Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: Protection, Management and Climate Change (GeoPlanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences)

This book compares the lessons learned from a wetland-perspective approach to the changing climate and the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) with regard to environmental conservation. Examples from Germany and Poland are discussed due to the efficiency of their respective implementations of water conservation policies. Although the general scientific interest in specific issues such as wetlands, climate change, nature conservation and the WFD enjoy a well established position in international environmental research, these four elements are rarely considered together due to the complexity of the processes, biased scenarios of global change and subjective policy background. Major challenges involved in carrying out environmental conservation actions that assess the potential impacts of climate change and management plans on water bodies are identified. The results of this approach are addressed to practitioners in the field of adaptive management in a wetlands context. Series Editors 6 Managing Editor 7 Advisory Board 8 Acknowledgments 10 Contents 11 1 Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: Protection, Management and Climate Change 12 Abstract 12 1.1 Status of Wetlands: Missing Law or Failed Implementation? 13 1.2 Wetlands and Water Framework Directive 13 1.3 Protection and Management 15 1.4 Climate Change 15 1.5 Yesterday's Lessons and Tomorrow's Perspectives 16 References 17 2 Synergies and Conflicts Between Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000: Legal Requirements, Technical Guidance and Experiences from Practice 19 Abstract 19 2.1 Introduction 20 2.2 Comparison of Goals of WFD and Natura 2000: Analogue and Antagonism 21 2.2.1 Goals of WFD, HD and BD 21 2.2.2 Potential Synergies Between Goals of WFD and Natura 2000 23 2.2.3 Potential Conflicts Between Goals of WFD and Natura 2000 25 2.3 Implementation of the WFD in Natura 2000 Sites: Legal Provisions and Guidance of the European Commission 26 2.3.1 Legal Requirements for Implementing the Environmental Objectives in Natura 2000 Sites 26 2.3.1.1 Exemptions from the Good Water Status 28 2.3.2 Guidance from the European Commission 29 2.4 Experiences in the Implementation of WFD in Natura 2000 Sites and Recommendations 31 2.4.1 River Basin Management Planning in Austria 31 2.4.2 River Basin Management Planning in Germany 33 2.4.3 Recommendations for the Implementation and Future Management Planning 34 2.5 Conclusions 36 References 37 3 Can Natura 2000 Sites Benefit from River Basin Management Planning Under a Changing Climate? Lessons from Germany 40 Abstract 40 3.1 Introduction 40 3.2 RBMP As a Key Instrument to Achieve the Objectives of the WFD 42 3.2.1 Content of the Programmes of Measures and River Basin Management Plans 42 3.2.2 Levels of River Basin Management Planning 43 3.3 Implementation of RBMP in Protected Areas 44 3.3.1 Consideration of Protected Areas in the Implementation of RBMP 44 3.3.2 Cooperation and Participation to Include Nature Conservation in RBMP 50 3.3.3 RBMP As a Tool for Achieving WFD Objectives in a Changing Climate 53 3.4 Recommendations for Integrating Climate Change in RBMP 55 3.5 Conclusion and Outlook on Coordination of Nature Conservation and WFD Implementation 57 References 58 4 Do Water Management and Climate-Adapted Management of Wetlands Interfere in Practice? Lessons from the Biebrza Valley, Poland 61 Abstract 61 4.1 Introduction 62 4.2 Physiographic Outline of the Study Area 63 4.3 Climate Change, Water Management and Ecosystems' Response 65 4.4 Actions of the National Water-Environment Programme for the Catchment of Biebrza 69 4.5 What Is Missing? 72 4.6 Lessons Learnt and Implications for the Management 73 References 74 5 Wetlands in River Valleys as an Effect of Fluvial Processes and Anthropopression 76 Abstract 76 5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 Case Study 78 5.2.1 Fluvial Processes in Natural Rivers 78 5.2.2 Fluvial Processes in Regulated Rivers 79 5.3 Description of the Research Areas 81 5.4 Evidence of Wetlands in the Investigated Areas 88 5.5 Conclusions 92 Acknowledgments 94 References 94 6 New Vision of the Role of Land Reclamation Systems in Nature Protection and Water Management 98 Abstract 98 6.1 Introduction, Aim of the Study 98 6.2 Environmental Role of Land Reclamation 99 6.3 Land Reclamation and Flood Control from the Nature Protection Point of View 101 6.4 Ecosystems that Might Be Significantly Affected by Land Reclamation 103 6.5 Possibilities of Improving Natural Habitat Through Land Reclamations 105 6.6 Conflicts 106 6.7 Examples of Attempts Undertaken to Support Farmers in Hampering Water Outflow from Reclamation Systems 107 6.8 Conclusions 109 References 110 Front Matter....Pages i-xi Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: Protection, Management and Climate Change....Pages 1-7 Synergies and Conflicts Between Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000: Legal Requirements, Technical Guidance and Experiences from Practice....Pages 9-29 Can Natura 2000 Sites Benefit from River Basin Management Planning Under a Changing Climate? Lessons from Germany....Pages 31-51 Do Water Management and Climate-Adapted Management of Wetlands Interfere in Practice? Lessons from the Biebrza Valley, Poland....Pages 53-67 Wetlands in River Valleys as an Effect of Fluvial Processes and Anthropopression....Pages 69-90 New Vision of the Role of Land Reclamation Systems in Nature Protection and Water Management....Pages 91-103