From River Watch to River Manage Public engagement in Integrated River Basin Management in the Eastern Baltic Project Meeting Nemunas, Vilnius, , 25 August 2017, 09:00-17:00 Lithuanian Fund for Nature, Algirdo st. 22-3, LT-03218 Vilnius

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme 09:00-09:15 Start of the meeting and introduction of the goals Mikhail Durkin, Coalition Clean Baltic (Sweden) 09:15-09:30 Re-cap of the previous NCM-funded project (Creating NGO-led monitoring plan) Mikhail Durkin, Coalition Clean Baltic (Sweden) 09:30-10:00 Brief intro of the project (more detailed discussions after lunch) Mikhail Durkin 10:00-10:30 Coffee 10:30-12:30 Presentation of national cases with public participation in water management in /Nemunas catchments, state-of-the-art, challenges and opportunities - Situation in , Eugeniy Lobanov, CES - Situation in Lithuania, Edmundas Greimas, Lithuanian Fund for Nature - Situation in Poland, Natalia Kozak, Polish Ecological Club - Situation in Russia, Yulia Aldushina, BBNP 12:30-13:30 Lunch 13:30-15:00 Experiences of microplastic monitoring in rivers / work on microplastic - Belarus, Yulia Veres - Lithuania, Indre Ceidaite, Lithuanian Fund for Nature - Poland, Natalia Kozak, Polish Ecological Club - Russia, Daria Mytareva, Friends of the Baltic 15:00-15:30 Coffee 15:30-17:00 Road ahead – planning the project, deliverables, practicalities: who does what. Next meetings 17:00 End of the meeting co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Purpose of the Project Meeting

1. Update on the project (status vs. application) 2. Assessment of current river management and public engagement activities occurring in each country 3. Experience with Public Advisory River Teams (PARTs) 4. State-of-play with riverine monitoring of microplastics 5. Distribution of tasks for continuation of the project 6. AoB

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Creation of a Sustainable, NGO- led River Monitoring Network on the Neman and Pregola Rivers

Lithuanian Fund for Nature Center for Environmental Solutions Green Front Polish Ecological Club CCB / Stockholm Environment Institute

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Neman/Pregolya Transboundary River Basins

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Overall objective

The overall project objective is to create a Neman and Pregola Rivers Monitoring Network.

The project will engage civil society organizations in Belarus, Lithuania and Poland • to educate and involve "citizen scientists", together with university advisors, • to collect and share information about river health across borders in a system that is easy to maintain and sustain for many years to come.

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Envisaged project results

• Strengthen NGO partnership across the Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and Russian borders organized around transboundary river monitoring. • Creation of a sustainable River Monitoring Plan and Network, designed on a citizen-science model • Development of university partnerships in Belarus, Poland and Lithuania that bring environmental scientists into the project to support and advise the NGO Network. • Engage and educate people to serve as "river stewards" collecting and sharing water quality data across borders. • Launch of a web-based water quality data management system designed to support the Monitoring network co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Verifiable indicators of success

• Robust partner participation in planned meetings of the project, to share information and solve problems • Development of partnership agreements with three Universities, to support and advise the River Monitoring Network. • Creation of a detailed NGO River Monitoring Plan for the Neman & Pregola River systems establishing monitoring locations, sampling procedures and protocols. • Development, launching and maintenance of a web-based water quality data management system for use by the NGOs in all three countries. • Partner expression of commitment to continue to cooperate and finance ongoing support of the River co-funded by EU Monitoring Network LIFE Programme Neman & Pregolya Rivers Monitoring Plan • Based on existing NGO-led river monitoring programs designed on a citizen science model. • Clear strategy for sustained leadership by NGOs, • Active engagement of citizen scientists in communities all along the rivers to collect water quality data and educate their neighbors about river health, • Strong university partnerships to help ensure data quality and credibility. The Final Draft Plan includs: (1)monitoring goals and objectives; (2)sampling parameters (ie. dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, etc); (3)selection of monitoring station locations; (4)volunteer training, field collection and lab procedures; and (5)Data Quality Assurance Plan

(6)Specification of equipment needed co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Project timeline updated

December 2015 – Grant Awarded, Contract signed Jun 2016 January 2016 February 2016 Project Start, Partner Coordination Kick-Off Call Jun/Jul 2016 Divide project tasks among partners e

March/April 2016 Meeting One – Gdansk,Poland Aug. 2016 Vilnius

July/August 2016 Meeting Two – Vilnius, Lithuania Oct. 2016 Olsztyn September/October Meeting Three – Minsk, Belarus Dec.2016 2016 Kaliningrad

November- Website and River Monitoring Plans completed Jan. 2016 December 2016 January 2017 Preparation of Final Report to NCM, Project Close. Project Conference, Minsk

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Deliverables:

