Knowledge and research needs for wetlands and lakes IWRM presentation 18 November 2008 Johan Schutten Senior Wetland Ecologist SEPA

UK and Scottish legal drivers  WFD England and Wales: Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations (2004)  WFD Scotland: Water Environment and Water Services Act (2003)  Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act (2004)  Birds and Habitats regulations Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994  Biodiversity Action plans (UKBAP)

Why is SEPA involved in wetland protection?  Water Framework Directive implementation: Water Environment and Water Services Act (2003)  Part 1(2): ‘preventing further deterioration of, and protecting and enhancing, the status of aquatic ecosystems and, with regard to their water needs, terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly depending on those aquatic ecosystems’  Groundwater and surface water dependent wetlands  Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act (2004)  Natura 2000 (EU designated conservation sites)  SSSI (National designated conservation sites)  UKBAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) / Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

What wetland categories is SEPA protecting?  Groundwater body dependent wetlands

 Surface water body dependent wetlands that are part of surface water bodies  Surface water dependent wetlands that are not part of but depend on a surface water body / influence the quality and quantity of water reaching surface water bodies

 Wetlands that are a designated feature of SSSI’s or Wetlands that are an interest feature or essential to the functioning of a Natura 2000 site.

WFD Wetlands

Wetland objectives  Groundwater body dependent wetlands are protected from significant damage arising from quantitative or qualitative changes in the status of the groundwater body.  Surface water body dependent wetlands need to support the ecological objectives of the associated water body.  Surface water dependent wetlands that depend on surface water bodies but are not part of surface water bodies. The objectives for this wetland category have yet to be considered by UKTAG.  Wetlands in ground or surface water bodies that are feature of protected nature conservation sites (SSSI and SAC) are protected such as to ensure the attainment of the conservation objectives for the feature or site. Natura 2000 sites are protected from ‘adverse impact on the integrity’ of the site; SSSI features are protected to ensure ‘no significant effect’ of SEPA’s regulated activities  Ground or surface water dependent wetlands that are UKBAP/ SBS priority habitats. The interim position is that ‘SEPA shall assume that the maintenance of existing environmental standards is sufficient to provide the levels of protection required by individual species and habitat plans’

Research and Knowledge requirements  Wetland inventories (WFD characterisation and Program of measures))  Where are the wetlands;  Types associated with generic risk to human activities (abstraction, engineering, pollution)  Wetland Identification and generic risk screening tool (SNIFFER WFD95). (under way)  Environmental supporting conditions for wetlands (WFD classification and pressure regulation)  What water source does a wetland require (duration, frequency and magnitude)  What water quality does a wetland require (rain, surface or ground)  Scotmecs; Environmental supporting conditions (hydrology and chemistry) for Scottish wetlands (SNIFFER WFD 35 (under way)  Wetland quality assessment tools (WFD classification)  Significant damage due to quality or quantity pressure of groundwater body  Surface water dependent wetland: Ecological quality tools: vegetation, invertebrates, vertebrates (vole, otter, fish)  Wetlands and Climate change  identify how wetland types across Scotland will be affected by climate change impact based upon a functional understanding of the wetlands  identify how wetlands can be used to mitigate for climate change causes and impacts (C-store / flood water attenuation and regulation of food generation).

Questions? 