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Project Description

Several lakes and rivers cross the boundaries between countries. Management of
transboundary waters is complicated since there is not one government to manage
international waters and bordering states may have different languages, cultures, as well as
different water management legislation and institutional structures. The number of
agreements on transboundary waters in Europe is approximately 160 and shows an
increasing trend. The special importance of building cooperation on transboundary waters
through development of trust, personal contacts, and understanding has been stressed. To
effectively manage water resources and protect them against pollution, the governments of
the countries concerned must agree upon common rules and actions.

The point of departure of the MANTRA-East project is the fact that the draft EU Water
Framework Directive (WFD), when it enters into force, will become the central tool for the
future environmental management of transboundary river basins in Europe. Realizing the
importance of an early start for preparation of implementation of the WFD, a group of
researchers and water management specialists from Estonia, the Netherlands, Norway,
Sweden and Russia has prepared a joint research project "Integrated Strategies for the
Management of Transboundary Waters on the European fringe ­ the pilot study of Lake
Peipsi and its drainage basin (MANTRA-East)."


Objectives

The aim of the project is to analyze and develop strategic planning methodologies and
scientific tools for the integrated water management in transboundary watersheds located
on the existing and future borders of the European Union. Following the EU Water
Framework Directive, the project will develop recommendations for institutional
mechanisms and policy instruments for decision making on water management of
transboundary watercourses and international lakes located on the fringes of the European
Union.

The project consists of four modules: Module 1 "Ecological Status and Strategic Nutrient
Tools", Module 2 " Environmental Information for Policy- and Decision makers", Module 3
"Policy Instruments and Institutional Mechanisms" and Module 4 "Integration, synthesis and
end-user participation".

The Pilot study area

Lake Peipsi (3,550 km2), the largest international lake in Europe, is selected as a pilot
study since it is shared by one EU-accession state (i.e. Estonia) and one non-EU state (i.e.
Russia), and thus of high relevance for the future environmental management of
transboundary waters on the European fringe. The Lake Peipsi is particularly interesting
since:

· it is the fourth largest lake in Europe (after Ladoga, Onega and Vänern), with a large
drainage basin (47,800 km2);

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· it is the largest international lake in Europe;
· it is located on the Eastern European fringe;
· it is shared by one EU-state in accession (Estonia) and one non-EU state (Russia);
· the border regime is relatively newly established (i.e. 1992), and the joint bilateral Lake
Peipsi Commission was established as late as 1998;
· the lake itself and its drainage basin can be considered as a combination of 'data-rich'
and `data-poor', with respect to environmental information, and the access and
availability of data is scattered;
· the lake has been regarded as suffering from eutrophication problems and reduced fish-
stocks;
· large land use and industrial changes have taken place and are still ongoing in the
drainage basin after the collapse of the Soviet Union;
· the bilateral Lake Peipsi Commission has stressed that management of transboundary
waters should be based on the implementation of the draft EU Water Framework
Directive.

Some of the proposed activities will be addressed and explored in a concrete context using
the Lake Peipsi region as a pilot region. Even though the work focus upon this region, it is
still considered to be of pan-European interest, and results will deliberately have a high
degree of transferability and general validity. It is thus a deliberate research strategy that
the results obtained, tools developed, and strategies evaluated can be transferred to other
transboundary lakes and river basins on the Eastern European fringe.

Project Management

Dr. Per Stålnacke (Jordforsk) is responsible for the overall project coordination. The
project In-Region Coordinator Dr. Gulnara Roll will be responsible for the daily project
management of the work of the Eastern European participants (in Estonia and Russia).

The MANTRA-East Advisory Committee consists of international organisations involved in
transboundary water management, representatives of international river basins authorities
and national experts from the EU member and EU accession states, and Russia. The active
contribution of the Advisory Committee will ensure the inclusion of end-user perspectives in
the project.

The Project Executive Committee will consist of one representative from each principal
contractor. The project consists of four modules and coordination of work under the
modules is distributed among three principal contractors. Jordforsk coordinates the
modules `Ecological Status and Strategic Nutrient Tools' and `Integration, synthesis and
end-user participation', Linköping University the `Institutional Mechanisms and Policy
Instruments', and the Royal Institute of Technology `Environmental Information for Policy-
and Decision Makers'. Leaders of the modules, the coordinator, the in-region coordinator
and the Scientific Officer in Brussels will form the project Executive Committee.

The Scientific Steering Committee and Executive Committees will support the Coordinator
planning, preparation, and implementation of the project as well as monitor and evaluate
the project's course, particularly as regards its management and scientific aspects.


Scientific objectives and approach

The following three scientific objectives are defined:

· To evaluate the applicability of the draft EU WFD to the new future border regions, with
regard to (i) assessment the state of eutrophication (e.g. ecological status) in lakes and
river basins, and (ii) development of strategic lake and river basin tools for source
apportionment, retention, and time-trends in nutrient loads;
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· To develop methods to improve communication and utilisation of scientific information in
a transboundary context;
· To develop institutional mechanisms and policy instruments for decision making under
conditions of transition and uncertainty.

