Published : Aug 24,
2012 Last modified : Sep 03, 2012 10:02
AM
River basins, lakes, floodplains and marshes
often span political and administrative
boundaries. This creates challenges in the
management of Europe's water resources,
according to a report from the European
Environment Agency (EEA), which recommends
better integration of coordinated spatial
planning and water management.
The report, 'Territorial
cohesion and water management in Europe:
the spatial perspective' addresses the basic
fact that river basins and administratively
distinct regions often have different boundaries,
leading to a mismatch between land planning
and water management. The centrepiece of
EU water legislation, the Water Framework
Directive which is implemented through River
Basin Management Plans (RBMPs), takes this
element into consideration.
However, water basin management should be
more closely integrated with spatial planning,
the report argues. This would bring a strategic
focus to planning, highlighting decisions
which affect water resources.
The current situation means that costs can
fall on those who do not benefit – for example,
water pollution from agriculture in one
territory that flows downstream to others.
Also, benefits may go to those outside the
territory who have not paid for them. An
example of this is forests in one territory
that regulate floodwaters in a different
territory downstream.
Water bodies are under pressure in many
parts of Europe from multiple demands, including
tourism, industry, agriculture, power, transport
and public supply. A recent EEA report argued
that the natural world also needs water
to carry out the 'ecosystem services' which
underpin the European economy, such as water
purification, soil retention, and food production.
By integrating basin-level water management
and spatial planning, these direct and indirect
human demands can be better weighed up.
And it's not just human interests which
should be considered. Approximately 250
species of macrophytes and 250 species of
fish live in European inland surface waters
and a significant number of birds, fish
and mammals depend on wetlands for breeding
or feeding. These all need sufficient water
to survive. In addition, many species also
require water bodies to be in a 'natural'
state – for example many species of fish
need uninterrupted migratory routes.
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Deputy Director Gordon
McInnes retires after 20 years at the EEA
Published : Aug
01, 2012 Last modified : Aug 02, 2012 09:40
AM
Gordon McInnes retired from the European
Environment Agency (EEA) yesterday. He has
worked at the EEA and its predecessor, the
Commission’s Task Force, since 1992.
Appointed Head of Programme in 1995, he
was additionally appointed Deputy Director
in 2003. With a background in chemistry,
air pollution monitoring and national environmental
administration from the UK, one of Gordon's
priorities was always close cooperation
with European countries and other organisations
to provide the best possible information
on the environment in Europe. It was therefore
also natural that in recent years he headed
the Governance and Networks Programme with
responsibility for the strategic development
of relations with EEA member and cooperating
countries as well as EU neighbourhood countries.
The Executive Director and staff of the
EEA wish Gordon and his wife Linda all the
best in their retirement in Suffolk, England,
where he plans to continue to contribute
to knowledge-gathering on the environment
through one of his hobbies – bird-watching.
