetion and

sound exploitation of water and nature resources in bothRussia (especially the Pechora basin) and Western Europe;

Support the decision making process with innovative tech-

nologies like user-friendly GIS applications, Knowledge and

Decision Support Systems;

Stimulate sustainable economical development in thePechora Basin;

Stimulate synergy (optimise exchange of information)between relevant research and other programmes. initiatives

and data files concerning the Pechora Basin, to create added

value;

Focus positive attention on goed environmental practice in

economie development initiatives in the Pechora basin, on a

regional, national and European level;

Stimulate international co-operation and the development

of international incentives (e.g. financial) to support goedenvironmental practice on the Pechora basin level;

Support institutional development to ensure integratedpolicy development (and when applicable including legal


8/16

instruments), regarding natural resources planning and mana-gement at a national and local level;

Support co-operation between government, civil society,private sector and interest groups.

Specific aims

The key characteristics in terms of specific aims of thisPechora River Basin Program me are to:

Support the development of a coherent and integrete policy

for the protection and wise use of the ecosystems at thePechora Basin level,

Support the development of land use practices that do notdisturb irreversibly the ecological balance and make wise use

of water and nature resources,

Stimulate research aimed at understanding ecologicet

mechanisms and development of models as tools for deci-

sion making as weil as develop knowledge on undisturbedecosystems,

Involve nat ional and local administrations, other relevant

stakeholders and interested parties, using a decisionsupport system,

Ensure feed back mechanisms in order to improve the

process of planning and policymaking, a.o. with help of moni-toring programmes.

Secure capacity building, professional training and institu-tional support.

Produets planned

The program me is meant as an umbrella for varleus projects.

The projects were planned to produce concrete results, inclu-

ding for the phases 2003-2005 and 2006-2008:

First phase 2003-2005:

A GIS database of geography, hydrology and land use ofthe catchment area, based on remote sensing and existing

information,

Oevelopment of a hydraulic River Basin model, An inventoryof basic ecological, sociologlcal and economie

patterns and values within the catchment area, developing a

biodiversity / land use model,

A socio-economie analysis of the different communities in the

catchment area, including the role of rural communities and

indigenous people, Guidelines for sustainable use of natural resources (forestry,

huntlng and fishery practice), Norms and standards for industrial activities related to water

and land management and forestry, First scenarios for possible future economical developmentsin the catch ment area, focussing on forestry and oir/gas

exploitation, using a OSS,

Joint scientific and popular publications based on the investi-

gatlens and results of the first phase.

Secondphase 200&-2008 (preliminary):

An atlas of valuable and vulnerable areas within the Pechora

Basin, accompanied with a report indicating the crucial

processes determining the ecological functioning and back-ground of biodiversity of these areas,

Criteria for the delineat ion and spatial relationships ofnature reserves and protected areas, based on the preser-

vation of biodiversity, Set-up of a feasible management and contral structure for

the basic biomes in the catch ment area,

Scenarios for the effects of possible future developments inthe catch ment area, using the extended version of OSS

The establishment of twinning relationships between environ-

mental and public organisatlons in the Pechora basin withorganlsations in Western Europe, aimed at strengthening

contacts

Joint scientific and popular publications

The establishment and support of two interactive information

centres.

e


9/16

2 R u s s ia n -O u tc h p a r tn e r s h ip s e xBuilding partnerships with different backgrounds and partly different mutual interests is a goal in itself. In PRISM phase I we

devoted much time in learning each other's habits besides gathering data and elaborating these into knowledge. Working interdis-

ciplinary, i.e. with different fields of scientific branches and with different organisations with respect of function in the civil society,the PRISM project is ambitious. In PRISM and through the Netherlands Science Foundation funded PRIST, in total 8 Dutch and 14

Russian partners were actively involved. PRIST concerns a parallel project initiative for support to scientific research. The Russian

contracts under PRISM were mainly sub-contracted via the Institute of Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences in Syktyvkar. Besides

these partners sens u stricto, numerous other relationships were established, both in the private sector as weil as in the govern-mental sphere. The spin-off of the project resulted in successful application in a GEF project by the Russian partners. The Royal

Netherlands Embassy in Moscow supported several initiatives (Salmon telemetry, blologlcal station Nar'yan Mar). Through PRISM,

contacts were strengthened-with Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish authorities.

