Accidental spills: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Accidental spills refers to the adverse effects of accidental episodic releases of contaminants and materials to the aquatic environment as a result of human activities.
Agricultural development intensity: The ratio between the area of agricultural land and the total area.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): Decrease in oxygen content in milligrams per litre of a sample of water caused by the bacterial breakdown of organic matter under aerobic conditions at 200C after a certain period of time (BOD after 3, 5, 10, 20 days etc.). Measuring unit: mg O/l.
Causal chain analysis: Examines the sequence of events that cause environmental and socio economic impacts. The first step of the analysis examines the immediate causes of the issue. The next step studies the sectoral pressures that underlie the immediate causes including a detailed analysis of current governance structures that affect the sectoral or immediate causes (e.g. regulations, public participation, institutions).
Changes in the groundwater regime: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Changes in the groundwater regime refer to changes in aquifers as a direct or indirect consequence of human activity.
Chemical oxygen demand (COD): The amount of oxygen (mg) equivalent to the amount of consumed oxidising agent in the chemical oxidation of all reducing agents present in a water sample. Measuring unit: mg O2/l.
Chemical pollution: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Chemical pollution refers to the adverse effects of chemical contaminants released to standing or marine water bodies as a result of human activities. Chemical contaminants are here defined as compounds that are toxic and/or persistent and/or bioaccumulating.
Ecological system (ecosystem): A community of living organisms and the environment in which they live, interacting to form a whole functional system.
Environmental impact: The adverse effect of a transboundary issue on the integrity of an ecosystem. For example, loss of natural productivity and biodiversity as a result of the loss of an ecosystem or ecotone.
Environmental Impact Assessment: A nationally adopted procedure for assessment of potential impacts of a planned activity (development) on the environment.
Eutrophication: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Eutrophication including harmful algal blooms refers to artificially enhanced primary productivity in receiving water basins related to the increased availability or supply of nutrients.
Flooding events and elevated groundwater levels: Flooding event refers to coming of a great quantity of water over land in the period of high flow or as a result of construction of an impoundment (dam) within a river channel or valley. It may span a long period of time during which any economic use of flooded land is neither possible nor feasible, or a short period during which an economic use of flooded land is possible and feasible. Elevated groundwater levels refer to an elevation of groundwater table caused by a rise of water level in a river due to construction of reservoirs, channel dams and other hydroengineering facilities; saturation of previously unsaturated soils as a result of water filtration through a channel bottom and slopes; leaks in water supply and sewerage mains; river channel siltation etc.
Forest coverage: The ratio between the area occupied by forests and the total area of a territory.
Governance: A response term embracing regulations, laws, policies, projects and institutions. The absence of effective governance is not regarded as the cause of pressure on the environment but as a failure to deal with a pre-existing cause.
Immediate causes: are the immediate technical causes of the issue. For example, in the case of eutrophication, the causes might be enhanced nutrient inputs, increased recycling/mobilisation or trapping of nutrients.
Impact on biological and genetic diversity: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Impact on biological and genetic diversity refers to changes in genetic and species diversity resulting from the introduction of alien and genetically modified species or local stocks as an intentional or unintentional result of human fisheries activities including aquaculture and restocking.
Institutional barriers to change: These are the barriers identified in the governance study. They include issues related to insufficiencies in current policy, legislation and its implementation, institutional capacity, public participation, etc.
International waters: International waters are those shared by one or more nation states. They are transboundary in nature but provide "free" goods and services to the economies of individual countries.
Landscape: A territorial system comprising natural and/or natural and anthropogenic components and groups of lower taxonomic levels that interact with each other.
Local hot spot: A source of pollution whose impact results in exceedance of the prescribed MAC limits in water bodies located within the boundaries of one administrative unit (District), thereby creating a greater threat for biodiversity and risk for human health, as well as areas of higher environmental danger.
Local radioactive hot spot: a radioactive hot spot that occupies a local area.
Microbiological pollution: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Microbial pollution refers to the adverse effects of microbial constituents of human or animal sewage released to water bodies.
Modification and loss of ecosystems or ecotones and decreased viability of stocks due to contamination and disease: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Modification and loss of ecosystems or ecotones refers to the modification or complete destruction of aquatic and riparian habitats. Decreased viability of stocks due to contamination and disease refers to contamination of feral (wild) stocks of fish or invertebrates as a result of human-induced contamination or of diseases that are a direct or indirect consequence of human action.
Modification of hydrological regime: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Modification of stream flow refers to an increase or decrease in the discharge of streams and rivers as a result of human interventions on a local/regional scale.
National hot spot: A source of pollution whose impact results in significant exceedance of the prescribed MAC limits in water bodies located within a country, thereby creating a greater threat for biodiversity and risk for human health, as well as areas of higher environmental danger.
National radioactive hot spot: a radioactive hot spot that occupies or, in the future, may occupy a substantial national territory and has no significant transboundary impact.
Radioactive hot spot: a technical facility or a local natural site (territory) that is contaminated with radionuclides or, in the future, may become a source of the environmental radioactive contamination above reference levels, or resulting in human or biota exposure above radiological criteria.
