1. Horizontal Guidance on Wetlands
SCG Meeting, 27th and 28th October, 2003

2. Participants to the drafting process:
European Commission
12 Member States
5 New Member States
2 Applicant Countries
1 Expert Team
2 Stakeholders
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Denmark; DG RTD – Evaluwet Project; EEB; European Commission; France; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Lithuania; Netherlands; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; UK; WWF.

3. Objective of the work according to the ToR endorsed in Copenhagen, November 2002
WFD requirements (wetlands)
Role of wetlands (PoM)
Common text for guidance documents
Wetlands in RBM and PRB

4. Version 4.0 presented at last SCG meeting May 5th 2003, Brussels

5. ‘open issues’ presented to SCG
Hydromorphological elements and their role;
Chapter 5: the programme of measures and wetlands (basic and supplementary measures);
Monitoring and wetlands;
Ramsar Convention and WFD links;
‘Small water bodies’ and wetlands

6. Conclusions following SCG meeting

7. Presentation at Italian WDM
Time schedule for
finalisation
extended
Presentation at Italian WDM

8. Issues raised by SCG:
Provide clear distinction between WFD obligations & suggested potential best practices for wetlands;
Seek input from groundwater experts via EAF on Groundwater;
Clarify role of wetlands in programme of measures;

9. Clarify which obligations in relation to wetlands are linked to WFD implementation stages;
Address specific hydro-geographic situation of certain countries e.g. Netherlands
Consider possibility of moving the Monitoring chapter to an Annex

10. New round of
comments following
SCG meeting

11. 3rd Wetlands Group Meeting,
Rome, 12th - 13th June 2003

12. Participants Austria: Birgit Vogel; Commission: Marta Moren;
Evaluwet: Edward Maltby;
EEB: Ruth Davis;
France: Marie-Francoise Bazerque; Marie-Claude Ximenes;
Germany: Stephan Naumann;
Italy: Rachel Bindless; Nicola Pacini; Giorgio Pineschi
Netherlands: Marc de Rooy; Tom Verboom;
Romania; Valeria Grigoras;
United Kingdom; Peter Pollard

13. The Rome meeting; “drafting” members included new experts from MS which expressed concerns during the SCG;
The text was revised paragraph by paragraph during the meeting;
A general agreement was reached on the changes to be done;
Agreed drafting tasks were distributed among participants

14. Main revisions to: Chapter 3: WFD Environmental Objectives & Wetlands;
Chapter 4: Relationship between wetlands systems and HMWBs;
Chapter 7: Programme of Measures & Wetlands
Chapter 9: Conclusions
Annex II: Functions & Values
Case Studies throughout the text

15. IDENTIFYING WETLANDS UNDER THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE
Ecosystems relevant to the achievement of WFD objectives
Ecosystems significantly influencing the quality or quantity of water reaching surface water bodies or surface water connected to surface water bodies
Wetlands
River, lake, transitional water or coastal water body
Terrestrial ecosystems directly dependent on groundwater bodies
Small elements of surface water not identified as water body but connected to surface water body
Riparian, shore or intertidal zone hydromorphological quality elements of surface water bodies

16. IDENTIFYING WETLANDS UNDER THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE
Rivers
Terrestrial ecosystems directly dependent on groundwater for their water needs
Lakes and small
elements of
surface water
Hydromorphological quality elements of surface water bodies
Transitional & coastal waters

17. IDENTIFYING WETLANDS UNDER THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

18. Athens: Water Directors Meeting, June, 2003
Clearly distinguish between the legal requirements under the Directive and best practices going beyond these obligations
Actions under the RAMSAR convention and the WFD should not be mixed
Simplify and shorten the document

19. ACTIONS TAKEN
New comments integrated,
Chapters revised
Integrated further with HMWB & HGIWB
Ramsar & WFD were not mixed, to be addressed during PRB testing
Clear distinction made between WFD requirements and recommended best practices
New text simplified as much as possible

20. Development phases 26th June 2003 Version 5.0,
Barcelona, 1st & 2nd July, 2003
Minor comments integrated in Version 5.1
1st August, 2003 Version 6.0,
Minor comments to version 6.0: Version 6.1
Final Draft Version 7.0, disseminated 7th October, uploaded to CIRCA

21. Version 7.0 developed following a transparent drafting process
Version 7.0 supported by all members of the drafting group

22. Issues raised by SCG:
Provide clear distinction between WFD obligations & suggested potential best practices for wetlands;
Clear labelling of best practice recommendations
Seek input from groundwater experts via EAF on Groundwater;
EAF
Groundwater
provided
support to
Chapter 3

23. Clarify role of wetlands in programme of measures;
Text shortened & simplified & brought in line with WFD
Clarify which obligations in relation to wetlands are linked to WFD implementation stages;
Obligations in relation to wetlands are linked to all stages of WFD implementation although a minor component thereof

24. Address specific hydrogeographies e.g. Netherlands
Checked that requirements would not lead to excessive administrative burden; Netherlands case studies added
Consider possibility of moving the Monitoring chapter to an Annex
Chapter brought in line with the Monitoring + IMPRESS Guidance Documents
wetland monitoring procedures left for further work

25. Wetlands GD Version 7.0: what do we have?
A crosscutting GD integrating elements of other GDs
19 case studies; best practices and ground truths
Linking single elements across the river basin
Wetlands GD Version 7.0: what do we have?
Ramsar and WFD?
Transparent process agreed upon by all WG members
Integrates conclusions of experts, managers & stakeholders
best practice recommendations for MS

26. None CONTENT AGREED by drafting group
Open issues?
None
CONTENT AGREED by drafting group