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The Europea Water Framework Directive and the DIPSIR, a methodological approach to assess the risk of falling to achieve good ecological status
... The human pressures within the area were investigated by Borja et al. (2006a). The most significant pressures include urban and industrial discharges (resulting in increases in nutrients, organic matter and consumption of oxygen), and hydromorphological pressures (dykes and port construction, dredging, sediment disposal, and land reclamation). ...
... Table 2Main significant pressures (producing negative effects in the system) and management actions to reduce pressures (positive effects) in the estuarine and coastal water bodies of the Basque Country, together with the pressure trend over the period 1995–2014. The years when the pressures were active and actions were taken are shown in brackets (data updated from Borja et al., 2006a; Tueros et al., 2009; Solaun et al., 2013). Note: 'decrease' means that the management actions were of such importance that reduced the pressures in a consistent way; 'slight decrease' means that the actions were important, but additional ones are still pending; 'no trend' means that were not major changes in pressures and actions. ...
... Regarding sampling stations and water bodies, after the study of pressures undertook in , Borja et al. (2006adetermined those which were at risk of not achieving a good ecological status, by 2015, which is the main objective of the WFD. The water managers implemented a series of actions to reduce the pressures and, according to the results of our study, in most cases they were successful, since the water bodies with higher percentage of quality improvement series are coincident with those at higher risk in 2004 (e.g. ...
Using a long-term (1995–2014) monitoring network, from 51 sampling stations in estuaries and coasts of the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay), the objective of this investigation was to assess the responsiveness of 83 variables in water (18), sediments (27), biota (26), phytoplankton (2), macroinvertebrates (5) and fishes (5) to different human pressures and management actions. We used a total of 3247 series of data to analyse trends of improvement and worsening in quality. In a high percentage of the cases, the management actions taken have resulted in positive effects in the environment, as shown by the trend analysis in this investigation. Overall, much more trends of improvement than of worsening have been observed; this is true for almost all the media and biological components studied, with the exception of phytoplankton; and it applies as well to almost all the stations and water bodies, with the exception of those corresponding to areas with water treatment pending of accomplishment. In estuaries with decreasing human pressures during the period, the percentage of series showing quality improvement was higher (approx. 30%) than those showing worsening of quality (12%). Moreover, in those water bodies showing an increase of pressure, variables which can be considered indicators of anthropogenic effects showed negative trends (quality worsening). On the other hand, some of the variables analysed were more affected by natural variability than by changes in pressures. That was the case of silicate, nitrate and suspended solids, which followed trends correlated to salinity, which, in turn, was related to the rainfall regime during the study period.
... All the states in this region use the Gulf waters for desalination. Some countries have functional regional initiatives such as the EU " s Water Framework Directive which aims at maintaining quantitative and qualitative status of water bodies with the region (Borja et al. 2006). Similarly, there are a few international initiatives that offer templates for developing integrated water resource management at local and regional levels. ...
... This also is in sharp contrast to the situation in other major regional groupings such as the European Union where water governance framework is strongly established. The European Water Framework Directive and European Climate Policy provide good examples of regional commitment to the role of governance in achieving sustainability of the water resources sector (Borja et al. 2006; Ellison et al. 2014). Many researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds have conducted numerous studies on prospects of innovative technologies in mitigating ecological hazards and costs of desalination technologies (Altaee et al. 2013; Ghaffour et al. 2013; Shatat et al. 2013 etc). ...
... Since each of the six Gulf countries operates a different regulatory and policy frameworks for its desalination plants, we applied the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model to facilitate identification and analysis of the nested ecological and policy issues. This model has been used effectively in previous studies that investigated regional water governance frameworks (Borja et al. 2006). Similarly, Gregory et al. (2013) also used the DPSIR model to categorise socioecological dimensions of marine ecosystems management. ...
The hyper-arid climate of the Arabian Gulf makes it an excessively water-deficient region. Ironically, the Gulf States count among the few places with the highest per capita water consumption and low tariff. Since a few decades ago, seawater desalination has been the most reliable source of portable water in the Gulf. Recently, many critical scholars raise concerns about the rising levels of brine discharge, effects of water intake and outfall systems infrastructure, plants’ high energy consumption and fragmented regulatory and policy frameworks. In this study, we explore the potentials of environmental governance in addressing sustainability risks of seawater desalination projects. The DPSIR model and the Earth system governance framework guided and supported our analysis of several multidimensional issues that underlie the characteristics of this industry. Thus, we identified 29 cause and effect factors as well as nine environmental governance intervention strategies. The study suggests that the industry's network of stakeholders can develop good ideas for fostering sustainability by using innovative tools such as hackathon—an interdisciplinary, participatory, solution-oriented, and consensus building platform. Finally, this study enjoins policymakers, businesses, and scientists to embrace more transparent, practical and holistic ideas in designing, executing and assessing technological innovations and interventions in national and regional water security initiatives.
... Another appropriate model DPSIR (Driver, Pressure, State, Impact & Response) has been described in various fields as water management (Borja et al. 2006), impact of climate change on biodiversity (Omann et al. 2009) that may suitably be prescribed to define epidemiology of argulosis. The DPSIR framework provides an overall mechanistic framework for analyzing environmental, economical, societal and management with regard to sustainable development. ...
... ''Pressures'' are the ways that these drivers are actually expressed and the specific ways that ecosystems and their components are perturbed. These pressures degrade the ''State'' of the farming and the environment which then ''Impacts'' upon culture practices and welfare of fish and human and ecosystems, causing society to ''Respond'' with various ways of management and policy measures (Borja et al. 2006). With different components of argulosis and its impact on aquaculture and wild fish, we tried to define each components of DPSIR as ''Driving forces'' intensification of aquaculture, cross-contamination from wild to farmed fish and vice versa, change in aquaculture practices and climate change. ...
Argulus, an obligate macroectoparasite, infests a wide range of fishes causing severe economic loss to aquaculture industry. The application of chemotherapeutants is the most common approach to combat argulosis. But it is very expensive and has a range of negative impacts on the host and environment. An alternative to the extensive use of chemotherapeutics is to restrict Argulus infestation by adopting a range of biosecurity and quarantine measures. However, before adopting these measures it is essential to adequately understand the complex interaction among the host, parasite and environment, in order to identify key factors affecting parasite dynamics and to formulate a possible management strategy. Epidemiology provides key tools to advance our understanding of diseases and allows bringing convergence in controlling the disease. Compared to terrestrial diseases, relatively few epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate aquatic animal diseases. For Argulus spp., the complex real-world dynamics of transmission, reproduction and the host specificity and the role of these parasites as a vector for various pathogens are very complex to develop an effective epidemiological framework. This review principally focuses on the application of epidemiological concepts, providing insights about the sampling frame, commenting upon the use of simple deterministic susceptible-infected-removed models and examines the determinants of transmission and spread of argulosis. Further, this paper describes the risk factors associated with Argulus infestation and the importance of risk analysis in intervention against its epizootics. Overall, this review is intended to highlight the need for development of a more extensive epidemiological approach to combat argulosis in aquaculture.
... The causal chain framework Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) (Smeets and Weterings, 1999) is formally an adaptive environmental management approach that integrates environmental and human systems into a common conceptual framework. The Drivers can be defined as economic and social factors triggering Pressures to the environment (Borja et al., 2006). Applying the DPSIR approach to the marine eutrophication impacts indicator (Figure 1), the primary Drivers arise from the population growth and consequent need for food and energy (Galloway et al., 2008; Zaldívar et al., 2008). ...
... Applying the DPSIR approach to the marine eutrophication impacts indicator (Figure 1), the primary Drivers arise from the population growth and consequent need for food and energy (Galloway et al., 2008; Zaldívar et al., 2008). The Pressures express the way ecosystems are disturbed by human activities (Borja et al., 2006), and correspond to the N emissions identified in the LCI. The State refers to the ecosystem condition under the Pressures, and can be assessed by field measurements or indicators (Bricker et al., 2008; Ferreira et al., 2011). ...
Nitrate concentration and runoff are site-specific and driven by climatic factors and crop management. As such, nitrate emissions may increase in the future due to climate change, affecting the marine eutrophication mechanism. In this context, and considering the case of spring barley production in Denmark, the paper has two objectives: (i) to estimate the present and future marine eutrophication impacts by combining a novel Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) modelling approach with a quantification of the effects of climate change on its parameterisation, and (ii) to discuss the implications of different normalisation references when comparing future Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) scenarios with current production systems. A parameterised characterisation model was developed to gauge the influence of future climatic-driven pressures on the marine eutrophication impact pathway. Spatial differentiation was added to the resulting ‘present’ and ‘future’ characterisation factors (CFs) and calculated for the Baltic and North Sea. The temporal variability of both midpoint normalised impact scores and damage scores reflect a 34% and 28% increase of the CFs in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, respectively. The temporal variability is mostly explained by CF variation and increasing future nitrogen flows. The marine eutrophication indicator scores at both midpoint and damage levels suggest that the differentiation of impacts to various receiving (and potentially perturbed) ecosystems is relevant. Damage scores are quantified with a factor 2.5 and 2.3 differentiation between the Baltic (higher) and North Seas (lower) for the present and future scenarios, respectively. The comparison of the normalisation methods, either based on total annual impacts (domestic inventory of background interventions), on ecological carrying capacity, or on the presently proposed method, point to the value of adding spatial differentiation to LCIA models. The inclusion of time variation and spatial differentiation in characterisation modelling of marine eutrophication and the identification of a paucity of adequate inventory data for future scenario analysis constitute the main outcomes of this study. Further research should aim at reducing the uncertainty of the parameterisation under future conditions and strengthening emissions projections.
... The working group IMPRESS (2002) established the " Driving forces-Pressures-States-Impacts, " widely known as the DPSIR approach, which is the main analytical framework for determining pressures and impacts under the WFD. Borja et al. (2006), based upon this approach, grouped the main estuarine and marine pressures into pollution, including urban, industrial, agricultural and aquaculture discharges, hydromorphological changes, and biology and its uses (alien species elements in ecological interactions at the subcellular to ecosystem scale (Sinsabaugh et al., 2009 ). The exceedances in the ecostoichiometric relationship between nutrients form a stressing factor that impacts the delicate balance governing ecological inter- actions. ...