Radionuclide pollution: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Radionuclide pollution refers to the adverse effects of the release of man-made and naturally occurring radioactive contaminants and wastes into the aquatic and atmospheric environment from human activities.
Regional hot spot: A source of pollution whose impact results in significant exceedance of the prescribed MAC limits in water bodies located within the boundaries of two or more Oblasts (administrative units), thereby creating a greater threat for biodiversity and risk for human health, as well as areas of higher environmental danger.
Resource uses and practices: These are practices that contribute to a particular immediate cause and transboundary issue. They include such issues as land use, waste discharges, damaging or unsustainable practices, uses of water (diversion, storage etc). A typical agricultural practice contributing to eutrophication for example, would be the excessive application of fertilisers.
Root causes: Beyond the underlying social and economic causes and sectoral pressures are the root causes of environmental degradation. These underlying causes can be loosely divided into the following categories: population pressure and demographic change; poverty, wealth and inequality; public policies, markets and politics; development model and national macro-economic policies; social change and development biases.
Sectoral approach: The causal chain methodology uses a sectoral approach to examine the pressures that underlie the immediate causes. The seven sectors are agriculture, industry, urban development, transport, energy, fishing and recreation (including tourism).
Social and economic causes: The causes of resource uses and practices These include increased sectoral development, investment, operation and maintenance, waste minimisation procedures, demand and supply side management etc.
Socio-economic impact: The adverse effect of a transboundary issue on human welfare. For example, increased costs of water treatment, or illness due to pollution.
Solid waste pollution: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Solid waste pollution refers to adverse effects associated with the introduction of solid waste materials into water bodies or their environs.
Strategic Action Programme: A negotiated policy document, endorsed at the highest level of all relevant sectors, which establishes clear priorities for action to resolve the priority transboundary issues identified in the TDA.
Suspended solids: A transboundary issue in the Dnipro Basin. Suspended solids refers to the adverse effects of modified rates of release of suspended particulate matter to water bodies resulting from human activities.
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis: The TDA is an objective assessment and not a negotiated document. It uses the best available verified scientific information to examine the state of the environment, the root causes for its degradation. The analysis is carried out in a cross sectoral manner. It focuses on the transboundary issues without ignoring national concerns and priorities.
Transboundary hot spot: A source of pollution whose impact results in exceedance of the prescribed MAC limits in water bodies located within the adjacent countries. Also, described as transboundary hot spots may be the transboundary sections of the Dnipro Basin where economic activities pose a greater threat for biodiversity and risk for human health, as well as areas of higher environmental danger.
Transboundary issue: An environmental problem originating in one country and affecting another (e.g. Eutrophication, chemical pollution). The transboundary impact may be damage to the natural environment and/or damage to human welfare.
Transboundary radioactive hot spot: a radioactive hot spot which is or, in the future, may become a source of the environmental radioactive contamination in the territory of another country above reference levels, or resulting in human or biota exposure above radiological criteria
Underlying causes: Those causes that contribute to the immediate causes. They can broadly be termed as resource uses and practices and their related social and economic causes.
Water monitoring: Regular observation and assessment of the state of natural waters.
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BOD |
Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
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BOD5 |
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (Over 5 Days) |
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CIS |
Commonwealth of Independent States |
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COD |
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
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COP |
Chlorinated Organic Pesticides |
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EIA |
Environmental Impact Assessment |
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ENGO |
Environmental Non-Governmental Organisation |
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EQO |
Ecological Quality Objective |
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EU |
European Union |
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GDP |
Gross Domestic Product |
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GEF |
Global Environmental Facility |
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GIS |
Geographic Information System |
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GIWA |
Global International Waters Assessment |
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GNP |
Gross National Product |
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HDI |
Human Development Index |
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IAEA |
International Atomic Energy Agency |
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IDRC |
International Development Research Centre (Canada) |
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LTEQO |
Long Term Ecological Quality Objective |
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MAC |
Maximum Admissible Concentration of a Chemical Substance |
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MAC fishery |
Maximum Admissible Concentration of a Chemical Substance Set for Fishery Water Use |
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MAC potable/domestic |
Maximum Admissible Concentration of a Chemical Substance Set for Potable/Domestic Water Use |
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MC |
Management Committee |
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NAP |
National Action Plan |
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NGO |
