Dr. Dietrich Schulz, FEA Germany; Baltic Green Belt Conference, Kolobrzeg 22-23 June 2010 1 Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Sources and mitigation strategies

Dr. Dietrich Schulz, FEA Germany; Baltic Green Belt Conference, Kolobrzeg 22-23 June 2010 1

Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea

Sources and mitigation strategies.

Dr. Dietrich Schulz

Federal Environment Agency Dessau-Roßlau (Ger).


What is the status? – Eutrophication, hazardous substances and biodiversity

Thematic assessments have been produced using HEAT, CHASE and BEAT tools and they are each complemented with a confidence assessment.

Eutrophication - HEAT Hazardous substances - CHASE

Biodiversity - BEAT


Eutrophication:Inputs of nutrients

Sources of nitrogen inputs to the Baltic Sea

Point sources11 %

Natural background

17 %

Atmospheric deposition

directly to the sea

25 %

Diffuse sources

39 %

Transboundary inputs

8 %

Sources of phosphorus inputs to the Baltic Sea

Point sources21 %

Transboundary inputs10 %

Diffuse sources

48 %

Atmospheric deposition

directly to the sea5 %

Natural background

16 %

Agriculture

Agriculture

UWWTP

UWWTP

Air emissions


The Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) 2007 (I)

Background and general objectives:

- Passed by the ministers for environment of the HELCOM Contracting Parties, Krakow 15/11/2007.

- To restore „good ecological status“ of the Baltic Sea till 2021.

- Regionalized ecosystem based approach (regional carrying capacity) according to Rio 1992 and Johannesburg 2002.

- Pilote project for EU marine strategy and regional UNEP programmes for marine protection.


BSAP main chapters

• Nutrient input reductions (eutrophication)– Point sources

• Municipal waste water treatment plants• Phosphate free detergents

– Diffuse sources• Agriculture

• Hazardous substances

• Maritime Activities

• Biodiversity


The Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) 2007 (II)

BSAP-Objectives for nutrients and eutrophication (= good ecological status)

• Nutrient concentrations close to natural background.

• Clear water.

• Natural extent of algae blossoms.

• Natural occurrence and distribution of plants and animals.

• Natural oxygen concentration in water.


Nutrient inputs: tolerable and actual amounts

(regionalized according to the MARE NEST model)

Sub-region Maximum allowable nutrient input (tonnes/a)

Inputs in 1997-2003 (normalised by hydrological factors)

Needed reductions

Phosphorus Nitrogen Phosphorus Nitrogen Phosphorus

Nitrogen

Bothnian Bay 2,580 51,440 2,580 51,440 0 0

Bothnian Sea 2,460 56,790 2,460 56,790 0 0

Gulf of Finland 4,860 106,680 6,860 112,680 2,000 6,000

Baltic Proper 6,750 233,250 19,250 327,260 12,500 94,000

Gulf of Riga 1,430 78,400 2,180 78,400 750 0

Danish straits 1,410 30,890 1,410 45,890 0 15,000

Kattegat 1,570 44,260 1,570 64,260 0 20,000

Total 21,060 601,720 36,310 736,720 15,250135,00

0


Nutrients: National reduction requirements

Phosphorus (tonnes)

Nitrogen (tonnes)

Denmark 16 17,210

Estonia 220 900

Finland 150 1,200

Germany 240 5,620

Latvia 300 2,560

Lithuania 880 11,750

Poland 8,760 62,400

Russia 2,500 6,970

Sweden 290 20,780

Transboundary Common pool

1,660 3,780


Nutrients: National reduction requirements

Poland46,9%

Russia5,2%

Germany4,2%

Estonia0,7%

Finland0,9%Denmark

12,9%

Sweden15,6%

Latvia1,9%


2,8%

Lithuania8,8%

Phosphor 15.250 t/a Stickstoff 135.000 t/a

Russia16,6%

Poland58,3%

Lithuania5,9%


11,1%

Latvia2,0%

Sweden1,9%

Denmark0,1%

Finland1,0%

Estonia1,5%

Germany1,6%


Nutrient reductions. Phosphorus in Germany.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1.000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Ge

sam

t P

üb

er

Ge

wä

sse

r in

die

Ost

see

(t/

a)

Danish Straits

Baltic Proper

BSAP: 45%

Phosphoreinträge über die deutschen Zuflüsse


Potential agricultural hot spots, thresholds.