2. 1 Partners

In PRISM the following partners were contracted, or

contributed considerably to the project:

The Netherlands

Alterra Green World Research, WageningenDEMIS, Delft

DHV Group - DHVWater BV,DHV CIS BV AmersfoortjMoscow

Institute for Inland Water Management and WastewaterTreatment RIZA, Lelystad

Groningen University, Centre for Environmental and Evolutionary

Studies and Arctic Centre, Groningen

Minist ry of Agriculture, Nature and Food QualityRijkswaterstaat Survey Department AGI, Delft

WLIDelft Hydrauiics, Delft

11..

~ i I

,JfiWL I delft hydraulics

Photo /eft: Expedition boxes

Russian Federation

Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Ural Division,Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar

Institute for Socio-Economic & Energy Problems of the North,

Komi Science Centre, Ural Division, RAS, Syktyvkar

St Petersburg Forestry Institute, St Petersburg

State Oceanographic Institute GOIN, Laboratory for River

Deltas, Moscow

Bird Ringing Centre, MoscowMoscow State University, faculty of Biology, Moscow

Pechora-Ilych State Nature Reserve, YakshaMinistry of Natural Resources & Environmental Proteetion.

Administration of the Komi Republic, Syktyvkar

Committee of Natural Resources & Environmental Protection,

Administration of the Nenets Autonomous District , Nar'yan MarKomi Republic State Agency Territorial Information Centre for

Natural Resources and Environment Protection, AGIKS, Syktyvkar

NGO 'Man and Nature', PechoraNGO 'Snegyr', Syktyvkar

NGO 'Istoki', Nar'yan Mar

State Nature Reserve Nenetskiy, Nar'yan Mar

Organisatlon Yasavey, Nar'yan Mar

Ru(;9


10/16

3 Summ arv report PH ISM I: 2003-203.1 Genera.In the PRISM project we successfully managed to implementphase I according to plans (2003-2005). The project created a

partnership arnong the scientific world, governmental and non-

governmental organisations as weil as private enterprises.

Total budget amounted 1.28 M in 2003-2005, which meansan upgrade of more than double the funds initially available

through Partners for Water. Thanks to all those who contributed

to the success and kept faithful to the orlginal incentives!

Partners for Water in a decisive meeting in January 2003 offici-ally approved the PRISM project. Baseline document for the

project is PRISM-05 where the general outline of aims and goals

has been described. Contracts for Dutch and Russian partnerswere prepared by RIZA, which were later on signed in May(Institute of Biology, followed by main Russian partners) and

July (Alterra, DEMIS B.V., WLIDelft Hydraulics, DHV CIS B.V.,

DHV Water B.V.).

Consecutively working plans were defined and implementation

started. Still this caused some delay in the progress of start-

ing up of the project. In late 2003 questions arose about the

justification of applying the 0% VATtar iff to the project. In 2004much effort was necessary to solve the situation, which caused

a lot of misunderstanding and confusion for both partners andproject management. Both the late start and this VAT problem

caused a delay of about six months in comparison to the origl-

nal timetabie. Therefore Partners for Water was asked to shift

the deadline of the final deliverables to 1 July 2005.

3.2 Project managementA Project Management Team was established, consisring of

Mennobart van Eerden (RIZA, general lead), Bas Pedroli

(Alterra, NWOgrants), Haraid Leummens (DHV, Russia support)and Vasily Ponomarev (Institute of Biology, main contractor RF).

Marina de Vries (RIZA) provided administrative and logistical

support. The PMT met ni ne times at different occasions in the

Netherlands and Russia. A Steering Committee was formedconsisting of Alexander Borovinskikh (Min. Rep. Komi),Alexander Popov (Min. Nat. Res. Syktyvkar), Anatoly Taskaev

(IB, Syktyvkar), Andrei Getman (Dep. Gov. NAO, Nar'yan Mar),Alexander Fedorov (Min. Nat. Res. Nar'yan Mar), Bart Fokkens

(RWS, Lelystad) and Vincent van den Berk (EC-LNV,Wage-ningen). The Steering Committee met two times, in May 2003

(Syktyvkar) and March 2004 (Nar'yan Mar). A final meeting is

foreseen in the Netherlands in October 2005.On behalf of Partners for Water, Louise de Jong was controlling

officer.