Non-Governmental Organisation |
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NR |
Nature Reserve |
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OP |
Oil Products |
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PMU |
Project Management Unit |
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RB |
Republic of Belarus |
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RF |
Russian Federation |
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RTC |
Regional Thematic Centre |
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SAP |
Strategic Action Programme |
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SSAA |
Synthetic Surface-Active Agent (Surfactant) |
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TDA |
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis |
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UNDP |
United Nations Development Programme |
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UNEP |
United Nations Environment Programme |
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WHO |
World Health Organisation |
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WPI |
Water Pollution Index |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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1. Modification of hydrological regime 1. Modification of riparian habitats 2. Depletion of fish stocks and species diversity 3. Water quality changes 4. Changes in the area of wetlands 5. Reduced capacity to transport sediments 6. Changes in biological diversity and food chains 7. Changes in sedimentation process 8. Increased intensity of bank modification |
1. Extent of the river flow regulation (%) 2. Flow diversion (km3/year) 3. Flow extraction for industrial and domestic uses; 4. Flow extraction for irrigation 5. Area of drained and irrigated lands 6. Additional water inputs due to wastewater discharges from industries 7. Changes in vegetation cover 8. Road network density _________________ 9. Population number 10. GRP and production output for key economic and industrial sectors 11. Level of utilisation of hydrpower generation capacity (%) 12. Water intensity of economy and its sectors 13. Ratio (proportion) of process water reuse and recycling |
1. Changes in maximum and minimum monthly average stream flows at various water availability (m3 per second on indicated days; total volume discharged for defined periods of high flow (m3)) 2. Changes in flooding and low flow period pattern 3. Long-term seasonal trends in air temperature and precipitation (ºC, mm) 4. Modification of the river network density in the basin. 5. Specific flow rate |
1. Loss of habitat (ha/km2 per year) 2. Changes in gross riparian plant and animal habitat fragmentation compared with historic and current baselines (Fragmentation index by environmental domain, ecological region or district, % of change per decade) 3. Fish kills in the reservoirs (kill events reported per basin) 4. Periods of intensive algal blooms (frequency, number/year; intensity (biomass/ abundance; duration (days); extension, m2) ________________________ 5. Socio-economic damage (effect) |
1. Physical indicators reflecting amount of completed work on river channel clearing and restoration of natural hydrological regime. 2. Protection of wetlands. 3. Afforestation. 4. Maintaining the environmentally justified water level in the Dnipro reservoir chain. ________________________ 5. Use of water-saving technologies 6. Implementation of ecological expertise with involvement of the public 7. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 8. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use _________________________ 9. Legally defined principles of financing the actions on indemnification and prevention of damages at the expense of users benefiting from flow regulation in water bodies, flow abstraction and effluent discharge 10. Development and introduction of incentives to encourage introduction of BAT’s |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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2. Changes in the water table 1. Loss of natural resource productivity 2. Loss of biodiversity 3. Loss of natural erosion barriers |
1. Mineral resource extraction/ mining (quarries etc.). 2. Groundwater abstraction 3. Area of drained/irrigated land 4. Number of population relying on groundwater supply |
1. Long-term changes in the monthly average flow discharges (Mean monthly discharge m3 per second; Total volume discharged per month (m3 per month/ hydrological year). 2. Reduced base flow (base flow m3/sec for 5 year running means) 3. Changes in vegetation cover 4. Land subsidence 5. Yield of water abstraction facilities |
Disappearance of perennial springs (number of recorded springs with a discharge exceeding 0.1 m3/s within a particular catchment for a given year) Loss of habitat due to water erosion (ha/km2 loss per year); erosion development (m3 per year) Socio-economic damage |
1. Reservoir operation regime. 2. Changes in operation regime of drainage/ irrigation schemes. 3. Implementation of ecological expertise 4. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 5. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use 6. Legally defined principles of financing the actions on indemnification and prevention of damages at the expense of users benefiting from activities causing environmental impacts |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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3. Flooding of territories and rising groundwater levels 1. Degradation (change) of terrestrial and riparian plant and animal habitats. 2. Additional pollution (bacterial, chemical etc.) of water bodies due to runoff from flooded territories. 3. Changes in nature of biotopes. 4. Increased extent of territories with elevated groundwater levels |
1. Changes in water level 2. Changes in nature of channel processes 3. Scale of hydroengineering developments 4. Engineering networks and infrastructures of urbanised territories 5. Water losses due to leakage in the mains 6. Level of development of the centralised water supply and sewerage systems at the human settlements (to households) |
1. Area of flooded land 2. Flooding locations and duration 3. Water levels compared to the historic data 4. Changes in the natural hydrograph 5. Area of affected land and extent of elevated water levels. ____________________ 6. Number of population living in the areas affected by flooding and elevated groundwater levels 7. Economic capacity of areas affected by flooding and elevated groundwater levels |