... Thus, information on the sensitivity and responsiveness of single or synthetic ecological indices to single and multiple stress factors is needed in order to evaluate and understand the individual indices' and synthetic status assessment. Also, the synthetic assessment follows different integration methods in case the various metrics or elements are sensitive to the same or different pressures (Borja et al., 2006Borja et al., , 2014 Prins et al., 2013). In this work, the response of some ecological indices (eutrophication indices, benthic indices, physicochemical status indices and integrated status indices) to the environmental stress factors (eutrophication and metals) is studied by using statistical correlations and a graphical visualization tool associating status classification to stress factors. ...
Environmental data produced throughout monitoring activities in the framework of the implementation of Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (WFD) in Eastern Mediterranean (Greece) were used to assess the sensitivity and response of ecological indices against trace metals, eutrophication and multiple stress factors. The applied ecological indices include multi-metric eutrophication indices, a physicochemical status index applied for the first time in the Greek marine area, benthic indices, phytoplankton biomass index, and integrated status indices assessed through the application of the decision tree integration scheme. To investigate the exceedances in the eco-stoichiometric relationship between nutrients, considered a stressing factor, all physicochemical elements influenced directly or indirectly by eutrophication, such as nutrient concentrations, water transparency, oxygen saturation, particulates concentration, and sediment organic content, were related to ecological indices. Also, chemical contaminant stress factors represented by heavy metal concentrations in the water, as well as multiple stress factors represented by a pressure index, were related to ecological indices. A graphical visualization multivariate tool and statistical correlations were used to evaluate the sensitivity or explanatory power of the tested ecological indices against single and multiple stress factors. Results showed a strong response of all ecological indices to stress factors, although a diversification of sensitivity was evident. Primary production-related indices, i.e., macroalgae and chlorophyll-_a_ indices, are more sensitive to particulates and nitrogen, while secondary production-related indices, i.e., benthic macroinvertebrates indices and eutrophication indices, including nutrients, are more sensitive to phosphates in the water column. The macroalgae index shows the strongest sensitivity to multiple stress factors. Among metals, mostly cadmium seems to match all indices’ performance. Nutrient relationships were shown as critical to eutrophication and ecological status.
... Additionally, pressures and impacts play a key role in the likelihood that a water body will or will not meet the set objectives of the WFD. The analyses of pressures and impacts are crucial to be developed if appropriate programmes of measures have to be designed and implemented [7] . The driver-pressure-stateimpact-response (DPSIR) approach was established as a possible analytical framework for determining pressures and impacts under the WFD [7][8][9]and identifying the cause-effect relationships between the environment and various anthropogenic activities in a wider socio-economic context [10]. ...
... The analyses of pressures and impacts are crucial to be developed if appropriate programmes of measures have to be designed and implemented [7] . The driver-pressure-stateimpact-response (DPSIR) approach was established as a possible analytical framework for determining pressures and impacts under the WFD [7][8][9]and identifying the cause-effect relationships between the environment and various anthropogenic activities in a wider socio-economic context [10]. The WFD also introduced the requirement to evaluate new methodological approaches for the development of strategies contributing to the sustainable water resources management [8]. ...
This paper investigates the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of the northern and central rivers of Greece and their use in the assessment of the biological/ecological conditions of water bodies towards the fulfilment of the Water Framework Directive for good ecological status/potential by the end of 2015. The macrozoobenthos from reference or moderately disturbed sites did not significantly differ as to their richness, diversity and sensitivity among sites. Altitude, among other environmental parameters, was the differentiating parameter according to the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the structure/composition of benthic macroinvertebrates. Seasonality exists in high- and low-altitude reference sites for sensitive to organic pollution taxa. The results of the STAR_ICMi and HESY indices coincided totally when the ecological quality was below good. More than 70% of the sites were characterised as of lower than good ecological status/potential. According to HESY, water quality varied according to the altitude from upstream to downstream sites (pollution gradient). The application of operational monitoring or continuous programme of measures is needed for most of the basins in order to meet the environmental objectives and the risk management (IMPRESS analysis) according to the WFD. Finally, the DPSIR framework shows that the ‘drivers’ agriculture, livestock and sewage untreated effluents cause the deterioration of the ecological quality of water and habitat degradation (‘state’).
... 1). The general degradation in quality of Basque estuaries over the last two centuries, due to human pressures (Borja et al., 2006a), might explain the decline (from 6 to 3 vegetated estuaries) of this species within the region (Valle et al., 2011). Zostera noltei samples were collected from nine estuaries in Northern Spain and Western France: three in the Basque Country region (Oka, Lea and Bidasoa) (Fig. 1) in which the plant is still present (Valle et al., 2011), three estuaries in Cantabria (St. ...
... In the Basque estuaries, habitat squeeze induced by present artificial barriers is expected to be more severe in the upper tidal zone than in the mid or lower intertidal zone (Chust et al., 2011). Basque estuaries have been greatly transformed by anthropogenic activities during the 20th Century (Cearreta et al., 2004), supporting many human pressures (Borja et al., 2006a). However, in recent times, these estuaries have experienced some recovery, due to water treatment (Borja et al., 2009aBorja et al., , 2010). ...
... The most significant pressures identified in the water body include hydromorphological alteration (i.e. dykes), dredging, urban and industrial discharges, consisting mainly of organic matter, nutrients and priority substance discharges.[8,9] Nevertheless, water treatment undertaken within the catchment has led to improvement in water quality, resulting in a decrease in metal concentration and in a progressive recovery in benthic and fish quality.[9,10] ...
... In May 2009, mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), with a shell length of 5 ± 0.5 cm, were collected from the Bidasoa estuary, an estuary with relatively low pressure [8] located near theFigure 1. Map of the study area located in the south-eastern Bay of Biscay showing the collection site of the mussels (M. galloprovincialis) in the Bidasoa estuary indicated as Time zero (T0), and the three sampling stations (S1: Canal, S2: Herrera and S3: Lezo) where mussels were caged for one month in the Oiartzun estuary. ...
... The Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay), in particular its estuaries, has been receiving special attention in marine environmental assessment due to its historical concentration of heavy industry and dense human settlement (Borja et al., 2006). For many years, the ecological status of the Basque estuaries deteriorated, especially because of the direct dumping of untreated domestic and industrial wastewaters (Cearreta et al., 2004). ...
... These estuarine environments are classified into two major groups, according to their geomorphological and hydrological characteristics (Borja et al., 2004): Gorliz and Mundaka are estuaries dominated by marine influence with a high percentage (> 75%) of intertidal area; while Getxo, Pasaia and Hondarribia are sub-tidal estuaries. Getxo and Pasaia boast important and industrialised harbours on the North Iberian coast, presenting a deteriorated ecological status characterised by low oxygen levels, disappearance of fauna and significant levels of sediment pollution (Borja et al., 2006). Conversely, Mundaka is located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, which is considered one of the best preserved estuaries of the Basque coast (Marigómez et al., 2013; Orbea et al., 2002). ...
Bivalve histopathology has become an important tool in aquatic toxicology, having been implemented in many biomonitoring programmes worldwide. However, there are various gaps in the knowledge of many sentinel organisms and the interference of confounding factors. This work aimed (i) to develop a detailed semi-quantitative histopathological index of the digestive gland and gonad of the Mytilus galloprovincialis mussel collected from five sites contaminated with distinct patterns of organic and inorganic toxicants along the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay) and (ii) to investigate whether seasonal variability and parasitosis act as confounding factors. A total of twenty-three histopathological alterations were analysed in the digestive gland and gonad following a weighed condition index approach. The alterations were integrated into a single value for a better understanding of the mussels' health status. The digestive gland was consistently more damaged than the gonad. Mussels from the most impacted sites endured the most significant deleterious effects showing inflammation-related alterations together with digestive tubule atrophy and necrosis. Neoplastic diseases were scarce, with only a few cases of fibromas (benign neoplasia). In contrast, in moderately or little impacted sites, contamination levels did not cause significant tissue damage. However, parasites contributed to overestimating the values of histopathological indices (i.e. more severe tissue damage) in mussels from little impacted sites, whilst the opposite occurred in mussels from highly polluted sites. Accordingly, inter-site differences were more pronounced in autumn when natural physiological responses of advanced maturation stages did not interfere in the histological response. In conclusion, although seasonal variability and parasitosis mask the response of histopathological indices, this biomonitoring approach may provide good sensitivity for assessing the health status of mussels if fluctuations of these confounding factors are considered.
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... The DPSIR framework could be used in order to assess the interaction between the environment and urban development, by establishing an evaluation system that analyzes aspects of sustainability ( Liu et al. 2018), providing an overall mechanism for analyzing environmental problems ( Borja et al. 2006). It delivers a meaningful explanation of cause and effect relationships to policy makers, linking scientific results with issues similar to noise pollution, bridging the gap between research and decision making ( Tscherning et al. 2012). ...
The degree of functional and structural connectivity of landscapes is a critical issue that could be associated with numerous ecological processes at various scales, in rural and urban environments. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the ecological connectivity of two quiet areas in the city of Mytilene (Greece), using the DPSIR (Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework, which focuses on the description of environmental problems. The application of the DPSIR framework provided feedback regarding the urban acoustic environment of the two quiet areas. Two maps were created with the purpose of assessing impact of road traffic noise on the two quiet areas: a noise map, using the CadnaA software and an acoustic complexity map using the free open source QGiS software. The noise level measurements and the Acoustic Complexity Index were statistically analyzed. The results showed a strong negative correlation due to background traffic noise, diminishing the complexity of the acoustic environment. Furthermore, the results are exploited to develop plans addressing the structural and functional connection of Mytilene's quiet areas. In conclusion, recommendations are provided so as to preserve urban quiet areas, promoting ecological connectivity and limiting the negative effects of noise on human health and the environment.
... This research uses the following parts of the SAF ( Hopkins et al. 2011): issue def- inition, system definition and design, and system appraisal (IPCC 2013). The DPSIR frame- work, adopted by the European Environment Agency and others (Elliott 2002;Rogers and Greenaway 2005;Borja et al. 2006;Maxim et al. 2009;Gray and Elliott 2009;Atkins et al. 2011), describes a framework for assessing the causes, consequences, and responses to change in a holistic way. The modified version of DPSIR ( Gari et al. 2015;Patrício et al. 2016) involves economic drivers and human activities, pressures from activities, state of environment, impact on human welfare, and responses of society and management mea- sures. ...
