Wetland
loss through drainage
LB-2
Loss
of Biodiversity
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Loss
of wetland area.
.
Unit
of Measurement is percentage
of
wetland area lost with reference to an appropriate baseline year (e.g.
“Ramsar” year 1971).
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.3: Protection of nature
and bio-diversity and section 5.4: Management of water resources.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
15: Conservation of biological diversity, section 15.5 (g) calls for “
in
situ
measures
to embrace vulnerable freshwater and other wetland ecosystems”.
Chapter
18: Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application
of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water
resources, section 18.40 e) iii) calls for the “conservation and
protection of wetlands”.
International
conventions and agreements:
Ramsar
convention on wetlands of international importance (2nd February 1971).
EU
directive 79/409 on conservation of wild birds (Berne convention, 2nd April
1979).
EU
directive 92/43 on conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
(May 1992).
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
2
(52%)
Policy
Relevance:
3
(3.1)
Analytical
Soundness:
1
(3.4)
Responsiveness:
6
(2.6)
Most
appropriate related state indicators:
Wetland
extent (ha).
3 Significance
Purpose:
Wetlands
are a very appropriate indicator of environmental quality both for biodiversity
and water resources and for this reason they have frequently been proposed as
pressure indicators.
Relevance:
There
is considerable variation in the degree of importance attached, historically
and more recently, to the preservation of wetland areas: regional variations
are notable, with northern European countries now becoming highly sensitised to
wetland protection (and restoration) issues. This may be a reflection of the
smaller wetland area remaining in the north compared to southern regions.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
In
the Loss of Biodiversity policy field, LB-3: Agricultural intensity; LB-6:
Change in traditional land use practices.
In
Marine Environment & Coastal Zones, ME-8: Wetland loss.
In
Resource Depletion, RD-1: Water consumption per capita.
In
Urban Environmental Problems, UP-6: Land consumption, change from natural to
built up area.
Targets:
Natura
2000 network of SPAs/SACs.
Agenda
21: Restoration of
x
km
2.
5EAP:
No further deterioration in protected areas.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
Historically,
wetland habitats have been under pressure through drainage for agriculture and
other land use purposes. Their important role in water resource management as
well as biodiversity conservation is now recognised.
Measurement
methods:
Standardisation
is required to monitor wetland extent and there are difficulties in defining
the boundaries of (current and historic) wetlands. An index of wetland quality
is important, e.g. in relation to the degree of importance for migratory birds.
The proposed European Inventory of Wetlands (Montecatini meeting) is urgently
needed and should gather data on wetland extent and losses due to all
identifiable human pressures.
Limitations
of the indicator:
(i)
There is insufficient data, even for the extent of existing wetlands, for many
countries.
(ii)
The indicator provides no indication of wetland quality and hence actual or
potential biodiversity.
(iii)
The "area" indicator subsumes pressures/cumulative impacts on wetland
function.
(iv)
It is difficult to incorporate the range of wetland types.
Alternative
definitions:
The
indicator could be disaggregated by sector e.g.: forestry or agriculture,
tourism, energy, transport, waste.