Increased extent of flooded territories (km2) Shifts in locations of flooded territories (geographic coordinates) Changes in water quality at the constant anthropogenic load originating from point sources (water quality indicators). Increased duration of flooding events Increased extent of territories with elevated groundwater levels ___________________ Human disease incidence in the areas affected by flooding and elevated groundwater levels Socio-economic damage incurred as a result of flooding and elevated groundwater levels |
1. Activities on restoration of natural hydrological regime 2. Compliance with the hydroengineering facility operation rules. 3. Land drainage/irrigation regime. 4. Actions on prevention of flooding and elevated groundwater levels. ____________________ 5. Implementation of ecological expertise ____________________ 6. Legally defined principles of financing the actions on indemnification and prevention of damages at the expense of users benefiting from activities resulted in flooding and elevated groundwater levels |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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4. Microbiological pollution 1. Deterioration of drinking water quality and recreation value of water bodies 2. Infestations and diseases of aquatic and terrestrial specie. |
1. Amount of insufficiently treated and untreated municipal sewage effluents and wastewater from food processing industries and other (hospitals etc.) (million m3 per year). 2. Amount of pollution transported with rainstorm and snowmelt water runoff from urban and agricultural territories, accidental spills etc. 3. Industrial and municipal waste landfills 4. Amount of contaminated wastewater discharged from livestock farms and non-point pollution sources 5. Population number |
1. Pathogens in water (e.g. E-coli and faecal streptococci) (Monthly mean number of cells per 100 ml). |
1. Number of reports of diseases within native, endemic or alien fish stocks (including stocks in the aquaculture industry) 2. Number of reports of fish that do not reach WHO public health standards 3. Fish kills due to microbiological pollution 4. Number of reports of water quality not meeting the existing water quality standards on microbiological indicators 5. Human disease incidence 6. Socio-economic damage |
1. Wastewater disinfection. 2. Establishment of sanitary zones. 3. Engineered improvement of industrial and municipal solid waste landfills. _____________________ 4. Sanitary improvement actions _____________________ 5. Implementation of ecological expertise 6. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 7. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use 8. Legally defined and strengthened roles and responsibilities of local governance bodies on issues relating to environmental status of territories under their jurisdiction 9. Environmental education and awareness raising of the public. |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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5. Eutrophication 1. Deterioration of water quality in water bodies due to intensive algal blooms 2. Redox changes 3. Changes in structure and functions of aquatic ecosystems 4. Changes in native fish species composition and productivity |
Nutrient load, tonnes/year Organic load, tonnes BOD/year Area of shallow water sections in the Dnipro reservoir chain Thermal pollution Transboundary transfer of nutrients. ___________________ Livestock head number |
1. Nutrients in water, mg/l. 2. Phytoplankton biomass. 3. Visible algal blooms (Chlorophyll-like pigment concentration units (mg/m3) over time (given year/decade) and location (lat/long,) polygon; satellite imaging data). 4. Transparency changes (Secci disk data), mg/l |
Periods of intensive algal blooms with documented environmental/ human effects (Frequency (number/year); Intensity (biomass/abundance); Duration (days); Extension (m2); Causative species (species) Changes in the area of wetland macrophyte communities (Ha of (given class) macrophytes during baseline year; % change per decade; Fragmentation index by environmental domain, ecological region or district) Fish kills due to eutrophication or intensive algal blooms (kill events registered in the basin; number of fish killed per event) Socio-economic damage |
1. Improvement of wastewater treatment system capacity. 2. Water protection zones and strips 3. Prevention of runoff from agricultural land 4. Engineered improvement and reduction of shallow water areas. _____________________ 5. Implementation of ecological expertise 6. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 7. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use 8. Development and introduction of economic incentives to encourage transition to the BAT-based wastewater discharge limit values 9. Legally defined and strengthened roles and responsibilities of local governance bodies on issues relating to environmental status of water protection zones and riverbank protection strips |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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6. Chemical pollution 1. Deterioration of surface water and groundwater quality. 2. Decreased fish stocks and species diversity 3. Changes in biodiversity of aquatic, riparian and land bioresources 4. Changes in riparian habitats 5. Reproductive dysfunction in aquatic organisims. 6. Behavioral dysfunction in aquatic organisms. 7. Modified community structure. 8. Increased mortality of aquatic organisms. 9. Immunosupression in aquatic organisms. |
1. Chemical pollution load per basin area (kg/km2, t/km2) 2. Amount of wastewaters (million m3/year) 3. Discharge of chemical pollutants with wastewater (t/year) 4. Application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. 5. Elevated concentrations of phosphates, nitrogen compounds and pesticides in soil. 6. Presence of expired pesticide storage sites. 7. Presence of the chemical industry liquid waste storage sites. 8. Surface runoff from urbanised areas 9. Transboundary transfer of polluting substances ____________________ 10. Population number 11. GRP and product output values for key economic and industrial sectors 12. Depreciation of fixed assets in the environmental protection sector 13. Contaminated wastewater treatment level (total and by sector) 14. Availability of wastewater treatment facilities at the sources of pollution |
1. Metals in water, sediments and biota (mg/l, μg/l or μg/kg) 2. Aromatic hydrocarbons in water, sediment and biota due to anthropogenic activities (μg/g or μg/kg). 3. Oil products in water due to human activities (μg/l) 4. Halogenated PTS in water, sediments and biota. 5. Surface films (presence/absence) 6. Amount of transboundary transfer of polluting substances |