This study is a preliminary assessment of the greenhouse effect of methane (CH4) emissions in the South China Sea (SCS) on human welfare using the driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework and the systems approach framework (SAF). The SCS is surrounded by nations of the Asia-Pacific region that are currently experiencing rapid urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth, and is one of the most contested maritime areas of the world. Climate change may aggravate regional tensions, promote natural disasters, create climate refugees, and reduce food security by reducing the size of fish catches and crops. International environmental protection, as well as the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change not only protect environmental sustainability, but also provide an international platform of cooperation for all countries around the SCS. The study analyzed the economic drivers and human activities that cause the pressure on the environment and increase CH4 emissions in the region. In addition, the possible future impact of climate change on human welfare is also discussed in the study. Finally, the study identified eight management responses across various spatial and temporal scales that can be useful in addressing the issue of greenhouse gas (CH4) in the SCS.
... More recently, Lyra et al. (2016) presented another implementation of DPSIR framework in the coastal part of the Almyros Basin, Magnesia Prefecture, Greece. Kagalou et al. (2012) mention that the DPSIR model is regarded as an additional tool for both society and policy makers concerning water resources management (Giupponi, 2007;De Stefano, 2010) since it was used as an analytical approach for defining pressures and impacts under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (European Communities, 2000;Borja et al., 2006;Pirrone et al., 2005). However, Fernandez et al. (2014) argue that the DPSIR approach does not take into account several factors while assessing a specific water management issue, such as conflicts for the definition of the issue, as well as social, political and spatial delimitation of that issue. ...
... In order to attempt the assessment of whether the actions implemented reflecting WFD are capable to deal with the prospective defined climate change stressors, the DPSIR matrix of general feedback loops was developed. Such an approach was proven to be a suitable tool in detecting WFD-implementation-related risk assessment (Borja et al. 2006). It anticipates climate-related pressures to habitats (after Grygoruk et al. 2014a) that induce the state of ecosystems, to which the negative impact to be considered in the water management was defined as the "threat to the good status of rivers and wetlands" (Fig. 4.2). ...
This book compares the lessons learned from a wetland-perspective approach to the changing climate and the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) with regard to environmental conservation. Examples from Germany and Poland are discussed due to the efficiency of their respective implementations of water conservation policies. Although the general scientific interest in specific issues such as wetlands, climate change, nature conservation and the WFD enjoy a well established position in international environmental research, these four elements are rarely considered together due to the complexity of the processes, biased scenarios of global change and subjective policy background. Major challenges involved in carrying out environmental conservation actions that assess the potential impacts of climate change and management plans on water bodies are identified. The results of this approach are addressed to practitioners in the field of adaptive management in a wetlands context.
... The main purpose of the WFD is the protection and where necessary restoration of water quality of surface waters, including coastal lagoons. The final objective is to achieve at least good ecological status for all water bodies with clear milestones defined by the end of three different management cycles finishing in 2015, 2021 and 2027, respectively [6]. According the WFD, good status is defined as 'small' deviation from the reference conditions of a surface water body type; while the Mediterranean coastal lagoons are considered to belong to the transitional waters type in the Mediterranean ecoregion. ...
Coastal lagoons are important for coastal and marine biodiversity. Nevertheless, they are very sensitive and vulnerable to human impacts, which often result in a decrease of their biodiversity and degradation of their water quality. Considering recent efforts for ecological restoration of coastal lagoons, it appears appropriate to compare the social representations of users of the coastal lagoons and of inhabitants, with ecological diagnoses of biodiversity and water quality. The main question is whether there is congruence between water quality defined by environmental criteria on one hand and the social representations of these issues by lagoon users and local populations on the other hand? How can we explain the social representations of lagoons concerning landscape, water quality and biodiversity? This study was focused on two Mediterranean lagoon areas, i.e., the Palavas lagoon complex (Gulf of Lions) and Biguglia lagoon (Corsica). We have documented these changes of ecosystem states using the criteria of regional monitoring programs that anticipated the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Accordingly, both systems have shown bad water quality in the past with recent improvements. For studying the social representations, we conducted 267 surveys with lagoon inhabitants that live close to the lagoons and users of these spaces. In general, most of the residents living close to the lagoons considered that water quality is moderate to good, that biodiversity is good to high and that the current situation is better than in the past. However, some discrepancies between social representations and ecological diagnoses were observed.
... The main goal of this model is to identify the main cause-effect relationship between hu- man activities and the state of water quality and present a response approach geared towards sustainable fresh- water availability. Borja et al. (2005) used the model together with other methodologies to identify the rele- vant pressures and impacts of water quality changes in estuarine and coastal areas. Danielopol et al. (2003) re- viewed the changes in the status of groundwater eco- systems and the important driving forces, resulting from the direct or indirect impacts of human activities. ...
Groundwater serves as a source of freshwater for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes and it accounts for about 42%, 27% and 36% respectively. As it remains the only source of all-year-round supply of freshwater globally, it is of vital importance as regards water security, human survival and sustainable agriculture. The main goal of this study is to identify the main cause-effect relationship between human activities and the state of groundwater quality using a communication tool (the DPSIR Model; Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response). A total of twenty-one samples were collected from ten peri-urban communities scattered across three conterminous Local Government Areas in Southwestern Nigeria. Each of the groundwater samples was tested for twelve parameters - total dissolved solids, pH, bicarbonate, chloride, lead, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, sulphate, magnesium and total suspended solids. The study revealed that the concentrations of DO and Pb were above threshold limits, while pH and N were just below the threshold and others elements were within acceptable limits based on Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality and Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water Quality. The study revealed that groundwater quality levels from the sampled wells are under pressure leading to reduction in the amount of freshwater availability. This is a first-order setback in achieving access to freshwater as a sustainable development goal across Less Developed Communities (LDCs) globally. To combat this threat, there is the need for an integrated approach in response towards groundwater conservation and sustainability by all stakeholders.
... The lack of pristine estuaries to define reference conditions involved the use of statistical modelling (Delpech et al., 2010; Pont et al., 2006). A solution was to develop pressure-impact models (Borja et al., 2006). However, a proxy of anthropogenic pressure is generally required to link fish data to human disturbances. ...
... The DPSIR framework, provides an overall mechanism for analysing environmental problems, with regards to sustainable development (Borja et al., 2006). Despite several criticisms and appreciations, the DPSIR framework is still a useful tool (Gari et al., 2015 ). ...
... DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) is a framework that is widely accepted and used by environmental agencies worldwide to consider the strengths and weaknesses of different decisions or policy strategies, especially those involving human decisions and how those impact the environment. It facilitates decision making by taking a holistic look at how various elements are linked and interact [12]. In this work, the DPSIR framework will focus mainly on water supply in the urban context, addressing both existing and future impacts that ultimately affect the ability to function and reliably provide critical services. ...
... Sediment input to rivers causes clogging of river bed, eutrophication of waters, direct harmful effects of sediments on the biota and destruction of river infrastructure. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has identified sediments among the top 10 causes of biological impairment in freshwater ecosystems (US EPA, 2009), and at the European level, sediment pollution has been identified as one of the most relevant pressures to water bodies which impeded the aims of the water framework directive by the year 2015 (Borja et al., 2006). Restoration of rivers from sediment impact and associated management strategies can only be efficient if the origin of sediment loads, contribution of sources and their connection to different land uses and management strategies are identified. ...
As sediment loads impact freshwater systems and infrastructure, their origin
in complex landscape systems is of crucial importance for sustainable
management of agricultural catchments. We differentiated the sediment source
contribution to a lowland river in central Switzerland by using compound-specific
isotope analysis (CSIA). We found a clear distinction of sediment
sources originating from forest and agricultural land use. Our results
demonstrate that it is possible to reduce the uncertainty of sediment source
attribution in: (i) using compound content (in our case, long-chain fatty
acids; FAs) rather than soil organic matter content to transfer δ13C signal of FAs to soil contribution and (ii) restricting the
investigation to the long-chain FAs (> C22 : 0) not to introduce
errors due to aquatic contributions from algae and microorganisms. Results
showed unambiguously that during base flow, agricultural land contributed up
to 65 % of the suspended sediments, while forest was the dominant sediment
source during high flow. This indicates that connectivity of sediment source
areas within the river changes between base and high flow conditions.
Uncertainty, which might occur in complex, large-scale studies due to
undetected source attribution and/or CSSI signature degradation, is low
because of limited data complexity in our study (i.e., two–three sources and
two tracers).
Our findings are the first published results highlighting (i) significant
differences in compound-specific stable isotope (CSSI) signature of sediment
sources from land uses dominated by C3 plant cultivation and (ii) the use of
these differences to quantify sediment contribution to a small river.
... Paramount to these objectives is the aim to achieve good ecological quality status for all water bodies by 2015 (Borja et al 2005). Determining the status of a water body will be based on various factors including biological, hydromorphological and physico-chemical elements. ...
Short term and irregular sampling in Loch Creran over recent decades suggested
that changes may be occurring in the phytoplankton community in the loch. This study sought to
confirm this suggestion. After instigating a regular sampling regime during 2008 and 2009 it became
clear that significant changes had occurred, relative to information from the 1970s, in both the
numbers of phytoplankton in the loch and in their biomass, particularly during the time of the
spring bloom. Utilising a tool to assess change in the phytoplankton community, it also became
clear that significant changes had occurred in the composition of the phytoplankton in Loch
Creran. Work was undertaken to explore possible explanations behind these changes.
The effect that toxic, anti-fouling compounds, arising from an increase in leisure boating in Loch
Creran, were having on the productivity of phytoplankton in the loch was considered by adapting an
existing assimilative capacity model for phy- toplankton growth. It was found, that at present
levels of boating activity, the con- centration of anti-fouling products present in the loch, would
not be great enough to significantly impact on phytoplankton growth.
Nutrient samples collected during 2009 showed no significant changes in the con- centration of
silicate or nitrate in the loch, but phosphate levels were found to be significantly lower. A
review of the effects of grazing on phytoplankton by farmed mussels in Loch Creran indicated that,
at current levels, this would not account for the decrease in phytoplankton numbers observed in
the loch.
Significant changes were observed in the water temperature in the loch and in the intensity and
pattern of local rainfall. Increased levels of rainfall in the first three months of the year were
found to be high enough to influence the rate of flush-ing and the rate of phytoplankton washout from the loch. A correlation was foundbetween the availability of light in the surface layers of the loch and the concentrationof phytoplankton present in these layers. This correlation was found to
exist, throughout the year and not only, as previously thought, during the winter
months.
In conclusion, the observed decline in phytoplankton numbers in Loch Creran, was
attributed to changes in local weather patterns, that had an impact on the physical
structure of the water column, washout rates, the pattern and intensity of heterotrophic
grazing and the availability of light.
