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

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.

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

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

‘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

Conclusions following SCG meeting

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

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;

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

New round of comments following SCG meeting

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

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

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

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

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

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

IDENTIFYING WETLANDS UNDER THE WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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