Draft Monitoring Plan & Data Collection System

co-funded by EU Application for the follow-up LIFE Programme pending From River Watch to River Manage Public engagement in Integrated River Basin Management in the Eastern Baltic

Lithuanian Fund for Nature Center for Environmental Solutions Ecohome Nerush Green Planet Friends of the Baltic Peipsi Lake Project Polish Ecological Club Coalition Clean Baltic and its partners in Ukraine

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Overall objectives of the Project

1. Improve a consistent and holistic implementation of EU and regional policies • Strive towards reaching WFD’s GES of rivers draining to the as having immense importance for reducing pollution inputs, as well as for conservation of biodiversity. 2. Secure NGO and civil society participation and inclusiveness • Explore possibilities for establishing a joint public advisory team for a transboundary Baltic river basin, with wide stakeholder engagement, to identify important actions needed for river management and to support reaching WFD water quality goals 3. Secure best use of public resources, both money and work • Evaluate efficiency of pollution abatement measures within

transboundary river basins co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Strategic directions of the Project • Coordination and strengthening of NGO input and awareness raising work to be a relevant actor/partner

• Participation and demanding transparent processes in implementing and creating new policies

• Active support to policy development and implementation holding decision makers accountable

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Envisaged project results (medium-term)

• support to EU countries sharing transboundary river basins with third countries in facilitation of joint water management • enhance public awareness, capacity building and public engagement in river basin management • promote development and enforcement of stricter abatement measures in shared rivers basins • provide input to HELCOM’s work on nutrient reduction targets and mitigation of marine litter inputs • contribute to development of an approach to mitigate increased pollution load to rivers and Baltic Sea from increased precipitation/drainage, as impact of climate change co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Envisaged project results (short-term)

• Existing pollution abatement measures within Nemunas, Daugava and Western Bug river basins are evaluated • Joint Public Advisory River Team (PART) for the above transboundary basins are establishing and functioning • International Conference on Transboundary River Basin Management in the context of reaching Good Ecological Status is arranged • A methodology on potential riverine sources/inputs of litter is developed and tested at national and transboundary level • CCB’s River Watch (RW) Manual (including appendices) for public environmental monitoring is amended with a methodology for monitoring litter inputs; the amendments are translated into few Baltic Sea languages; • Youth RW camp/expedition (including training for RW leaders) and testing of updated RW manual is done • Public awareness material on riverine inputs/sources of litter are co-funded by EU prepared and published LIFE Programme Verifiable indicators: communication

• number of policy inputs presented to HELCOM/EU Strategy for the BSR, e.g. on transboundary riverine inputs of nutrients and litter, contributing to implementation of HELCOM BSAP (and its follow up) and EU law • proposals submitted to policy level with regards to setting river-basin nutrient reduction targets (downscaling HELCOM’s Country-Allocated Reduction Targets), as well as addressing riverine sources of litter • number of communication materials produced in local, national and BSR media in relation to the project • number of social media outreach in relation to project’s implementation

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Verifiable indicators: PARTs

• number of Public Advisory River Teams (PARTs) established and functioning; • stakeholder composition of PARTs (NGOs and individuals involved, sectorial stakeholder groups attracted, e.g. anglers, farmers, etc.) • number of PARTs created as replication in other basins • number and composition of thematic working groups within PARTs • number of events arranged by PARTs, number and composition of participants of those events • number and composition of participants, geographic scope covered by the international conference on transboundary

river basins; feedback from the participants co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Verifiable indicators: River Watch

• number of novel methodological tools produced (riverine litter monitoring methodology and manual); • number of new sources of pollution identified within RW campaigns and communicated to the authorities • number and type of mitigation measures taken to reduce pollution inputs from newly identified sources • number and composition of national and international trainings on RW; • number of dissemination events arranged and materials produced/disseminated at those events

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Activities: important for management

• Nemunas: – plans for hydropower development in the lower and medium flow of the river (Lithuania), salmonid fish conservation and habitat restoration (especially relevant upstream in Belarus), impacts of large infrastructure projects (construction of new Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus, operation of large Industrial Animal Farms across the catchment), protection of eel population; • Daugava: – hydropower development in the medium and upper flow of the river (Belarus), impacts of large infrastructure projects (construction of new large Industrial Animal Farms – especially in Pskov Region of Russia), protection of eel population; • Western Bug: – harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with EU environmental acquis (e.g. WFD) and hence the need for respective capacity building, waste water management, especially in rural areas (Ukraine and Belarus), agricultural co-funded by EU runoff LIFE Programme Activities: important for PARTs (1)