... The DPSIR (OECD, 1993 ) is an analytical framework to analyze environmental problems by identifying the links between socioeconomic drivers, exerted pressures on the environment, resulting state of the environment, induced impacts and, societal responses to combat the problem. It has been largely used in the analysis of environmental problems in general and in water quality related issues in estuarine and coastal environments (e.g. Borja et al., 2006; Zaldivar et al., 2008; Garmendia et al., 2012). Here this tool is used as a guide for proposing potential management measures to improve the system.Fig. ...
... To this end, there is also an increasing impetus to view catchments as a whole in the context of water quality. This approach is exemplified by the Water Framework Directive (European Commission, 2015), which encompasses surface water, groundwater, the welfare of aquatic ecosystems and the sustainable development of all water bodies (Borja et al., 2006; Younger and Wolkersdorfer, 2004 ). Similarly, the development of Ecosystem Service Approaches, whereby the environment is conserved with the focused aim of benefiting humanity rather than as an abstract 'green' ideal for its own sake, dictates a wide field of view (Armsworth et al., 2007; Seppelt et al., 2011). ...
The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site (DVMWHS) exemplifies and records the 18th century birth of the factory or mill technology for the industrial spinning of cotton. The site is therefore a key global heritage asset. The Derbyshire Derwent catchment also contains another significant cultural asset with a long history – that of mining and, in particular, lead (Pb) mining. In this paper research on mining- and non-mining related Pb contamination of the Derwent catchment is reviewed and used to identify the risks it poses to the DVMWHS. The upper Derwent soils, though not impacted by mining, have high sediment-borne Pb concentrations, and the Pb is sourced from local conurbations (principally Manchester) and carried to the upper Derwent on the wind. River sediments in the middle and lower parts of the Derwent catchment are contaminated with Pb mined mainly between the 18th and 19th centuries and before, possibly as far back as the Bronze Age. The potential for large-scale, acidity-related chemical remobilization of this Pb is low in the Derwent catchment due to the largely alkaline nature of the underlying soils, but the potential for oxidation-reduction-related, and physical (flood-related), remobilization, is higher. Management guidelines for mining heritage assets and the DVMWHS are developed from the reviewed information, with the view that these will provide a framework for future work in, and management of, the DVMWHS that will be applicable to other World Heritage Sites affected by ongoing and past metal mining. Focused collaborative work between archaeologists, geochemists, geomorphologists and mineralogists is vital if the risks to the DVMWHS and other similarly-affected World Heritage Sites are to be quantified and, if necessary, mitigated.
... Regarding assessment of environmental status WFD stipulates detailed procedures for the classification and monitoring of ecological status of water bodies including transitional and coastal waters. Biological indicators of good ecological status proposed for the WFD are generally multivariate expression of the presence of species differentially sensitive to pollution (e.g. Borja et al., 2006). The presence of NIS is in itself the expression of an elevated exposedness to human mediated stressors and hence indicates some degree of deviation from the pristine ecological status. ...
Executive summary
Good Environmental Status (GES) Descriptor:
“Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems”
Definition of key terms
Non-indigenous species (NIS; synonyms: alien, exotic, non-native, allochthonous) are species, subspecies or lower taxa introduced outside of their natural range (past or present) and outside of their natural dispersal potential. This includes any part, gamete or propagule of such species that might survive and subsequently reproduce. Their presence in the given region is due to intentional or unintentional introduction resulting from human activities. Natural shifts in distribution ranges (e.g. due to climate change or dispersal by ocean currents) do not qualify a species as a NIS. However, secondary introductions of NIS from the area(s) of their first arrival could occur without human involvement due to spread by natural means.
Invasive alien species (IAS) are a subset of established NIS which have spread, are spreading or have demonstrated their potential to spread elsewhere, and have an adverse effect on biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, socio-economic values and/or human health in invaded regions. Species of unknown origin which can not be ascribed as being native or alien are termed cryptogenic species. They also may demonstrate invasive characteristics and should be included in IAS assessments.
The key term “…levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems” is described as the absence or minimal level of “biological pollution”. The later is defined as the impact of IAS at a level that disturbs environmental quality by effects on: an individual (internal biological pollution by parasites or pathogens), a population (by genetic change, i.e. hybridization), a community (by structural shift), a habitat (by modification of physical-chemical conditions) or an ecosystem (by alteration of energy flow and organic material cycling). The biological and ecological effects of biopollution may also cause adverse economic consequences.
GES in relation to the descriptor “Non-indigenous species…”
IAS cause adverse effects on environmental quality resulting from changes in biological, chemical and physical properties of aquatic ecosystems. These changes include, but are not limited to: elimination or extinction of sensitive and/or rare populations; alteration of native communities; algal blooms; modification of substrate conditions and the shore zones; alteration of oxygen and nutrient content, pH and transparency of water; accumulation of synthetic pollutants, etc. The magnitude of impacts may vary from low to massive and they can be sporadic, short-term or permanent.
The degradation gradient in relation to NIS is a function of their relative abundances and distribution ranges, which may vary from low abundances in one locality with no measurable adverse effects up to occurrence in high numbers in many localities, causing massive impact on native communities, habitats and ecosystem functioning.
There is a fundamental difference between various forms of pollution. IAS do not respond in the same way as a chemical pollution or eutrophication which may be diminished provided that appropriate measures are taken. The risk of new biological invasions can be most effectively reduced by precautionary measures (e.g. ballast water management); while control or eradication of existing IAS is more challenging. NIS may expand their distribution and increase their abundance from a local source through processes which may not be controllable. The spatial extent, rate of spread and impacts on the environment will depend on biological traits of a NIS and environmental conditions within an invaded ecosystem.
The assessment of IAS at different temporal and spatial scales
The assessment of IAS impacts generally should begin at the local scale, such as “hot-spots” and “stepping stone areas” for alien species introductions (marinas, port areas, aquaculture installations, offshore structures, etc) or in areas of special interest (marine reserves, NATURA 2000 sites, lagoons, etc). Depending on the taxonomic/functional group an IAS belongs to, the assessment can involve areas from confined benthic habitats to the entire water column. Local scale assessments can be further integrated into the next spatial level evaluations at a sub-regional (e.g. Gulf of Finland in the Baltic or Adriatic Sea in the Mediterranean) or a regional sea level.
The attributes of biological invasions are changing at different temporal scales (e.g. days/weeks for phytoplankton and years/decades for benthic communities and fish). The temporal scales addressed should vary depending on the taxonomic/functional group of an IAS. The temporal scales will also be influenced by the purpose of the assessment. Initial baseline assessments are the prerequisite for further evaluation of any adverse effects of IAS in an area under consideration.
Key Attributes of the Descriptor
Number of NIS recorded in an area
This basic indicator addresses anthropogenic pressures regarding NIS introductions. There is a general acceptance that those areas with elevated numbers of NIS are at greater risk of exposure to future invasions. Further, the ratio between NIS and native species should be calculated, at least in well studied taxonomic groups, as a measure of change in species composition.
Abundance and distribution range of NIS
This attribute is a prerequisite for assessment of the magnitude of the NIS impacts. The abundance and distribution range of a NIS should be assessed in relation to the organism group the NIS belongs to. The same measurement units of abundance (numbers per area, biomass or percentage of coverage) should be used for the NIS and native species. The abundance and distribution range may vary from “low numbers in one locality” to “high numbers in all localities”.
NIS impact on native communities
NIS may cause changes in community structure due to displacement of native species, shifts in community dominant species, loss of type-specific communities and keystone species. The magnitude of the impact in an assessment area may vary from no changes (NIS are present but do not cause any measurable shifts in community) to extinction of native keystone species in the worst case.
NIS impact on habitats
NIS may cause alteration, fragmentation and/or loss of native habitats. The magnitude may be ranked from no noticeable alterations in benthic or pelagic habitats to massive impacts with irreversible changes.
NIS impact on ecosystem functioning
NIS may cause shifts in trophic nets and alteration of energy flow and organic material cycling. This may involve cascading effects causing large scale changes. This may be quantified through the energy channelled through the food web by an IAS. However, such studies are rare; therefore the changes in functional groups may be used as a proxy for this attribute. The magnitude of the impact may be ranked from no measurable effect to massive ecosystem-wide shifts in the food web structure and/or loss of the key functional groups within different trophic levels.
How are the indicators aggregated to assess GES for the descriptor?
Efforts should be made to record all NIS known in the assessment area; however attention should be paid primarily to assessments of IAS impacts. Methods for aggregating indicators for GES assessments need to take into account the known IAS effects in other world regions or in neighbouring areas. One of the approaches may be estimation of the magnitude of bioinvasion impacts or “Biopollution level” (BPL) index which takes into account the abundance and distribution range of NIS in relation to native biota in the invaded area and aggregates data on the magnitude of the impacts these species have on: native communities, habitats and ecosystem functioning (free access to BPL assessment system is provided at: www.corpi.ku.lt/~biopollution). BPL aggregates the results of the assessment into five categories: “No bioinvasion impact”, “Weak”, “Moderate”, “Strong” and “Massive”. First two categories may indicate acceptable levels of biopollution for GES. The assessment has to be done for defined assessment units (a particular water body or its part) and certain periods of time.
Monitoring and research needs
Standard marine biological survey methods are recommended for monitoring of NIS; which may have to be adapted to obtain the level of taxonomic identification required. Habitats exposed to a high risk of receiving IAS also should be taken into account, even if they usually are not being monitored on a regular basis. There are many monitoring and recording systems in place and efforts should be made to collate and co-ordinate this information so that it can be used effectively for the GES assessment.
Further resource and research needs are varied and include a requirement for focused taxonomic training (or access to taxonomic expertise), increased effort to monitor poorly studied ecosystems, risk assessment methodologies and the further development of IAS environmental impacts assefssment methodology. There is a need to quantify uncertainty in relation to propagule pressure (number of individuals of NIS multiplied by the number of introduction attempts), vector analysis, traits of introduced species, impacts and how the presence of these species relates to the evaluation of GES in all assessments regarding IAS.
... The lack of pristine estuaries to define reference conditions involved the use of statistical modelling (Delpech et al., 2010; Pont et al., 2006). A solution was to develop pressure-impact models (Borja et al., 2006). However, a proxy of anthropogenic pressure is generally required to link fish data to human disturbances. ...
... Depending on the discipline and the methodology used, the notion of Impact may focus on completely different target points. In biosciences , an Impact can refer to effects on living beings and non-living compartments of ecosystems (aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric) (Mortensen et al., 2005; Borja et al., 2006). These changes are often " negative " , in the sense that they affect adversely the functioning of ecosystems relative to their potential performance, under otherwise plausible conditions (Nunes et al., 2003). ...