Photo left: Ural mountains at the origin of the river, September 2000

Photo bottom: Harbour of Nar'yan Mar; preparing for mission into

Pechora delta, July 2003


11/16

3.3 Activities and achieve-ments

Contracts signed

In 2003 major efforts were directed to contract prepa-

ration, work plan definition and implementation. Allcontracts were signed with a phasing of deliverables in

time in order to guarantee a corresponding, timely cash

flow from Partners for Water to RIZA. Labour input by RIZA

and AGI (both Rijkswaterstaat) were accounted for in a

separate project, funded by Rijkswaterstaat Head Quarters.

Two preparatory missions were organised, both to the RussianFederation. Network building and appointments for fieldwork

assistance were goals of these misslons to Syktyvkar and

Nar'yan Mar.

A kick-off meeting for Dutch partners was organised in Marchand for Russian partners in May 2003. The latter meeting co-

incided with the f irst Steering Committee meeting in Syktyvkar.During this meet ing the Memorandum of Co-operat ion was

slgned, ascertaining support from Russian authorities in Komi,

NAO and at the federal level.

Fieldwork

Based on the project document PRISM-05, a series of field

expeditions were undertaken. Fieldwork is necessary to providebaseline information and to obtain parameters and test models

in the real world. In ph ase I four out of seven study areas as

defined in the project proposal were visited. Landsat imagerywas the basis for identifying more detailed land use patterns

and relate observed biodiversity to this classified image.

In 2002, prior to the final approvement of PRISM by Partnersfor Water, two pilot expeditions were organised to both the

Pechora Delta and the upstream area of Bolshaya Synya River.

This work formed an important test of the concept and these

first expeditions were jointly financed by RIZA/RUG/IB/ Alterra,

Jury/August 2002.

In 2003, the major year of expeditions, three teams visitedsimultaneously the Pechora Delta (Krasnoe, Nel'min Nos, mouth

of Lesser Pechora) and the adjacent coastal plain (Tobseda,

Khodovarikha, Khabuika, Kost 'Nos). The upstream territories

were surveyed by another expedition visiting the subcatchment

areas of the hili side along Vel'yu River, and the sub-mountai-

nous Upper Pechora at the foot of the Urals. Later that same

year an expedition on behalf of IB was directed to the tundra

environments with lakes and rivers along the Kara Sea. Here,samples were taken of isolated populations of salmonid fish,

necessary to assess the vulnerability of different fish stocks to

fisheries and changes in the environment.

Management

P R I S Mn P I I I C M

~~

(5tudy tours

From 30/11 until 7/12 2003 a Stakeholder study tour was

organised for Russian oil and gas representatives. Also, regionat

and federal authorities were involved. Visits were paid to theGasunie, NAM underground Gas storage facilities, NAM-

Ameland gas drilling project, Lauwersmeer and Wadden Sea

wetland management authorities, RIZA and IJsselmeer wetland,

Delf t, Shell-Pernis oil ref inery plant and Delta works RWS. This

study tour was very successful in terms of networking and

knowledge exchange on both the Dutch and Russian side.

Appointments were made for follow-up init iatives and a report

about the mission was published.

From 19/9 until 26/9 2004 a Stakeholder study tour was orga-

nised for Russian forestry scient ists, governmental managers

and private companies. Like the oil and gas study tour this

resulted in a wider acquaintance between Russian and Dutch

companies and organisations. Certifying of forestry productswas an important policy issue and visits were paid to the

ministry of ANF, logging and wood processing companies as

weil as the forestry management authority SBB and nature

management organisations.

Training and internships

Several act ivities aimed at exchanglng information included aninternship in co-operation with Groningen University and three

training missions (remote sensing, forestry modelling and bio-

diversity assessment), all of them directly related to the deli-

verables of the project. See Annex 1 for details.

1 1


12/16

2003

From the end of May 2003 Groningen University started

observations in Tobseda, coastal region of Kolokolkova Bay in

NAO. In several shifting turns small teams consistlng of PhD

students were covering the entire growth season lasting until18 August. This group was assisted by members from Moscow

Bird Ringing Centre and focussed on the reiation betweenBarnacle Geese and vegetation.