1. Enrichment of metals in biota. 2. Fish kills due to chemical pollution (number of events) 3. Reduced productivity of aquatic organisms, productivity indices. 4. Increased mortality and disease of aquatic organisms. 5. Changes in structure of biocenoses and ecosystems. 6. Modification of biodiversity and productivity of aquatic, riparian and land ecosystems (number and proportion of species, productivity measuring units) 7. Loss of habitats of aquatic and riparian flora and fauna species (area of loss, km2 or ha) 8. Human disease incidence 9. Reduced fish yields and modification of species composition of yields (tonnes, % of species) 10. Socio-economic damage |
1. Wastewater treatment capacity (by treatment type). 2. Treatment of drainage runoff from rural areas. 3. Water protection zones and riverbank protection strips. 4. On-site pre-treatment of industrial wastewater and improved management of effluent sludge. 5. Process water re-use. 6. Engineered improvement of liquid waste storage sites. 7. Engineered protection of surface water and groundwater. ___________________ 8. Implementation of ecological expertise 9. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 10. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use 11. Regional and local water resource protection programmes 12. Development and introduction of economic incentives to encourage transition to the BAT-based wastewater discharge limit values 13. Investment in the upgrade of wastewater treatment capacity 14. Full-cycle wastewater treatment facilities 15. Setting realistic achievable targets on the basis of the defined environmental standards and water quality categories; establishment of implementation and compliance control mechanisms. |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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7. Suspended solids Modification of habitats and biological community composition. Increased sediment deposition and siltation. Destruction (blanketing) of benthic communities. Fish kills. |
1. Inputs of suspended solids from point and diffuse sources (t/year). 2. Dredging activities. 3. Sand and gravel extraction activities. 4. Area of eroded land. 5. Transboundary transfer of suspended substances. |
1. Concentrations of suspended particulate matter in water (g/l). 2. Transparency changes by Secci disk, cm 3. Amount of transboundary transfer of suspended substances |
1. Fish/shellfish kills related to suspended solids (Kill events reported per basin per year; Number of fish killed per event) 2. Burial of spawning grounds due to sedimentation (% of burial). 3. Delta front movement (m3 of sediments per year) 4. River channel siltation. _________________ 5. Socio-economic damage |
1. Improvement of wastewater treatment system. 2. Water protection zones and strips. 3. Erosion prevention. 4. Bank strengthening. 5. Limited extraction of sand and gravel. 6. River channel clearing. 7. Afforestation of catchments. _____________________ 8. Implementation of ecological expertise 9. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 10. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use 11. Development and introduction of economic incentives encouraging reduction of sand and gravel extraction in the river channels |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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8. Solid waste 1. Deterioration of surface water and groundwater quality. 2. Deterioration of terrestrial ecosystems. 3. Deterioration of air quality. 4. Hydraulic modification of small rivers. 5. Beach and sediment compositional changes. |
1. Number and area of historical dumpsites (Number; Area (km2)) 2. Industrial solid waste disposal sites (number; area (km2)) 3. Sludge fields. 4. Number of illegal dumps. _______________ 5. Industrial and municipal solid waste generation amount, including hazardous waste (total and by sector) 6. Population number 7. GRP and product output values for key economic and industrial sectors |
1. Groundwater quality at solid waste disposal sites (mg/l). 2. Presence of solid waste degradation products and dust particles in the air samples (mg/m3) |
Changes in the extent and condition of ecosystem types compared with historic and current baselines. Modification of habitat in the locations of solid waste disposal sites (area of habitat reduction, km2) Deterioration of groundwater quality in the locations of solid waste disposal sites. Socio-economic-damage |
1. Solid waste recycling. 2. Landfill restoration. 3. Engineered protection solutions at landfill sites (lining, drainage systems; leachate collection/treatment, etc.) 4. Clean-up of illegal dumps. _________________ 5. Implementation of ecological expertise 6. Programme-targeted regulatory and methodical mechanism for regulation of environmental impacts 7. Programme-targeted economic mechanism of environmental protection and natural resource use _________________ 8. Creation of favourable conditions and development of incentives encouraging separate collection of municipal solid wastes |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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9. Radionuclides 1. Unsuitability of water and biota for human use. 2. Mutagenic effects in living organisms. |
1. Number, location and area of dumpsites containing radioactive material. 2. Presence of radioactive material in extraction/processing industries. 3. Nuclear power facilities. 4. Transboundary transfer of radionuclides. |
1. Increased radiation level. 2. Presence of radionuclide pollution spots in the catchment area. 3. Elevated radionuclide concentrations in water, sediments and biota (Becquerels per kg). 4. Transboundary transfer of radionuclides. |
1. Population living in the areas affected by radionuclide contamination. 2. Presence of mutated plants and animals. 3. Socio-economic damage |
1. Improved control of emissions and discharges. 2. Mitigation of effects of the Chernobyl accidents. 3. Rehabilitation of uranium tailings impoundments. 4. Improvement of radiation monitoring system. __________________ 5. Implementation of ecological expertise |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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10. Accidental spills and emissions 1. Acute deterioration of surface water and groundwater quality. 2. Acute deterioration of air quality. 3. Mass kills of living organisms. 4. Long term contamination of sediments and beaches with associated ecological changes. |
Technical state of equipment, pipelines, liquid waste and toxic material storage sites. |
1. Number of accidents, affected areas, volumes of accidental spills/releases. |