In conclusion, our comparative approach shows that the DPSIR
framework is a useful instrument to organise information. All our
definitions are social constructs, not truths but agreements, justified
by their usefulness for communication. The DPSIR framework must be
applied with care for analysis, not as a simple causal scheme.
Consistent definitions of the elements in DPSIR, and the specification
of the levels and spheres in which they operate, will make the scheme
useful for policy.
... The driver–pressure–state–impact–response framework (hereafter DPSIR), developed in the late 1990s by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 2003), is one such tool. It has been widely used for integrating quantitative and qualitative ecosystem/socio-economic interactions and supporting sustainable management by providing policy-relevant information (Borja et al. 2006; Marques et al. 2009; Mattas et al. 2014;). Despite the potential capabilities of this framework for the assessment of environmental problems, its adoption is still at an early stage in many developing countries, such as the Sultanate of Oman. ...
Al Jabal Al Akhdar, an arid mountain region in northern Oman, has experienced rapid development over the last decades, resulting in the deterioration of water resources. This paper applies the driving force–pressure–state–impact–response (DPSIR) framework as an integrated environmental assessment tool to illustrate the cause-and-effect relationships for sustainable management of water resources in the area. The research aimed to examine social and ecological aspects of mountain water to explore optimal approaches for sustainable use and management. The water resources are affected by increasing drivers of population growth and socio-economic development, through agriculture, tourism, and urbanization, exerting pressures through overconsumption of water, coupled with the exogenous pressure of climate change. The decreased rainfall and increased water demand have resulted in the degradation of water quantity and quality. The declining state of the water resources and reduced area of cultivation have resulted in considerable losses in agricultural income. The Omani government has adopted some responses, including water development projects, acting to reduce pressures as well as to improve the state of water resources. The DPSIR analysis indicates that trade-offs should be made between economic development and the continued supply of water for the agro-ecological system; choices could be in the prioritization of drivers. A dependence on desalinated water will introduce a reliance on a non-renewable external energy supply and is unlikely to ensure water supply at the multi-century timescale of the social–ecological system. In addition, tourism is predominantly based around the disappearing agro-ecosystems which in turn are dependent on the supply of water. Therefore, efforts should be directed towards improving water-use efficiency through installing modern irrigation technology, water conservation methods, use of greywater and treated wastewater, and rainwater harvesting as well as integrated water resources management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
... The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) (Griffiths, 2002) will play a key role in the Black Sea catchment in the future since the directive demands a ''good ecological status'' of water bodies. The DPSIR model has been developed as a possible analytical framework in the context of the WFD (Borja et al., 2006; Farmer et al., 2012). In this framework the ''ecological status'' of a water body is usually described in the State component, while the causal relationship leading to the environmental state is represented by the Drivers and Pressures and potential consequences by Impacts and Responses. ...
Agriculture in the Black Sea catchment is responsible for a considerable share of the area’s total water withdrawal and the majority of its total water consumption. It therefore plays a key role in sustainable water resources management. However, in the future water resources will be exposed to climate change.
This assessment aims at identifying the most vulnerable regions and to explain the reasons of this vulnerability. It is based on a combination of the well-known Driver– Pressure–State–Impact–Response framework (DPSIR) and the vulnerability concept as de- fined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Three distinctive climate change scenarios are used to assess their impacts on water resources for agriculture: (1) an increase in temperature; (2) a decrease in precipitation; and (3) a combination of the first and second scenarios. The data for this assessment is derived from a SWAT model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool).
The results show that the regions of the Black Sea catchment are impacted by climate change differently. Some countries benefit from climate change (e.g., Turkey, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria) while others will encounter considerably worse agro-climatic conditions in the future (e.g., Montenegro, Austria, Bosnia–Herzegovina). Additionally, natural plant growth conditions mostly improve due to more suitable tem- perature conditions. In contrast, the deteriorating agricultural conditions mainly result from a diminishing irrigation potential that is caused by reduced precipitation.
The conclusion emphasises the important role of the legal framework as well as more sustainable agronomic practices and proposes improvements for future assessment meth- ods in this research field.
... The driver–pressure–state–impact–response framework (hereafter DPSIR), developed in the late 1990s by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 2003), is one such tool. It has been widely used for integrating quantitative and qualitative ecosystem/socio-economic interactions and supporting sustainable management by providing policy-relevant information (Borja et al. 2006; Marques et al. 2009; Mattas et al. 2014; O'Higgins et al. 2014). Despite the potential capabilities of this framework for the assessment of environmental problems, its adoption is still at an early stage in many developing countries, such as the Sultanate of Oman. ...
This article presents a simulation-optimization approach for evaluating the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in the Samail Lower Catchment, Oman. The objective is to provide a maximum recharge and extraction rate through MAR in an annual cycle of two successive injection and recovery periods, while meeting operational and system constraints such as water level, gradient, and travel time. Three roundwater management problems were solved by coupling a simulation model with successive linear programming (SLP) and the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) multiobjective genetic algorithm. Sensitivity analysis was also completed to examine the overall response of the simulation-optimization results to changes in hydraulic conductivities and maximum injection rates. Results using the SLP algorithm showed that the total volume of injected water for 4 months of injection without recovery is as high as 8 × 106 m3, and the total recovered volume of water for 4 months injection and 8 months recovery is approximately 5.3 × 106 m3, giving a total recovery efficiency of approximately 66%. For the same setup the NSGA-II algorithm derived the entire nondominated front of solutions for two conflicting objectives: maximizing recovery rate and maximizing minimum groundwater head close to the sea (for preventing seawater intrusion). This algorithm includes travel time constraints directly in the optimization process. In conclusion, the proposed approach provides a cost-effective means to evaluate MAR in a coastal aquifer.
... In terms of sediment supply, the 12 main rivers draining the Basque Country, discharge 1.57 10 6 t yr -1 of suspended material (Ferrer et al., 2009; Uriarte et al., 2004). The geomorphological and hydrological characteristics of the Basque estuarine water bodies are described in Valencia et al. (2004) and Borja et al. (2006). ...
Here we present a synthesis of bedforms and sediment types on the shelves surrounding the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, after the integration several pieces of bathymetric, morphological and sedimentological datasets. The Iberian and Balearic shelves are divided into segments according to the largescale margin configuration, fluvial sediment supply and hydrodynamic regime. Their geological settings and large-scale sedimentation patterns place the investigated shelves into two broad categories: abrupt, steep and narrow sediment-starved shelves, illustrated by the Cantabrian shelf, and gentle, smooth and wide sediment-fed shelves, such as the shelves off some major flivial systems. An in-depth classification was subsequently attempted, based on morpho-sedimentary types. Under this approach, the Iberian and Balearic
shelves can be classified as: (1) storm-dominated shelves, with erosional rocky floors, frequent abrasion surfaces and coarse-grained sediments; (2) current-dominated shelves, showing a good equilibrium between sediment fluxes and coastal and shallow ocean circulation, with laterally extensive muddy belts; (3) sediment supply-dominated shelves, where extensive subaqueous deltas develop off river mouths; and (4) wave-dominated shelves that occur off coastal stretches with minor and/or multiple fluvial sediment sources and enhanced littoral current.
... Regarding assessment of environmental status WFD stipulates detailed procedures for the classification and monitoring of ecological status of water bodies including transitional and coastal waters. Biological indicators of good ecological status proposed for the WFD are generally multivariate expression of the presence of species differentially sensitive to pollution (e.g. Borja et al., 2006). The presence of NIS is in itself the expression of an elevated exposedness to human mediated stressors and hence indicates some degree of deviation from the pristine ecological status. ...
... However, the presence of this seagrass is restricted to 3 estuaries (Fig. 1) and has been recently listed as an endangered species within the Catalogue of Threatened Species in the Basque Country (BOPV, 2011). The decline of Z. noltii in this region might be partially explained by the general degradation of the estuaries over the last two centuries due to human pressures (Borja et al., 2006). Although water quality has considerably improved as a result of effective water treatment (Tueros et al., 2009 ), the natural recolonization of locally extinct seagrass populations in this coastal area would need long recovery time as suggested by the few and small extant populations, as sources of seeds and fragments, and by low dispersal rates of Z. noltii populations (Coyer et al., 2004; Diekmann et al., 2005; Chust et al., 2013). ...
... In addition, following the Prestige oil spill, in November 2002, an intensification of the sampling programme was established by the Basque Government, in order to assess and monitor the extent of the impacts caused by the fuel oil along the Basque coast. Therefore, there presently is an extensive set of PAH measurements of biomonitors, together with information on human pressures[25]; this permits the inter-relationship between these data sets to be established, on a temporal basis. Hence, the objectives of this contribution are: (i) to study the yearly variability in concentrations of PAH, for both mussels and oysters from the Basque estuaries , for the period 2003–2007; (ii) to describe the status and trends of PAH concentrations in Table 1. ...
The variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) measured in the soft tissues of Mediterranean
mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are investigated. Samples were
collected from estuarine waters within the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay), between 2003 and 2011.
PAH bioaccumulation showed some seasonality and significant differences were observed between cold
(autumn–winter) and warm (spring–summer) seasons. Sites located within the ports of Bilbao and Pasaia
showed the highest PAH concentrations in molluscs, and the highest percentages of samples above the
established Environmental Quality Standards and Environmental Assessment Criteria. Probably due to
human activities carried out in the area, no clear trends were observed, between 2003 and 2011, for the
autumn data. Since the Basque coast is an area with high population density and industrial activity, the
congener profiles (which reveal the predominance of tetra-aromatics) and the diagnostic ratios identified
urban/industrial combustion processes as the main PAH sources. However, natural and petrogenic sources
cannot be disregarded.
... Regarding assessment of environmental status WFD stipulates detailed procedures for the classification and monitoring of ecological status of water bodies including transitional and coastal waters. Biological indicators of good ecological status proposed for the WFD are generally multivariate expression of the presence of species differentially sensitive to pollution (e.g. Borja et al., 2006). The presence of NIS is in itself the expression of an elevated exposedness to human mediated stressors and hence indicates some degree of deviation from the pristine ecological status. ...
... It is worth noting that estuaries in south-western Australia may be naturally predisposed to periods of hypoxia due to the fact that residence times in these estuaries are far higher than in other systems (cf. Ranasinghe and Pattiaratchi, 1998; Kalnejais et al., 1999; Uncles et al., 2002; Borja et al., 2006). This is due, in part, to the geomorphology of estuaries in south-western Australia, which not only experience microtidal conditions but also have a narrow entrance channel which attenuates large proportions of the tidal force (Hodgkin and Hesp, 1998; Potter and Hyndes, 1999; Potter et al., 2010). ...
