1. WG PoM and Natural water Retention Measures
DG Environment
Evdokia Achilleos
Meeting of the Strategic Co-ordination Group
7-8 May 2014, Brussels

2. NWRM- Background
Water Blueprint: Maximization of the use of Natural Water Retention Measures (Green Infrastructure) - CIS Guidance by 2014
CIS MANDATE for WG POM: CIS Guidance or other tool on NWRM by 2014
COM Launched NWRM Pilot project for technical tools & documents ( )

3. NWRM - WG PoM Progress WG PoM Meetings:
September: Background provided by COM- proposal for the deliverable to be a high-level policy paper
November: Started discussion on NWRM, agreed to have a short paper as deliverable, to form drafting team to further define scope and contents
March: discussed different issues related to NWRM, provided Input to Drafting Team, agreed on scope of paper,
WG POM Drafting team (DG ENV, DE, FR, IT, NL, UK, EEB, WWF, WI, NWRM PP and WFD CIS support consultants)

4. Definition of NWRM
Natural Water Retention Measures are multi-functional measures that aim to protect water resources and address water-related challenges by restoring or maintaining ecosystems as well as natural features and characteristics of water bodies using natural means and processes. The main focus of applying NWRM is to enhance the retention capacity of aquifers, soil, and aquatic and water dependent ecosystems with a view to improve their status. Appropriate application of NWRM supports green infrastructure, improves the quantitative status of water bodies as such, and reduces the vulnerability to floods and droughts. It positively affects the chemical and ecological status of water bodies by restoring natural functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide. The restored ecosystems contribute both to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

5. Proposed WG PoM Deliverable
A short policy document (for policy and decision-makers, pg )
Aim:
To explain the policy relevance of Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM) stimulate their uptake as effective means for achieving water and other environmental policy objectives.
To be used as tool by water directors to persuade other policy makers for joined action
Target Group:
Water Directors and decision-makers at the National Competent Authorities for WF/FD
local and regional catchment-scale decision-makers.

6. Structure of Deliverable
Executive summary
Introduction  
What can you achieve with NWRM?
What is the policy relevance of NWRM?
Mechanisms to stimulate implementation of NWRM - what can I, as a policy-maker do to promote NWRM
Recommendations
References

7. Next Steps - Process
Drafting team collaborative writing and meetings (2 before October)
Written consultation with WG PoM prior to October meeting and discussion of final draft in October 2014
Ensure coherence with tools and documents of the NWRM pilot project. The project will be providing the knowledge base, experiences, technical background and practical guidance tools to complement this document.
Document to be approved by SCG & Water Directors in Nov-Dec 2014