In the delta and east coast area of Pechora river another twoexpeditions took place from 21 July - 23 August 2003. One

expedition was confined to the floodplain and river mouth area,

tor socio-economie study visiting also small rural communities

and a reindeer camp. The other expedition was visitlng theentire east coast of Russkiy Zavorot, between Kost'Nos and

Khodovarikha. There, the habitat and biodiversity in relat ion to

flooding regime stood centra I. Expeditions were joint enterprises

between Institute of Biology in Syktyvkar, RIZA, WLiDelftHydraulics, Groningen University and Institute for Socio-

Economie & Energy Prablems of the North.

The upstream area of Pechora river was studied in a combined

expedition visiting two sub-catchment areas, that of the Vel'yu

river in the region of Traitsko Pechorsk and that of the upper

Pechora in the Ural Mountains. These multidisciplinary teams

(IB, Alterra, RIZA) worked on vegetation classificat ion, and bio-

diversity assessment in relation to land use and differentforms of forestry management. That same year an expedition

was organised to the Kara Sea region in order to study genetic

diversity of salmonid fish and to assess aquat ic biodiversity(IBjNWOjRIZA).

Rounding up Barnacle geese for ringing, Tobseda,August 2002

2004

Groningen University took off tor another field season at thecoast of the Barents Sea at Tobseda where the first team

started 28 May 2004. The Barnacle Geese study at coastal

meadows is an important contribution to the understanding of

carrying capacity of these northern wetlands and is linked toNWO activities involving Dutch and Russian PhD students.

Geese were colour ringed and equipped with satellite radio tags.

In September 2004 a short field survey was directed to thecontral of vegetaticn enclosures in the area of Khabuika, in

connection to the opening of the blologtcal station on Lovetskiy

island, Pechora Delta.

In July 2004 the State Oceanographic Institute GOIN, Moscow

organised a field miss ion to study hydraulic behaviour of the

river near its mouth in Korovinskaya Bay (pRIST-NWOprogramme).

2005

In 2005 the Groningen University, in company with the MoscowBird Ringing Centre, took the initiative to further explore the

coastal meadows with Barnacle Geese at Tobseda, Malozemel-

skaya Tundra. Together with hundreds of colour ringed geese,the satellite-tracked geese, captured in 2004, returned to the

breeding colony, providing data about schedule and timing of

migration. which are, both scientifically and from a manage-

ment perspective, of extremely large potential.

Communication

The PRISM website was ready on 5 March 2004 and theannouncement was made in the second newsletter. The website(www.prism-pechora.nl) serves a platform where general infor-

mation can be found about the PRISM project as weil as a full

project description, back issues of the newsletters, links topartner organisatlons and other relevant websites and general

12


13/16

information about the area. A Russian version is eperat ingsince late spring 2004. We will keep the website up-dated and

encourage others to supply us with recent information.Partners and other people are invited to provide us with infor-mation and useful links; the e-mail address of the PRISMproject is [email protected].

Newsletters were produced four times as electron ic version.

A mailing list with some 250 addresses is used to inform themore general public about progress and activities of PRISMand PRIST.

Through the intervention of three NGO's in the catchment area

schools were provided with information about the importance ofsustainable use and the significance of an intact environment.A mobile exhibition about Pechora River commuted betweenseveral townships along the river, between Pechora and Nar'yanMar.

Local newspapers and popular press were addressed severaltimes and published news about the project. Local TV inRussia was interested for broadcasting the PRISM project atleast three times.

3.4 Deliverables PRISM phase I

The organisation of the project resulted into different work

packages. Results of implementat ion of PRISM-05 are a series

of progress reports, scientific reports, elaborated databases,literature reviews, a GIS-based knowledge system and papersin scientific journais. The general public is served by a hardcover, weil illustrated literature review containing thousands

of Russian references and a summary of the headlines in the

fields of investigation by different disciplines in the area ofPechora river catchment.

The final report describing the major findings during phase Iwas published summer 2005.

According to the individual clusters the headlines of resultscan be summarised at the end of ph ase I:

Cluster A Hydrological modelling

Resulted in a raster and DEM-based hydrological model of thePechora river catchment area. Based on averaged data about

precipitation, evaporation, and snowmelt this model simulatesflow in different sub catchments, from Urals to the delta. For

statistical reasons the outermost delta and coastal area couldnot be taken into account as yet. A feasibility study was

carried out to assess the delta area hydrologically and to usevegetation characteristics to overcome the lack of proper eleva-ti on data at this end of the river course. In PRIST the GOINLaboratory for River Deltas elaborated existing and newlygathered data about morfo-dynamics of the river mouth.