... Under this framework, the identification of the sources and sinks of sedimentary contaminants facilitates the identification of their impacts (EC 2008a). Submarine outfalls, dredged sediment disposal activities, and river inputs are the most important pathways for the introduction of particulate metals in the Basque continental shelf region (Borja et al. 2006; Legorburu et al. 2013a). In general, submarine outfalls and dredged sediment disposal activities have a localized impact around the dumping areas (Kress et al. 2004; Okada et al. 2009). ...
The Sediment, Oil spill and Fish Tracking model (SOFT) was used to simulate the river-borne particulate Pb dispersion and sedimentation in the Basque continental shelf (BCS). In this case, SOFT used 3D current fields obtained with the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). From the SOFT results, connectivity matrices were obtained to analyze source-sink relationships. Considering the studied 12 rivers, the Ibaizabal River is the major contributor, accounting for 69% of the total particulate Pb release.
On a yearly basis, Pb accumulates mostly in the West sector of the BCS. The differences between the observations for the 2000-2011 period and the modeling results could be due to the fact that SOFT used climatological information on currents and discharges from the Basque rivers (the Adour River was not included) and did not estimate the resuspension process. To improve the results, the SOFT outputs together with Hs12 data (significant wave height exceeding 12 h per year) and observed sedimentary Pb concentrations were integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to adopt a multivariate approach. At the BCS spatial scale, the combination of numerical models and GIS-assisted statistics did not provide an accurate prediction of the distribution of river-borne particulate Pb accumulation. At smaller scales, areas influenced by the inputs of Basque rivers and others affected by additional factors (i.e. dredged material disposal activities, contributions from neighboring rivers and subgrid scale transport processes) were identified. Under the current European marine legislative framework, the improved knowledge obtained on river-borne particle dispersal dynamics can assist the assessment of the marine contamination from the local to the regional scale.
... Once the impacts are acknowledged, responses are developed by decisionmakers . Responses can be targeted to any other part of the system (Borja et al. 2006 ), but ideally should be directed to drivers and pressures, and as a result improve the state of ecosystems (Burkhard and Müller 2008 ). Common responses for ecosystem services conservation and protection are payment for ecosystem services schemes (Engel et al. 2008 ; Kinzig et al. 2011 ) and restoration initiatives (Trabucchi et al. 2012 ). ...
Many people seek and interact with aquatic ecosystems such as seas, rivers and wetlands to obtain non material benefits provided by cultural ecosystem services. These services influence the way people live and feel in the world and contribute to the satisfaction of fundamental human needs. However, cultural ecosystem services are often undervalued, underprotected, and neglected from ecosystem services studies. This arises from difficulties in their operation such as uncertainties on their generation and on people’s demand for cultural ecosystem services.
This chapter provides an overview of cultural services generated by aquatic ecosystems. It gives insights into their biophysical generation and it explores the relationships between human needs and ecosystem service demand. Furthermore, it illustrates the values of cultural ecosystem services with a case study, and it proposes a driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework as a management tool for decision-makers.
These topics are fundamental to apply better strategies that can effectively protect and conserve aquatic ecosystems and their cultural service provision.
... Within the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay, northern Spain), the Mompás-Pasaia is an exposed, euhaline, shallow (<100 m water depth) coastal water body type (Fig. 1d ). Since 1976 it has been affected by anthropogenic impacts, especially urban and industrial wastewater discharges (Borja et al., 2006; Tueros et al., 2009) (Table 1). However, in recent times, a water treatment programme has been completed, including three phases (Fig. 1d ): (i) the elimination of the wastewater discharges from a nearby estuary and their diversion to an outfall discharging at 15 m water depth in Murgita Cove (Fig. 1d), between 1996 and 1997; (ii) the diversion, in 2001, of the wastewater discharges from the Urumea sewer, which had discharged directly to the shore since 1976, to the Ulia submarine outfall (discharging at approx. 1 km from the coastline and 50 m water depth); and (iii) the physico-chemical and biological water treatment at a Wastewater Treatment Plant since 2005–2006, previously discharging 5400 m 3 h À1 of wastes through the submarine outfall. ...
... The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework (EC, 2003; Borja et al., 2006; EC, 2008) was used to evaluate (i) the socio-economic factors (D, Drivers) forcing anthropogenic activities (P, Pressures), (ii) the resulting environmental conditions (S, State — e.g., concentration of pollutants and disturbance of hydrological regime), (iii) the main consequences (I, Impacts — e.g., eutrophication, fish death and non-potable water) and (iv) the measures taken to improve the current environmental state (R, Response). Sarno catchment basin maps were generated using QGIS Open source software (QGIS Development Team, 2015) intersecting a series of constructed basic and derived thematic records. ...
... However, using decision analysis requires that management targets, including biodiversity, have a quantitative value as to make them comparable. To illustrate the aim of this paper, we use the Driving forces–Pressures–States–Impacts–Responses (DPSIR) framework for structuring problems (Fig. 2), a framework commonly used in the field of environmental management analysis (e.g., Borja et al., 2006; Maxim et al., 2009; Atkins et al., 2011; Gregory et al., 2013). This framework strives to systematically capture and represent the causes and consequences of environmental change as well as human responses to it. ...
Biodiversity is globally recognised as a cornerstone of healthy ecosystems, and biodiversity conservation is increasingly becoming one of the important aims of environmental management. Evaluating the tradeoffs of alternative management strategies requires quantitative estimates of the costs and benefits of their outcomes, including the value of biodiversity lost or preserved. This paper takes a decision-analytic standpoint, and reviews and discusses the alternative aspects of biodiversity valuation by dividing them into three categories: socio-cultural, economic, and ecological indicator approaches. We discuss the interplay between these three perspectives and suggest integrating them into an ecosystem-based management (EBM) framework, which permits us to acknowledge ecological systems as a rich mixture of interactive elements along with their social and economic aspects. In this holistic framework, socio-cultural preferences
can serve as a tool to identify the ecosystem services most relevant to society, whereas monetary valuation offers more globally comparative and understandable values. Biodiversity indicators provide clear quantitative measures and information about the role of biodiversity in the functioning and health of ecosystems. In the multi-objective EBM approach proposed in the paper, biodiversity indicators serve to define threshold values (i.e., the minimum level required to maintain a healthy environment). An appropriate set of decision-making criteria and the best method for conducting the decision analysis depend on the context and the management problem in question. Therefore, we propose a sequence of steps to follow when quantitatively evaluating environmental management against biodiversity.
... In many countries, the chemical quality of surface waters is insufficient due to the emissions of organic pollutants, nutrients , heavy metals and toxic substances from households, agriculture and industry (EEA, 2010; MA, 2005; OECD, 2012). Biological quality is also affected by hydro morphological changes, such as habitat composition, flow dynamics, shading or the availability of food sources (Borja et al., 2005; Hering et al., 2013; Jeppesen et al., 2005; Marzin et al., 2013). Many different systems have been developed to describe surface water quality (Abbasi and Abbasi, 2012; Leeuwen et al., 2012; Ott, 1978; Srebotnjak et al., 2012; Verdonschot et al., 2012 ). ...
The Water Framework Directive (WFD), implemented in 2000, is the major policy instrument for water quality in the European Union. Its main aim is to homogenise and standardise water quality assessments in all Member States, stimulate water quality improvement and contribute to the management of transboundary water problems. Surface water quality descriptions are a crucial part of the WFD. The first WFD assessment was presented in 2009 and in 2014 a second set of results were available, allowing comparison of the status between both years. The main issue for policymakers is whether the quality has changed over the past years. In this study, two methods are evaluated to examine the differences in surface water quality. The WFD method uses the differences in the percentage of water bodies with a good quality for comparing between both assessments. The time-series method uses the WFD metrics to calculate water quality with all available monitoring data, aggregated to grid cells. The conclusion concerning the WFD method is that the two assessment reports of 2009 and 2014 are too dissimilar in method and standards and therefore not suitable to evaluate changes over time. The time-series method showed a small improvement for phytoplankton and macrophytes and no improvement for benthic invertebrates.
... Several approaches have been considered for this task, like ecological indicators development (e.g., Salas et al. 2006), geographic information systems (GIS; Mysiak et al. 2002), or even the ecosystem services concept (e.g., Seppelt et al. 2011). The WFD adopts the DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-Status-Impacts-Responses) approach as a possible analytical framework for determining pressures and impacts (Borja et al. 2006; Pinto et al. 2013a) and to achieve sustainable water resources management. The use of several approaches is always advised to achieve a better evaluation of ecosystem integrity combined with current human demands, perceived as key for the sustainable development of ecosystems. ...
Ecosystem sustainable management, and the underlying decision-making process, generally requires the analysis of ecological, social and economic information, integrating both value judgements and policy goals. Since this process can be regarded as complex and tricky, natural resource management requires a well-structured and transparent decision-making process. In this regard, it is necessary to search for and implement sets of measures which can effectively solve emerging problems. Based on the assumption that decisions concerning the management of watersheds may imply trade-offs between their different functions, the intent was to test if software tools, such as MULINO, could be used to enhance multi-level governance of ecosystems. To achieve this, the DPSIR and MCA were incorporated, to analyze and quantify the explicit trade-offs between several types of services provided by estuarine ecosystems and stakeholder objectives. The Mondego Estuary (Portugal) was used as case study. This system is under constant pressure, from both natural and anthropogenic drivers. Urban expansion and tourism were identified as having a strong impact on system development, while agriculture, although declining, had a determinant role in the system’s status. The study evaluated potential alternatives focusing on the water quality improvement goals that could be designed for the system. The MCA ranked several alternatives and pinpointed as the ʺbestʺ option the alternative that combines buffer zones, eco-tourism enhancement, wastewater treatment plant development, the Murraceira trademark and bivalves bio-control. This analysis allowed a simplification of several management objectives; nonetheless, further tests are still required to understand the real connection between these outcomes and decision-makers.
Ce document de travail est la version auteur de : Douguet J.-M., Lescot J.-M., Terreaux J.-P., 2017. Impacts économiques de l’eutrophisation et instruments économiques pour diminuer ce phénomène. Pages 851-948, In : L’eutrophisation : manifestations, causes, conséquences et prédictibilité. Rapport d’Expertise scientifique collective, Rapport CNRS- Ifremer-INRA-Irstea (France), 1283 pages.