Within this general frame, the following sub-objectives/tasks were identified:

· An examination and evaluation of a set of the most informative monitoring parameters
used in ecological status assessments, and calibration of the monitoring parameters in
accordance with the water quality classes proposed in the draft EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD), tested in the pilot study area of the Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin.
· An analysis of the trends in water nutrient quality and biota in lakes and their tributaries
on the Eastern European fringe, with special emphasis on Lake Peipsi and its drainage
basin, given the recent dramatic change in land-use and industrial emissions in most of
the Eastern European region.
· The further development and application of tools that can simulate the transfer,
retention, and losses of nutrients in supra-national and data-poor river basins. The tools
developed will be used to estimate the effect of changes in pollution sources (e.g.
changes in agricultural land use) on the nutrient inputs to Lake Peipsi.
· The evaluation of the lake response to the recent dramatic and large-scale changes in
river pollution loads of nutrients in the drainage basin of the Lake Peipsi, analysis of the
in-lake response to different scenarios of future changes in river basin management on
the nutrient input to the lake, and estimation of the influence of different activities in the
river basin on lake water quality and biota, including fish will also be performed.
· An assessment of the effectiveness of current environmental information management
practices including monitoring, database development, information generation and its
use for policy- and decision-making and management within 10 European transboundary
water regions e.g. Lake Inari (Finland/Russia/Norway), Lake Constance
(Germany/Austria/Switzerland/Liechtenstein), Lake Neusiedler See (Austria/Hungary),
the Oder River (Poland/Germany), the Bug River (Poland/Belarus/Ukraine), the Daugava
River (Latvia/Russia/Belarus), and Lake Dojran, between Greece and Macedonia.
· The creation of a multi-thematic (socio-economic and environmental) GIS database for
Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin composed of 10-15 thematic layers relevant for
modelling, assessment and strategic decision-making by partners in other work-
packages, existing management structures and the general public.
· A comprehensive review of existing management structures, models and practices that
have been used, are used, or are planned to be used in transboundary water
management in Europe, e.g., Lake Peipsi (Estonia/Latvia/Russia), the Daugava River
(Latvia/Belarus/Russia), the Nemunas River (Lithuania/Russia/Belarus), the Bug River
(Poland/Belarus/Ukraine), the Oder River (Germany/Poland), Lake Inari
(Norway/Finland/Russia), Lake Constance (Germany/Austria/Switzerland), and Spanish
­ Portuguese transboundary waters.
· An examination of models of policy formulation and policy implementation concerning
transboundary water management, an evaluation and formulation of policy alternatives
for management strategies in transboundary contexts, and an investigation of public and
stakeholder support for these policies and ways of increasing this support.
· Evaluation of incentive-based tools for environmental management which will provide
knowledge of the policy making and implementation processes together with the
applicability of incentives and control mechanisms, will also be performed.
· An integrative approach and synthesis of the results, promoting the introduction of an
operational framework for strategies and tools for the management of transboundary
waters on the Eastern European fringe.

Description of Modules
MANTRA-East will combine knowledge and expertise from a number of different disciplines
in order to create synergy and to provide methodologies to tackle transboundary water
issues on the Eastern European fringe. The research program is structured according to four
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different modules. The following methodologies and approaches will be used under each
module:

Module 1 "Ecological Status and Strategic Nutrient Tools"

This module is involved with the development of criteria and tools for assessing
eutrophication in transboundary river basins in Europe. The research include:

· An examination and evaluation of a set of the most informative monitoring parameters
used in ecological status assessments, and calibration of the monitoring parameters in
accordance with the water quality classes proposed in the draft EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD), tested in the pilot study area of the Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin.
· An analysis of the trends in water nutrient quality and biota in lakes and their tributaries
on the Eastern European fringe, with special emphasis on Lake Peipsi and its drainage
basin, given the recent dramatic change in land-use and industrial emissions in most of
the Eastern European region.
· The further development and application of tools that can simulate the transfer,
retention, and losses of nutrients in supra-national and data-poor river basins. The tools
developed will be used to estimate the effect of changes in pollution sources (e.g.
changes in agricultural land use) on the nutrient inputs to Lake Peipsi.
· The evaluation of the lake response to the recent dramatic and large-scale changes in
river pollution loads of nutrients in the drainage basin of the Lake Peipsi, analysis of the
in-lake response to different scenarios of future changes in river basin management on
the nutrient input to the lake, and estimation of the influence of different activities in the
river basin on lake water quality and biota, including fish will also be performed.

Module 2 " Environmental Information for Policy- and Decision makers"
This module will focus upon aspects related to the development, use and role of
environmental information for policy- and decision-making and management in
transboundary waters. The research include:

· An assessment of the effectiveness of current environmental information management
practices including monitoring, database development, information generation and its
use for policy- and decision-making and management within several European
transboundary water regions.
· The creation of a multi-thematic (socio-economic and environmental) GIS database for
Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin composed of 10-15 thematic layers relevant for
modeling, assessment and strategic decision-making by partners in other work-
packages, existing management structures and the general public.