• 40,000 poultry places

• 2,000 pig places

• 750 places for sows

• 400 animal units for cattle

• Other types could be considered later.


Potential agricultural hot spots (farms and areas), criteria

• Compliance– valid environmental/production permit.– Best Available Techniques (national, HELCOM).

• Manure production and application– Excess in comparison to land.– Minimize ammonia emissions (cover;spreading;incorporation).– 170 kg N/ha; 25 kg P/ha.– Storage and spreading according to BAT and BEP.

• Pollution abatement– Storage capacity for 6 months.– Watertight floor and side walls.– Collect waste water into manure tanks.


N- and P-mitigation potentials for agriculture, principles.

• Member states shall combine the most appropriate and efficient measures (taylor-made programmes).

• HELCOM helps by offering a list of potential measures („shopping list“).

• To mitigate immissions from the air the Gothenburg Protocoll (under UNECE LRTAP) shall be implemented (generally identical with the NEC-directive).


N- and P-mitigation in agriculture, examples

• Land use change from arable land into grassland.

• Plant cover during winter.

• Minimum tillage.

• Catch crops. Buffer strips.

• Efficient management of fertilizer use.

• Ecofarming.

• Agri-environment programmes. No fertilizing in high risk areas and during high risk periods.

• Appropriate manure storage.

• Biogas from manure etc.

• Etc.


• St. Petersburg• Leningrad oblast• Kaliningrad oblast

• 2009-2011

• Funding from European Parliament

• HELCOM

• European Commission Delegation in Russia

Baltic Hazardous waste and Agricultural releases Reduction - BaltHazAR Project


Results

• Inventory and analysis of potential pollution sources of hazardous substances and agricultural nutrient loading, including a risk assessment

• Draft plan of measures to be taken, including necessary management system

• Feasibility studies and investment projects (pilot projects) in Leningrad and Kaliningrad oblasts

• Increased institutional capacity within local, regional and federal level in the Russian Federation to implement the Baltic Sea Action Plan

• Input to future EU programs



BaltHazar Project - Agricultural Component

•Prioritization of farms based on:• Nutrient loading potential• Location (proximity to waters directly discharging to

BS, soil type, elevation)• Verified nutrient releases• Feasibility to implement advanced agro-

environmental investments

Inventory and prioritisation

• 160 farms in Leningrad Region, Russia

• 30 farms in Kaliningrad Region, Russia

• 14 priority farms (9/5) further verified by sampling

• 72% of total P load to the Baltic originate from 26 largest farms


Eutrophication, Conclusions

• BSAP important for environment, fishery and tourism (ecological, economical and social aspects).

• Methods and data base still controversial, but best available science.

• Reduction quota appropriate, former progress is accepted. Reduction strategies must be taylor-made for each member state.

• Probably no measures beyond water framework directive necessary.

• Bridging technological gaps; investments; farm advisory services, good agricultural practice, manure storage capacities.

• Establish a HELCOM Agricultural/Environmental Forum 2010.


Our ultimate target: A Baltic Sea undisturbed by nutrients and eutrophication!

Fot

o: H

elen

a La

rsso

n


Thank you for your attention!!

Dr. Dietrich [email protected]

www.umweltbundesamt.de


2. Agriculture:Amended Annex III of the Helsinki Convention

• Addressing large agro-industrial cluster – Integrated permits for farms with intensive rearing of

animals(poultry 40 000, pigs 2 000, cattle 400 au)– Simplified permit system or general rules for farms bigger than

100 a.u.

• Environmentally sound manure management

• Application rates for nutrients– nitrogen 170 kg/ha– phosphorus 25 kg/ha

• Identification of agricultural areas that are critical for nutrient pollution of the Baltic Sea – Designation of relevant parts of agricultural land as NVZ– Performing risk assessments of nutrient leaching from

agricultural areas

• Establishing HELCOM Agricultural / Environmental Forum by 2010

Documents

Dr. Dietrich Schulz, FEA Germany; Baltic Green Belt Conference, Kolobrzeg 22-23 June 2010 1 Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Sources and mitigation strategies