L’eutrophisation compte parmi les altérations les plus courantes des eaux continentales et marines. Ses manifestations les plus connues sont les proliférations d’algues, parfois toxiques, dans les lacs et les cours d’eau ou aussi d’algues vertes dans les zones côtières. L’eutrophisation est une notion utilisée à la fois par la communauté scientifique et par les politiques publiques, et ses définitions sont multiples. L’instauration d’incitations et de réglementations par les pouvoirs publics pour limiter l’eutrophisation est assez souvent source de conflits entre les différentes parties prenantes. Nous examinons dans ce chapitre, selon la méthode de cette expertise scientifique collective, à savoir par une analyse de la littérature scientifique nationale et internationale, les impacts économiques de l’eutrophisation et les instruments économiques qui peuvent être employés pour diminuer ce phénomène.
One of the main challenges to facilitate the classification of water bodies is to identify direct relationships between anthropogenic pressures and the behavior of biological organisms such as macrophytes in different environments including transitional areas. The investigation of many lagoons and ponds described here shows that macrophyte variables and the community composition have strong and univocal relationships with ecological parameters that are a measure of anthropogenic pressure on the ecological status of water bodies. The areas surveyed represent about 78% of the Italian transitional waters (169 sites sampled both in spring and fall). Anthropogenic impacts affect the availability of nutrients in the water column and surface sediments, causing changes in water transparency and phytoplankton concentration (as chlorophyll-a [Chl-a]) that act as the main drivers of variation for macrophyte assemblages, changing species dominance and the conditions that govern their presence or absence. The response of macrophytes to anthropogenic pressure is quite similar in all the examined transitional environments, even when the basin morphology, species richness and composition are different. Some taxa and species assemblages are so sensitive to environmental changes that monitoring them can be considered the most suitable and rapid method for assessing the quality of the environment they inhabit.
Modern problems (e.g., pollution, urban sprawl, environmental equity) are complex and often transcend spatial and temporal scales. Systems thinking is an approach to problem solving that is based on the belief that the component parts of a system are best understood in the context of their relationships and interactions with one another and with other systems. EPA scientists have developed a technical support manual for using a systems thinking framework (DPSIR) to help capture, organize and visualize the environmental, social, and economic outcomes of human decisions. DPSIR has most commonly been used in the context of environmental management to link social and economic factors that drive human activity and the effect of those activities on the environment and future provisioning of ecosystem goods and services. Many environmental issues include aspects of Human Health and well-being, and the EPA has expanded DPSIR to more explicitly include Human Health. The overall objective is to deliver a technical support manual into the hands of decision makers so they can apply the DPSIR conceptual model in support of complex environmental decision-making.
Different pressures often co‐occur in rivers and act simultaneously on important processes and variables. This complicates the diagnosis of hydromorphological alterations and hampers the design of effective restoration measures.
Here, we present a conceptual meta‐analysis that aims at identifying the most relevant hydromorphological processes and variables controlling ecological degradation and restoration. For that purpose, we used fuzzy cognitive mapping based on conceptual schemes that were created according to 675 scientific peer‐reviewed river hydromorphology studies.
A model generated from this approach predicts responses that are consistent with common understanding of the direct interactions between hydromorphological pressures, processes and variables. However, it also leads to new knowledge beyond traditional hydromorphological models by dealing with the complex interactions of hydromorphology, vegetation, water chemistry and thermal regime.
Water flow dynamics appeared as the most important of all hydromorphological processes affected by simultaneously interacting pressures. Relevant processes such as vegetation encroachment and sediment entrainment are closely linked to water flow.
Synthesis and applications . Our results demonstrate the relevance of natural flow regime rehabilitation for river management. Hence, we suggest focusing primarily on rehabilitating the natural flow regime before carrying out extensive habitat restoration works. This challenging target in river rehabilitation could strongly increase the success of additional habitat restoration.
The continuous degradation of natural habitats is specially severe in the coastal fringe, as a consequence of urbanization and the increase of demographic pressure. The objective of this contribution is to analyse recent changes in the coast of the Basque Country (northern Spain) through the comparison of ortophotography of years 2002 and 2004, at 0.25 m spatial resolution. Habitat identification, following the EUNIS classification from the European Environmental Agency, comprises the supralittoral and intertidal zones, and the infralittoral zone (until 5 metres water depth), including also estuaries and saltmarshes. The main changes in the coast during this period are 32,3 ha of artificial zone claimed to the sea, the increasing of 18,9 ha in grey dunes and dry beaches and the increase of 9,9 ha in saltmarshes. Conversely, the loss of 24,8 ha in intertidal sand and of 31,6 ha in transitional waters, was detected. These changes are caused mainly by harbour construction and by saltmarsh and dune system regeneration programmes. The results obtained here show the rapid artificialization of land in the narrow and fragile fringe of the Basque littoral.
The growing demand for fish products and the dwindling productivity of marine fish stocks due to the overexploitation of fisheries place the aquaculture industry as a key contributor to the global fish supply. The intensive development of aquaculture has raised a range of environmental concerns such as effluent discharge, excessive use of resources and dependence on commercial feed. In this context, the development of sustainable aquaculture systems is becoming the cornerstone for long-term aquaculture expansion, and to achieve environmental sustainability. Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) is regarded as a suitable approach to limit aquaculture nutrients and organic matter outputs through biomitigation. The cocultured species are used as biofilters, and each level has its own independent commercial value, providing both economic and environmental sustainability. Here, environmental issues of aquaculture and the current status of IMTA are reviewed and its future prospects discussed. Also, the opportunities to expand this systems’ complexity with increased added-value and trophic levels are introduced.
The Ria Formosa is a shallow mesotidal lagoon on the south coast of Portugal, with natural biogeochemical cycles essentially regulated by tidal exchanges at the seawater boundaries and at the sediment interface. Existing data on nutrients in the water column and the sediment, together with chlorophyll a and oxygen saturation in the water column, are compared using different models for assessing eutrophication. The European Environmental Agency criteria are based on the comparison of nutrient concentrations which indicate that the situation in the Ria Formosa is ''poor'' to ''bad''. In contrast, the United States Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment is based on symptoms, including high chlorophyll a and low oxygen saturation, which indicate that the Ria Formosa is near pristine. Despite these contradictions, a preliminary assessment by Driving forces, Pressures, State, Impact, Reponses (DPSIR) of eutrophication demonstrate the potential for episodic eutrophic conditions from treated and untreated domestic effluent as well as from non-point source agricultural run off. Sediments are also an important source of nutrients in the lagoon, but their contribution to potential eutrophic conditions is unknown.
An environmental pollution assessment of the Ebrié lagoon, the largest coastal ecosystem in Western Africa, was executed by applying the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impacts-Response (DPSIR) framework. The domestic and industrial activities in Abidjan and agricultural activities in the wider catchment area were identified as the main driving forces. Two-thirds of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) loads and 95% of total nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) loads of Abidjan are from domestic effluents, with industry making up the rest. Outside of the direct influence of Abidjan, nutrient levels in the lagoon are governed by the influx of nutrients from the rivers Comoé, Mé and Agnéby, with nutrient land runoff as the key factors. Total annual N loads to the lagoon for 2000 are estimated at 33 kt, of which 45% from urban sources, 42% from land runoff and 13% from atmospheric deposition. Estimates for P are 2.5 kt, 39%, 48% and 13%, respectively. Scenario analysis has shown that autonomous growth, without pollution reduction measures, would result in an estimated five-fold increase in nutrient inputs to the lagoon over the period 1980–2050. Nutrient concentrations in the lagoon would consequently increase by a factor of 3 1/2, which could escalate to a dramatic level of eutrophication for the complete system. Pollution reduction policies aimed at non-point sources would be most effective in reducing nutrient concentrations. Point-source pollution reduction would improve conditions around Abidjan, but not substantially in the other sections of the lagoon. The approach taken in this study has proven efficient under conditions of relative data scarceness, and sufficiently reliable to allow for policy level conclusions to be drawn.
The need to better understand the linkages and interdependencies of socio-economic and coastal environmental dynamics has taken on a more deliberate role in the development and assessment of Integrated Coastal Management world-wide. The analysis and establishment of indicator-driven programs to assess change in coastal and watershed systems have increasingly moved to stress socio-economic forcings and impacts. This article serves to review the need for and provide an assessment of important frameworks designed to foster such integration. It argues that the evolution of the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework, now in broad use, provides an essential contribution.
This paper describes an integrated methodology for the Assessment of Estuarine Trophic Status (ASSETS), which may be applied comparatively to rank the eutrophication status of estuaries and coastal areas, and to address management options. It includes quantitative and semi-quantitative components, and uses field data, models and expert knowledge to provide Pressure-State-Response (PSR) indicators.A substantial part of the concepts underlying the approach were developed as the United States National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment (NEEA), which was applied to 138 estuaries in the continental United States. The core methodology relies on three diagnostic tools: a heuristic index of pressure (Overall Human Influence), a symptoms-based evaluation of state (Overall Eutrophic Conditions), and an indicator of management response (Definition of Future Outlook).Recently, the methodology has been extended and refined in its application to European estuaries, and a more quantitative approach to some of the metrics has been implemented. In particular, the assessment of pressure is carried out by means of simple modeling techniques, comparing anthropogenic nutrient loading with natural background concentrations, and the quantitative criteria for classification of system state based on different symptoms have been refined to improve comparability.The present approach has been intercalibrated with the original NEEA work, for five widely different U.S. estuaries (Long Island Sound, Neuse River, Savannah River, Florida Bay and West Mississippi Sound) with good results. ASSETS additionally aims to contribute to the EU Water Framework Directive classification system, as regards a subset of water quality and ecological parameters in transitional and coastal waters.
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a new legislative framework to manage, use, protect, and restore surface water and groundwater resources and coastal waters in the European Union (EU). The aim is to ensure sustainable water management and to reach good water quality by 2015. The assessment of the ecological status and setting of the practical management goals require several steps. The process has started with the characterisation of the river basins including identification of surface water bodies and types, and identification of significant anthropogenic pressures and impacts. The water bodies will be classified in five quality classes (high, good, moderate, poor, bad) based on the Ecological Quality Ratio, which is a ratio between reference conditions and measured status of the biological quality elements. The normative criteria for high, good and moderate ecological status described in the WFD need to be made operational because those will be used to set the practical quality targets for surface water management. National ecological assessment systems and classifications will be harmonised through the WFD intercalibration exercise in order to ensure an equal level of ambition in achieving good surface waters status all over Europe.