1. Mass kills of living organisms (number and composition of killed organisms). 2. Acute deterioration of water and air quality (indicators) 3. Socio-economic damage |
Improved safety of oil and other material transportation pipelines. Improved safety of solid and liquid toxic waste storage sites. Establishment of the hydroengineering facility safety control service. ___________________ Insurance coverage for risks associated with production activities Implementation of ecological expertise ___________________ Development and legal definition of a mechanism for financial security coverage of risk of potential accidents at dangerous facilities |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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11. Loss and modification of ecosystems or ecotones and decreased viability of biological resources 1. Modification and degradation of ecosystems 2. Loss of natural productivity 3. Loss and modification of biodiversity 4. Loss of natural protection from erosion 5. Loss of carbon sinks and release of carbon to the atmosphere 6. Loss of migratory species using the habitat and altered migratory patterns 7. Impacts of estuarine system changes on adjacent coastal marine ecosystems. 8. Changes in ecosystem stability 9. Changes in community structure both plant and animal 10. Decreased species diversity |
1. Number of human settlements and % of ploughed-up land (area of human settlements, % of ploughing) 2. Urbanisation of territory 3. All types of pollution and impacts: modification of hydrological regime; chemical pollution; erosion, etc.4. Population density, including urban population |
1. State of landscape and natural systems and percentage of protected territories/natural reserves. 2. Periods of intensive algal blooms with documented environmental/ human effects (Frequency (number/year); Intensity (biomass/abundance); Duration (days); Extension (m2); Causative species (species). 3. Modification of river floodplains due to ploughing and livestock grazing, % of loss for a given decade 4. Number of reports of fish that do not reach WHO public health standards (Number of reports per year 5. Fish kills (Kill events reported per basin) |
1. Reduced number of habitats (area of habitat loss, ha/km2 year). 2. Loss of habitat due to rate of growth of urban areas (Loss of wetland area (Ha) per year; % loss per given decade). 3. Loss of river floodplains due to ploughing and livestock grazing, ha of floodplain. 4. Change in the extent of each land cover class- Satellite derived vegetation index (Extent and area of each land cover class; km2/subbasin area/decade) 5. Changes in the area of wetland macrophyte communities (Ha of (given class) macrophytes during baseline year; % change per decade; Fragmentation index by environmental domain, ecological region or district). 6. Changes in endemic species or higher taxa (number; diversity indices; distribution (% of former area); abundance (measured in appropriate units 7. Number of reports of diseases/infestations/ lesions/ulcers within native, endemic or alien fish/shellfish stocks (reports per years) 8. Changes in native species or higher taxa (number; diversity indices; distribution (% of former area); abundance (measured in units appropriate for different groups of plants and animals) |
1. ‘Eco-corridors’ (ha, km2) 2. Water protection zones and riverside water protection strips 3. Expansion of natural reserves and protected territories 4. Pollution control 5. Environmental rehabilitation measures 6. Enhancement of environmental legislation 7. Compliance with the natural reserve and protected territory management regime. 8. Implementation of ecological expertise |
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Issue & Impacts |
Pressure Indicators |
Status Indicators |
Impact Indicators |
Response Indicators |
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12. Impact on biological and genetic diversity 1. Changes in biological community structure due to overexploitation/ depletion of one or more key species. 2. Changes in biological communities through deliberate and accidental introductions. 3. Changes in community structure by food chain manipulation. 4. Changes in community structure through restocking and habitat manipulation. 5. Changes to habitat and community structure resulting from destructive fishing practices. 6. Ecosystem degradation |
1. Invasive alien species (Number of alien species; Abundance and biomass of alien species (ind./ m2, g/m3, etc., as appropriate); Relative abundance and biomass of alien species (% of appropriate community); Rate of spread of alien species by area per given decade; Documented events of ecological and economic impact). |
1. Number/proportion of taxa in IUCN threat categories (Number of taxa in IUCN threat categories; Proportion of taxa in IUCN threat categories; Change in taxa number in IUCN threat categories per given decade). |
1. Changes in native species or higher taxa (Changes in number*; Changes in diversity indices; Changes in distribution (% of former area)*; Changes in abundance (measured in units appropriate for different groups of plants and animals)*; (*compared with historic and current baselines). 2. Changes in endemic species or higher taxa (Changes in number*; Changes in distribution (% of former area); Changes in abundance (measured in units appropriate for different groups of plants and animals)*; (*compared with historic and current baselines). |
1. Monitoring of introduction and invasion of alien species. 2. Protected territories. 3. Water protection zones and strips. _________________ 4. Legally defined mechanism for control of alien species invasion |
Low level of water reuse and recycling
Water recycling is reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes and replenishing ground water basins (referred to as ground water recharge). This occurs in only a limited capacity in the Dnipro Basin due to a lack of clean technologies, inadequate finance and a lack of human and technical capacity.
Failures in operation and maintenance
Failures in operation and maintenance are due to inadequate training and a lack of trained staff (human capacity), insufficient finance, inadequate/inappropriate technologies (technical capacity) and interruptions in the power supply.
Irregular energy supply
Although there is idle energy capacity in the region, most equipment and technology in the energy sector is obsolete and worn out. Investment in power engineering is negligible, and this (together with a crisis of non-payments) makes its stable operation and progress impossible. Therefore power supply is limited, leading to disconnection of hundreds of enterprises and transport facilities.