Module 3 "Policy Instruments and Institutional Mechanisms"
This module will be comprised of studies of institutional mechanisms and policy instruments
for decision­making under conditions of transition and uncertainty. The research includes:

· A comprehensive review of existing management structures, models and practices that
have been used, are used, or are planned to be used in transboundary water
management in Europe;
· An examination of models of policy formulation and policy implementation concerning
transboundary water management, an evaluation and formulation of policy alternatives
for management strategies in transboundary contexts, and an investigation of public and
stakeholder support for these policies and ways of increasing this support. Evaluation of
incentive-based tools for environmental management, which will provide knowledge of
the policy making and implementation processes together with the applicability of
incentives and control mechanisms, will also be performed.

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Module 4 "Integration, synthesis and end-user participation"
The fourth module will produce decision support appropriate to end-users through
integration and synthesis of the work under modules 1-3 and end-user participation. The
work include:

· An integrative approach and synthesis of the results, promoting the introduction of an
operational framework for strategies and tools for the management of transboundary
waters on the Eastern European fringe;
· Project Management, including the dissemination of results to stakeholders, the public
and end-users, including the involvement of an Advisory Committee throughout the
entire project.

Overview of activities

The overall and general objectives will be achieved by performing a number of activities,
some of which will be applied and evaluated for the pilot area:

· A comprehensive review of existing management structures, models and practices that
have been used, are used, or are planned to be used in transboundary water
management in Europe.
· An examination of models of policy formulation and policy implementation concerning
transboundary water management, an evaluation and formulation of policy alternatives
for management strategies in transboundary contexts, and an investigation of public and
stakeholder support for these policies and ways of increasing this support. Evaluate
incentive-based tools for environmental management and provide knowledge of the
policy making and implementation processes together with the applicability of incentives
and control mechanisms.
· An examination and evaluation of a set of the most informative monitoring parameters
used in ecological status assessments, and calibration of the monitoring parameters in
accordance with the water quality classes proposed in the draft EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD), tested in the pilot study area of the Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin.
· An analysis of the trends in water nutrient quality and biota in lakes and their tributaries
on the Eastern European fringe, with special emphasis on Lake Peipsi and its drainage
basin, given the recent dramatic change in land-use and industrial emissions in most of
the Eastern European regions.
· The further development and application of tools that can simulate the transfer,
retention, and losses of nutrients in supra-national and data-poor river basins. We will
distinguish between the nutrient loads originated from point sources and various diffuse
sources, mainly agricultural land and forested land. The tools developed will be used to
estimate the effect of changes in pollution sources (e.g. changes in agricultural land use)
on the nutrient inputs to Lake Peipsi.
· The evaluation of the lake response to the recent dramatic and large-scale changes in
river pollution loads of nutrients in the drainage basin of the Lake Peipsi, analysis of the
in-lake response to different scenarios of future changes in river basin management on
the nutrient input to the lake, and estimation of the influence of different activities in the
river basin on lake water quality and biota, including fish.
· An assessment of the effectiveness of current environmental information management
practises including monitoring, database development, information generation and its
use for policy- and decision-making and management within several European
transboundary water regions.
· The creation of a multi-thematic (socio-economic and environmental) GIS database for
Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin composed of 10-15 thematic layers relevant for
modelling, assessment and strategic decision-making, existing management structures
and the general public.
· An integrative approach and synthesis of the results, promoting the introduction of an
operational framework for strategies and tools for the management of transboundary
waters on the Eastern European fringe. The combination of environmental information
and information on the socio-economic situation in the various work-packages will
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support the integrated water management strategies that are needed for a sustainable
use of resources in decision-making.
· Project Management, including the dissemination of results to stakeholders, the public
and end-users, including the involvement of an Advisory Committee throughout the
entire project.

Expected impacts

The MANTRA-East project will:

· Improve the scientific approaches and strategies for the integration of ecological, socio-
economic, information and policy aspects of water management, particularly emphasised
on eutrophication and nutrient-related environmental problems;
· Scientifically evaluate and improve upon approaches and strategies for the management
of transboundary lake and river basins on the Eastern European fringe;
· Produce new innovative strategies for strengthening institutions for management of
transboundary waters located on the Eastern European fringe by development of
strategies for effective transboundary water management under conditions of transition
and uncertainty. It will thus be a vital study of the management of environmental issues
in border regions of the enlarged EU;
· With the use of the respect to Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin, evaluate the draft WFD
criteria and work out a set of informative parameters, which could be used in ecological
status assessment of lake and river basins located on the Eastern European fringe;
· With Lake Peipsi and its drainage basin as a pilot study, evaluate and assess the riverine
and lake response of nutrient loads, to large-scale decreases in anthropogenic activity,
as well as the future consequences of such changes;
· Improve upon and stimulate the development of models that are suitable for the
analysis of nutrient fluxes at the river basin scale. Such large-scale models are needed
to evaluate the effect of European policies on nutrient levels in European rivers and
coastal seas;
· Perform the first comprehensive pan-European study of the role and use of
environmental information within transboundary water region, and thus provide an
insight into the bottlenecks and opportunities for the development of cost-efficient
transboundary environmental information management models. This may lead to
guidelines, on both the principle and the more practical levels.

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Document Outline