Cluster B Biodiversity (4 \Norkpackages)

This cluster resulted in terrestrial and aquatic baseline studiesserving the purpose of inventory (expedition) reports.

Preparatory work resulted in a set-up of a network to monitor

migretory movements of Atlantic salmon. A method was devel-oped and tests were carried out to record movements of radiotagged salmon in the river Pechora. A MOOIS satellite imagebased, integrated land cover map was constructed (250 m grid

eens, basin wide) serving as background for other studies.lntegratlng reports were published about analyses of the systemincluding general biodiversity, fish biology, rnigratory geese andother waterbirds and forests and forestry. Colour ringed and

satellite-tracked Barnacle Geese allow detailed analysis of use

of coastal meadows and point to the importance of other stop-over sites at a European scale. Based on on-site fieldwork andliterature based data, a first version of a Pechora forestry

model was elaborated.

Cluster C Socio-economics

A Pechora watershed wide baseline study was carried outcombining statistical data and up-dated investigations ondemographic and economie development in Komi and NAO.

Both rural, township and industrialised areas were taken into

consideration. Focus was put on forestry management as thishas large-scale effects on land use. Demographic data were

obtained to allow conclusions on future prospects of the com-munity living in this area. In NAO, an historicaloverview aboutfishery practice serves important background for future deci-sions of how to use the environment in a sustainable way.

Reindeer herders in the tundra biome face a continuouslychanging environment. A pilot study on the practices of presentday reindeer iermlng was undertaken.

Cluster D GIS and DSS tools development

Existing and new GIS layers were developed and put togetherat a uniform projection and scale. The total GIS data compriseabout 60 layers which are the basic source of information inthe PKS, Pechora Knowledge System. Data from other clusters

will be added to this systern, which serves as an information

carrier for future OSS scenario studies and further modellingexercises.

13


14/16

Cluster E Communication and Public alNareness

Three training missions, two study tours and one internship

were organised. A summary of available Iiterature reviewed in

historical perspective was published as hardbound book. Amobile awareness exhibition about biodiversity and land useaspects in the Pechora basin moved along several Pechora vil-lages in 2004. A website was launched and three electronic

newsletters served for communication purposes of a wideraudience. Much emphasis is put on availability of informationin both English as Russian language. The website and newslet-ters have a bi-lingual st ructure which guarantees the exchange

of information. A brochure about PRISM in Russian languagewill be printed in the second half of 2005.

In co-operation with the Royal Netherlands embassy in Moscow,

PRISM co-funded the equipping of the biologica I station in thePechora Delta, State Nature Reserve Nenetskiy.

3.5 Financial report

According to schedule the deliverables by contract obligationwere received at RIZA. After approval of products, partnerssent invoices. As agreed by Partners for Water, RIZA outlinedthe phasing of payments to be expected in 2003 and 2004.The total amount agreed upon was 208,000 in 2003 and

236,000 in 2004 and 104,975 in 2005. These figures in-

clude all labour related and direct project implementation costs.Due to the earl ier mentioned delay in start of the project, origi-nal deliverables were foreseen with some delay in early 2005,as was indicated in the progress report to Partners for Water

in October 2004. The application of VAT-taxes (zero tariff for

products delivered to the Russian Federation) caused conside-

rable confusion in 2004. Unfortunately, after this was finallycleared (to our benefit) in December by the Ministry of Finan-ces tax inspection, the resulting six months delay for some ofthe Dutch partners could not be made up arrears.

Norwegian Directorate of Nature 0.3%

Russian Federation 2.3%

LNVjBUZA 7.8%

OCW-NWO 8.7%

OCW-RUG 10.9%

VW-RIZA 27.2% Partners for Water 42.7%

Several ways of co-funding were act ively prospected and thisresulted in an overall budget flow of 1.28 M in two and a halfyears time. Grosso modo half of it was spent directly in theRussian Federation. The allocation of resources thus extended

more than twice the basic budget supplied by the Partners forWater initiative. Financial contribution by funding organisations

14


15/16

ANNEX 1

Most important activities in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

RF = Russian Federation; activity blocs correspond to reporting phases to Partners for Water