Poor waste disposal practices
Runoff from roads, litter and wastes from small enterprises, industries and households all contribute to the overall pollution load. They are all caused by poor or no waste disposal practices and are generally a result of pressures from urbanisation. However, it is also linked with the industry and transport sectors
Human, technical and institutional capacity
Human and technical capacity includes:
· Human resource development;
· The process of equipping individuals with knowledge, skills and training to enable them to perform effectively;
· The provision of access to information;
· Organisational development;
· The development of management structures, processes and procedures within and between organisations and sectors;
· Modern/appropriate technologies.
Inadequate or lacking water/waste management systems
The lack of management systems for wastewater disposal, sanitation and solid waste management can result in the pollution of water resources and a subsequent reduction in water supply. There is a need for efficient and effective management that is strategic in approach, including:
· The implementation of demand and supply management techniques;
· A review of existing policy and legislation;
· The promotion of waste avoidance;
· The recovery of waste through recycling and reclamation;
· Research and development.
Lack of collection and treatment facilities
Water supply/sewerage systems in the Basin have generally reached a high level of depreciation and the coverage of the centralised sewerage service is extremely low when compared to Western European countries. The total annual volume of wastewater discharges in the Dnipro Basin is 7,463,600,000 m3/year. Of the total volume, the majority receives no, or only partial treatment (see section 4.4.1).
Lack of adequate finance
Since the early 1990s there has been a reduction in budget expenditure on social and environmental protection actions (e.g. capital and operational expenditure in wastewater treatment, monitoring and regulation) due to the inadequate structure of the current economy. There has also been limited internal investment in industry, power generation, transport and agriculture due to the unfavourable investment climate.
Budget/expenditure for operation and maintenance
Industrial and municipal wastewater treatment facilities require managed budgets and expenditure regimes in order to maintain equipment and plant.
Limited ability of water users to pay
There is a limited ability (and will) of industrial and domestic water users to pay for the supply of water in the Basin. Ultimately water prices are a function of water costs. Factors that increase water costs include compliance with drinking water standards, replacing and improving the water delivery infrastructure, and meeting demand growth. Costs associated with meeting demand growth can be recovered through capacity charge plans in which users benefiting from the increased capacity pay for it.
Limited capital Investment
Capital investment is provided by banks, individual loans and government financial aid. In the riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin this is far below the capital needs of individual sectors. The lack of capital investment is becoming a major constraint to further growth in industrial, agricultural, municipal and energy sector restructuring. While exporters of natural resources generate sufficient cash flows to finance internal investment, other industries have to rely on external finance. This is why good corporate governance is crucial for building a sustainable economy.
Lack of planning
This specifically refers to a lack of planning at the Oblast level (e.g. the lack of planning for siting of fishponds in river channels).
Lack of incentives to reduce consumption including the introduction of cleaner technologies or sustainable practices
The riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin, in line with most countries of the former Soviet Union, have a much higher energy usage per capita than developed countries. Traditionally energy was very cheap, was not metered and there were no incentives to reduce consumption, either by private industrial or municipal users. The problem has worsened over the last few years, following the transition to market economies. This resulted in a payment crisis which meant that many enterprises couldn’t pay their energy bills and the energy distribution companies did not have the means to enforce payment.
There is also a lack of incentives to reduce water consumption in the Basin. This includes incentifying users to implement technological means to improve water use efficiency and reduce water consumption in the urban, industrial and agricultural sectors (e.g. the irrigation of agriculture products).
Inadequate economic instruments/tariffs
Central governments can use economic, regulatory and policy instruments (e.g. tariffs, taxes, fees, quotas, groundwater extraction charges etc.) to achieve environmental goals while generating budgetary revenues. The adoption of such instruments can result in significant savings of water in the industry, agriculture and urban sectors. A further reduction in demand can be obtained if the recycling or reuse of water is encouraged (particularly in the industry sector) through pollution control legislation and economic incentives (e.g. water tariffs based on economic costs, effluent charges and low-interest loans for effluent and sewage treatment plants). Similar savings may be possible in irrigated agriculture by investing in canal lining, encouraging less water-intensive crops (through relative output prices) and by raising irrigation rates.
Lack of land tenure
Land tenure affects the basic operational decision of farmers. If land tenure is uncertain (e.g. if the right of exclusivity, transferability and inheritability are weak or uncertain) a farmer will have no incentive to invest in land enhancement and maintenance or sustainable agricultural practices (e.g. best farming practices). For example, in Russia land tenure has significantly changed to allow farmers to hold long-term leases for land, but not own it. Agriculture companies (collective farms, sovkhozes, and farmers) still control 80% of the land, but are unable to use their land as collateral for credit.
Deficiencies in implementation of regulations, monitoring and enforcement
There is a need to eliminate gaps and improve the consistency of environmental regulations in the 3 riparian countries of the Dnipro Basin. There are many framework environmental acts and amendments including such principles as polluter pays, prevention and precautionary, sustainability, shared responsibility, free access to environmental information, and public participation. However, many of them remain just a declaration of intent and are not properly enforced. It is generally recognised that inadequate or a lack of implementation and enforcement are often more of an obstacle to effective management than deficiencies in environmental legislation or scientific information. In addition, implementation of environmental regulations is not sufficiently supported by the public. There is also a lack of institutional capacity in terms of inadequately financed and staffed research/technical institutions, including monitoring and environment agencies, poor existing environment monitoring systems and a limited practice of environmental monitoring.