On the 23 Oct. 2000 the European Parliament and Council passed a Directive establishing a framework of community action in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive- WFD came into force on 22 Dec. 2000: Official Journal of the European Communities). The implementation of this Directive will have very considerable long-term implications on information needs and research objectives covering all European river basin and coastal zones. An effective and coherent water policy must take into account of the vulnerability of all surface and ground waters, including aquatic ecosystems located near the coast and estuaries or in gulfs or related closed seas, as their equilibrium is strongly influenced by the quality of inland waters flowing into them. There are diverse conditions and needs in the community, which require different specific solutions. This diversity should be taken into account in the planning and execution of measures to ensure protection and sustainable use of water in the framework of river basins. Decisions should be taken as close as possible to the locations where water is effected or used. Priority should be given to action within the responsibility of Member States by drawing up of programmes of measures adjusted to regional and local conditions.
Borja, A., Collins, M. (Eds.), 2004. Oceanography and Marine Environment of the Basque Country, Elsevier Oceanography Series, nº 70, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 616 pp.
Since early 1999, we have been working on an environmental information system as a preliminary phase to develop the National Strategy of the Catalan Coast. Using the tourism industry as the main pressuring driver and the municipality as the territorial unit, we have compiled a vast amount of information that has been converted into an information platform for the general public, politicians, and public administrators. Working in close co-operation with the planning authorities of the Generalitat of Catalonia, we developed decision support tools as a methodological approach for coastal management. The decision support system is composed by: (a) the development of an environmental indicator-based report; (b) the use of a geographical information system (GIS); and (c) the incorporation of different types of graphical packages. These tools have been applied to the 70 municipalities of the Catalan Coast and a specific development of the system was carried out in the region of La Selva, municipalities of Blanes, Lloret de Mar, and Tossa de Mar (southern Costa Brava, Girona). The system has been designed to help coastal managers in Catalonia, and it is thought to be used in the process of developing the National Strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) of the Catalan Coast following the EC Recommendation (COM/00/545).
Procedures for assessing a marine coastal ecosystem health are presented in this paper. The assessment includes the following five steps: (1) review of human activities; (2) identification of human-induced stresses; (3) analysis of ecosystem responses to the stresses; (4) development of ecosystem health indicators; and (5) assessment of ecosystem health. A set of comprehensive indicators integrating classical indicators with thermodynamic indicators was proposed and applied to assess the Tolo Harbour marine coastal ecosystem health. The indicators encompass the stress indicators and the responses indicators including physical, chemical, biological, general ecosystem-level and ecosystem-service-function aspects. The assessment results of the Tolo Harbour ecosystem health show that a temporal order of ecosystem health state from good to bad is determined as follows: the 1980s; while, a spatial order of health state from good to bad is Channel Subzone > Buffer Subzone>Harbour Subzone. Some recommendations to improve further the marine coastal ecosystem health in the Tolo Harbour are finally discussed in the paper.
This paper presents a qualitative analysis of a series of in-depth interviews with governmental and non-governmental institutions (NGOs). Within the EUROCAT1 project this methodology of participatory approach, aiming to scope the present perceptions about environmental issues and possible strategies for environmental improvement, is applied to the study of the Elbe catchment for the first time. In this frame, an Advisory Board (AB) was created, with the aim of giving insights into conflicting interests in the river catchment and guidelines for river basin management. Focus of the Elbe case study is the issue of nutrient enrichment (from the catchment) and the induced eutrophication of the coastal waters (the German Bight). Specifically, regarding this topic, the possible reduction of eutrophication in the German Bight by a (policy driven) decrease in nutrient inputs from the catchment area is analysed. Different measures for reducing the input of nutrients from the catchment, and ultimately preventing eutrophication of the coastal waters are considered. In this context, the members of the AB were asked about the efficiency and feasibility of different measures and the criteria for choosing ‘better’ management solutions among the possible ones.Although there is a general agreement about the necessity of reducing nutrient emissions, some members of the AB perceive other environmental issues (e.g. altered morphodynamics) as more relevant than nutrient enrichment. Voluntary cooperation, eco-efficiency and ‘trans-sectoral’ communication are the key concepts mentioned as being indispensable for integrated management. The (public) acceptance of measures for nutrient reduction have to find its way through compromises and social equity, allowing for win–win solutions among different groups of interests and balanced spatial division of costs and benefits.
In this paper, a marine Biotic Index (BI) for soft-bottom benthos of European estuarine and coastal environments is proposed. This is derived from the proportions of individual abundance in five ecological groups, which are related to the degree of sensitivity/tolerance to an environmental stress gradient. The main difference with previously published indices is the use of a simple formula that produces a continuous Biotic Coefficient (BC) – which makes it more suitable for statistical analysis, in opposition with previous discreet biotic indices – not affected by subjectivity. Relationships between this coefficient and a complementary BI with several environmental variables are discussed. Finally, a validation of the proposed index is made with data from systems affected by recent human disturbances, showing that different anthropogenic changes in the environment can be detected through the use of this BI.
This review article examines the importance of valuing environmental resources in the context of sustainable development. The different values stemming from ocean and coastal resources, relevant methodologies and issues raised by valuation approaches are reviewed. The authors then present practical policy-relevant valuation examples, and conclude by outlining progress since 1992 and remaining challenges. It is argued that while the Rio summit has shifted somewhat the emphasis from classical cost–benefit analysis to safe minimum standards through the adoption of the precautionary principle, economic valuation still provides useful information to decision-makers and should be part of a holistic decision-making process. It should be recognised, however, that although valuation techniques have been refined and linked to reliability protocols, they remain imperfect and for some commentators controversial. Further progress is needed on assigning monetary values but also on decision-making systems that better integrate monetary, social, and natural science criteria.
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) establishes a framework for the protection of groundwater, inland surface waters, estuarine waters, and coastal waters. The WFD constitutes a new view of the water resources management in Europe because, for the first time, water management is: (i) based mainly upon biological and ecological elements, with ecosystems being at the centre of the management decisions; (ii) applied to European water bodies, as a whole; and (iii) based upon the whole river basin, including also the adjacent coastal area. Although the marine water bodies affected by the WFD relate to only 19.8% of the whole of the European continental shelf, its application constitutes a challenge and an opportunity in nearshore, coastal and continental shelf research.This contribution highlights some of the main tasks and the research to be undertaken in the coming years, proposing investigations into: typologies; physico-chemical processes; indicator species; reference conditions; integration of the quality assessment; methodologies in determining ecological status, etc.
The main content of the new European Water Framework Directive is presented. Within its river basin management approach, a special mention of coastal waters status is made. Among the issues at stake are the setting up of river basin management plans, including coastal waters, and water quality assessment system leading to an harmonized definition of quality objectives and their appropriate indicators. The Rhone-Mediterranean-Corsica Water Master Plan, launched in 1996, is considered to be well fitted to this river basin approach and the necessary tools which go with it. It shows up how a river quality assessment system (SEQ) can be adapted to the coastal waters and how it can progressively lead to an efficient set of publishable environmental and performance indicators. Since planning and implementation are devolved to the lowest appropriate level, a close look is then been given at how such a system can work at the local level through different selected case studies on the French Mediterranean coast. In conclusion, some guidelines are drawn up for future initiatives towards integrated coastal area and river basin management.
The present water quality of the Humber rivers and coastal zone depends on a complex interplay of factors, including physical ones, such as the underlying geology, which influences soil type, climatic ones, such as the rainfall, which influences runoff, socio-economic ones, which influence present-day human activities in the catchment, and the legacy of former activities, such as contaminated sediments from mining. All of these factors affect the fluxes of nutrients and other contaminants to the rivers and coastal zone. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the production of a river basin management plan intended to lead to the achievement of good chemical and ecological status for all water bodies in the catchment over the next two decades. This paper provides an overview of the current environmental and socio-economic state of the Humber catchment and coastal zone, and broadly examines how socio-economic drivers affect the fluxes of nutrients and contaminants to the coastal zone, using the driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) approach. This is followed by an overview of future research, describing the use of scenarios to simulate future fluxes and provide a consistent framework to evaluate potential policies to improve water quality in the estuary. The Humber catchment is one of eight case studies within a European research project, EUROCAT (EVK1-CT-2000-00044), which aims to achieve integrated catchment and coastal zone management by analysing the response of the coastal sea to changes in fluxes of nutrients and contaminants from the catchments. For the Humber case study, the research focuses on the fluxes of two nutrient elements, N and P, and four metal contaminants, As, Cu, Pb and Zn. The project requires the integration of scientific and socio-economic approaches, bringing together quantitative environmental data garnered for individual river catchments and coastal zones in previous research programmes, and local and regional socio-economic data, to aid decision-makers in their search for integrated and sustainable coastal zone management strategies.
The history of aquatic environmental pollution goes back to the very beginning of the history of human civilization. However, aquatic pollution did not receive much attention until a threshold level was reached with adverse consequences on the ecosystems and organisms. Aquatic pollution has become a global concern, but even so, most developing nations are still producing huge pollution loads and the trends are expected to increase. Knowledge of the pollution sources and impacts on ecosystems is important not only for a better understanding on the ecosystem responses to pollutants but also to formulate prevention measures. Many of the sources of aquatic pollutions are generally well known and huge effort has been devoted to the issue. However, new concepts and ideas on environmental pollution are emerging (e.g., biological pollution) with a corresponding need for an update of the knowledge. The present paper attempts to provide an easy-to-follow depiction on the various forms of aquatic pollutions and their impacts on the ecosystem and organisms.
A consensual set of definitions regarding bioinvasions is essential in order to facilitate discourse among the science, policy and management communities dealing with the issue. Considering both the mode of entry and the extent of the impact of an alien species into a new environment, a set of key terms is proposed as an operative tool for marine scientists.
The European Water Framework Directive provides a challenge in the development of new and accurate methodologies. It addresses assessment of Ecological Quality Status within European rivers, lakes, groundwaters, estuaries and coasts. Although this directive is simple and flexible in its concept, it is necessary to develop an approach based upon scientific knowledge; however, at the same time it should be as simple as possible, in order to achieve both requirements and comparability of results throughout European waters. This contribution presents the first methodological approach to the problem, as used for estuaries and coasts of the Basque Country (northern Spain), in: selecting typologies and reference conditions; determining biological quality and ecological status; and identifying some problems in implementing the WFD. As such, the present paper could serve as the basis for a discussion document for other regions and countries, throughout Europe.
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