Activity Date City

Planning mission upstream work

PMT meeting

Co-ordination meeting SPICE / PRISM

PRISM kick off meeting NL partners

Planning mission delta work

PMT meeting

PRISM kick oft meeting RF partners

First Steering Committee meeting

PMT meeting

Inception mission Cluster A

Barents Sea coastal zone expedition

Pechora field expedition 1

Kara Sea salmonid research

Pechora field expedition 2

PMT meeting RF

OSS,GIS and Biodiversity workshop

PMT meeting RF

Oil and gas Stakeholder Study Tour

Mission to Finland, salmon research

7 February - 14 February 2003

10 February 2003

24 February - 1 March 2003

17 March 2003

8 April - 13 April 2003

10 April 2003

23 May - 28 May 2003

24 May 2003

25 May 2003

19 June - 20 June 2003

20 May - 18 August 2003

23 June - 18 July 2003

11 August - 29 August 2003

21 July - 23 August 200313 October - 14 October 2003

24 November - 29 November 2003

6 December 2003

30 November - 7 December 2003

7 December - 15 December 2003

Syktyvkar RF

Syktyvkar RF

Pechora RF

Lelystad NL

Nar'yan Mar RF

Nar'yan Mar RF

Syktyvkar RF

Syktyvkar RF

Syktyvkar RF

Moscow RF

Coastal Barents Sea RF

Upstream Pechora RF

Borders basin RF

Delta Pechora RF

Volgograd

Syktyvkar RF

Amsterdam

Lelystad, The Hague

Oulu (Finland)

Project Team Meeting PRISM

PRISM Newsletter 1

Website on line

Second Steering Committee Meeting

Workshop FGFRI, salmon tagging

Internship J. Karagicheva,Moscow State University (RUG-RIZA)

Training on Forestry Modelling

A. Fedorkov, Syktyvkar (Alterra)

PRISM Newsletter 2

Remote Sensing Course (AGI-DHV)

Project meeting & workshop

Cluster B (RU-NL)

Expedition Tobseda coastal area (RUG)

Russian version PRISM website

Russian exhibition travelling along the

Pechora River (three NGO's)

Classification MOOIS satellite image and

adjusted legend completed (RWS-AGI)

Project team and cluster leaders meeting

PRISM-PRIST

PRISM Newsletter 3

Mission Nar'yan Mar, opening Blologtcal Station

Nenetskiy Zapovednik on Lovetskiy Island

Forestry Mission to the Netherlands

Project Management Team meeting PRISM-PRIST

7 January 2004

10 February 2004

5 March 2004

12 March 2004

15 - 20 March 2004

15 March- 25 April 2004

14 - 24 April 2004

19 April 2004

15 - 25 May 2004

27 May - 2 June 2004

28 May-20 August 2004

June 2004

May, June 2004

June 2004

1 July 2004

July 2004

10 - 18 September 2004

19 - 26 September 2004

24 September 2004

Lelystad

Lelystad

Lelystad

Nar'yan Mar (RF)

Ivalo (Finland)

Groningen, Lelystad

Wageningen

Lelystad

Syktyvkar

Wageningen and Lelystad

Nar'yan Mar

Syktyvkar

RF (Pechora-Nar'yan Mar)

Delft

Lelystad

Syktyvkar, Lelystad

Nar'yan Mar, Khabuika

Wageningen, Lelystad,

the Hague, Driebergen

Lelystad

Final symposium on PRISM results

Project Team Meeting PRISM

Tobseda fieldwork RUG

PRISM Newsletter 4

Preparatory meeting PRISM 11,BEAR meeting

Publication of final report and PKS on CDrom

PRISM steering Committee

1924 February 2005

February 2005

26 May . 17 August 2005

September 2005

September 2005

August 2005

October 2005

15

Syktyvkar

Syktyvkar

Nar'yan Mar, Tobseda

Lelystad, Syktyvkar

Syktyvkar

Lelystad, Syktyvkar

Lelystad


16/16

>- , , -~

. . . '. . ... '_"""', r .. P 'v'" .. " ,R tl ,~ ,~ . . . ~ "

, "" , .",.' ' -, '.~

.tri - .

+

"" ,< , ': I ' ". . A ''

~ ., # ii: , A '

Documents

45479764 PRISM Pechora River Integrated System Management Final Report First Phase 2003 2005