In terms of monitoring, it is important that:
· It is regular, consistent and of a high quality;
· There is a good understanding of the ecological state of the environment;
· Prompt and good quality information is provided to users at all levels;
· It provides a basis for the proper justification of environmental actions and their effective implementation;
· It supports improved international co-operation in the field of environment protection and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Deficiencies in legislation
There appear to be many similarities between the national legislation systems existing in the riparian countries, attributable to the fact that they are largely based upon the system used in the former USSR. However, significant differences have emerged during the past decade of independence. Weaknesses in the system include:
· The lack of a sustainable development concept in environmental legislation;
· Inconsistencies in environmental legislation, affected by inter-sectoral disagreements;
· Gaps in the existing legislative and regulatory framework that are not systematised and structured properly;
· An inadequate legislative process and the reference nature of laws;
· The inefficient economic and environmental review of draft legislation and regulations;
· Inefficient legislation enforcement and implementation mechanisms;
· The limited involvement of the public in the legislative process;
· The limited practice of independent due diligence review of draft laws.
Ineffective national/regional policies/management plans
National and regional policies/management plans are ineffective for a number of reasons. These include:
· The socio-economic crisis in the region;
· Ineffective and inefficient management systems;
· The application of market-based concepts and ownership arrangements to environmental resources;
· Ineffective credit finance policy, and a lack of incentives for the introduction of new technologies and environmental actions;
· The declarative nature of environmental priorities in socio-economic development strategies and environmental policies;
· National policies that do not focus on environmental education and awareness.
Location and concentration of industrial complexes
Historically, the large industrial centres of European Russia have been concentrated in the upper part of the Dnipro Basin with over 90% of the capacity in this part of the Basin located in 3 Oblasts. There has also been intensive industrial development in the Ukrainian part of the Dnipro Basin. The region currently accounts for over 60% of the total industrial production capacity of the country. Industrial facilities are distributed very unevenly over the territory of the Basin with more than two thirds of the regional industrial capacity concentrated within less than one third of the region’s area.
Increased role of mining for export income
A significant proportion of the national mineral resource of Belarus and Ukraine is concentrated in the Dnipro Basin, and together with related mining industries is one of the major contributors to export income, waste generation and environment pollution. Mineral resources mined in Ukraine constitute approximately one-third of the total Ukrainian export. During the past decade the export of mineral resources has been seen as a key factor in stimulating the Ukrainian economy.
Unsustainable use of water
Refer to Lack of incentives to reduce consumption including the introduction of cleaner technologies or sustainable practices for more details.
Lack of implementation of sustainable practices (agriculture)
The lack of implementation of sustainable practices in agriculture is due to a number of factors including a lack of investment, inadequate economic instruments/tariffs (incentives/sanctions) and a lack of human and technical capacity. Sustainable practices include changes in irrigation practices (more crop per drop), encouraging less water-intensive crops (through relative output prices), appropriate application of pesticides and fertilisers, improved ploughing techniques etc.
Programme Management Unit, the UNDP-GEF Dnipro Basin Environment Management Programme:
Lubomyr Markevych
Volodymyr Bilokon
Svitlana Pchelina
Pavlo YakovlevRegional TDA Coordinator:
Oleksandr Vasenko
International Consultants:
Laurence MeeChairmen of the National Programme Management Committees:
Aleksandr Apatsky
Nikolay Mikheev
Anatoliy Hritsenko
TDA Experts:|
Republic of Belarus: |
Russian Federation: |
Ukraine: |
|
Tamara Amvrosieva |
Andrey Aleshukin |
Kemali Aliev |
|
Sergey Balashenko |
Aleksandr Anischenko |
Bohdan Danylyshyn |
|
Mikhail Cherepansky |
Valentin Anuchkin |
Mikhailo Grodzynsky |
|
Aleftin Kolobaev |
Galina Chernogaeva |
Roman Khimko |
|
Vladimir Korneev |
Aleksey Chizhevsky |
Volodymyr Lozansky |
| Ivan Matveenko |
Evgeniy Grigoriev |
Gennadiy Marushevsky |
|
Aleksandr Odinets |
Iliya Komarov |
Oleksandr Mazurkevich |
|
Natalya Petrushkevich |
Nikolay Man’kov |
Natalya Movchan |
|
Ludmila Skripnichenko |
Viktor Melikhov |
Vasyl Navrotsky |
|
Aleksandr Stankevich |
Viktor Omelianenko |
Volodymyr Osadchy |
|
Gennadiy Tischikov |
Eduard Reznik |
Viktor Romanenko |
| Natalia Tomina |
Margarita Shevchenko |
Viktor Samoilenko |
|
Nikolay Tsygankov |
Pavlo Stankevych | |
|
Svetlana Utochkina |
Oleksandr Vasenko | |
|
Anna Vysochenko |
Oleg Voitsekhovich | |
| Olga Zhukova |
Mark Zheleznyak |