Joint Public Advisory River Teams • act as an informal platform to boost transboundary cooperation within shared river basins and expand cooperation and exchange of experiences among several river basins • comprise of civil society representatives (NGOs, individuals) working within specific catchment area with water/river basin management related issues • regularly meet to discuss actual water management agenda, • establish thematic working groups to address relevant issues e.g. flood protection/emergencies, nature conservation, water pollution, etc. • invite for its meetings representatives of national water management authorities, • cooperate actively with relevant research institutions, • provide broad dissemination of information on its activities, • facilitate public awareness and capacity building for local residents co-funded by EU on the state of river basins. LIFE Programme Activities: important for PARTs (2)

• Inception Phase, starting already 2016 (implemented with EU/Sida funding) – preparatory work: (1) inventory of existing RBMPs across the selected basins (EU/non- EU); (2) inventory of previous efforts/projects addressing joint river basin management; (3) inventory/mapping of public initiatives within river basins; – a workshop for all priority river basins (Daugava, Nemunas, Western Bug); • Phase I Implementation: 2017 (NCM, Postkod, EU, Sida) – establishment and launching joint Public Advisory River basin management Teams (PARTs) in pilot river basins: Nemunas (Belarus/Lithuania/Poland/Russia), Daugava (Russia/Belarus/Latvia), Western Bug/Vistula (Ukraine/Belarus/Poland – activities in Ukraine will be funded from a different source); – start-up of the thematic working groups within PARTs: on biodiversity (salmon, eel conservation), water pollution (nutrients, litter) and agriculture (runoff, IAF) – arranging an international conference for major Baltic Sea transboundary river basins; • Phase II, Follow-up: 2018 → (to ensure sustainability of PARTs, to be financed with other sources) – follow-up work with continuation of work of established PARTs and replicating this experience in other transboundary river basins (e.g. Narva, Gauja, Venta);

support to regular meetings of established bodies. co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Activity Place and date Nemunas Daugava Western Bug/Vistula Role in the project / Tasks

International Minsk, LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice Initial kick-off and introduction to the topic of Workshop on 18.01.17 Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project World Lab the project; teaming up with basin-wise transboundary river Green Front (RU) Friends of the Baltic Ecoterra colleagues basin management in PKE Gdansk Center for Env. Solutions Nerush the eastern part of the Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Baltic Sea catchment Nerush, Solutions area, Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Ecoproject Kick-off meeting of the Stockholm, LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice Introduction to the topic of microplastic Plastic Free Baltic 05.03.17 Green Planet (RU) Friends of the Baltic World Lab monitoring; discussion on the methodology Project Green Front (RU) Center for Env. Solutions Ecoterra PKE Gdansk Nerush Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Nerush, Solutions Ecopartnership Baltic Sea Future Stockholm, LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice Networking, discussing cooperation projects; Congress 06-07.03.17 Green Planet (RU) Friends of the Baltic Center World Lab stakeholder engagement Green Front (RU) for Env. Solutions Ecoterra Nerush PKE Gdansk Center for Env. Center for Env. Solutions, Solutions Nerush, Ecopartnership Round table St.Petersburg, Green Planet (RU) Friends of the Baltic Center for Env. Exchange of experience with forming PART in “Ecosystem approach in 22.03.17 Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Solutions Luga River Basin; discussing the ways for integrated river basin. public participation in river basin Role and place of public management participation”

Regional Workshop of Kaliningrad, Green Planet (RU) discussing prospects for PART in Nemunas the ICLD Cooperation 04-05.04.17 Green Front (RU) River basin Programme between Nature Heritage (RU) Russian and Swedish Municipalities Seminar: Ecological Lviv, PKE Gliwice Discussing solutions for minimising inputs Safety and Sustainable 27.04.17 World Lab from agriculture within transboundary river Agriculture Ecoterra basin; introducing WFD implementation and public participation CCB Annual Conference Rostock, LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice Discussion within CCB WG RIVER (River Basin 12-13.05.17 Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project World Lab and Wastewater Management), WG AGRI PKE Gdansk Friends of the Baltic Ecoterra (Water Protection in Agriculture) and WG Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Nerush HAZARD (Hazardous Substances and Marine Nerush, Center for Env. Litter); planning activities in basin teams Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Solutions Activity Place and date Nemunas Daugava Western Bug/Vistula Role in the project / Tasks Collection of May-August, in all LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice Baseline information should be collected on baseline three basins Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project , World Lab - the work on transboundary river management - information PKE Gdansk Friends of the Baltic, Ecoterra already completed or ongoing projects, and setting Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Nerush established networks (e.g. Eco-Krones) and up Nerush, Center for Env. looking for potential partners. partnerships Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Solutions - environmental conditions and pressures (including individual hot spots within basin) This work may result in compilation of a baseline report (smth similar to background information in Joint Public Monitoring Plan for Nemunas and Pregola Rivers) and a map with indication of hot spots & pressures

International [July/August] specific LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice - Participation of 1-3 persons per partner River camp date and place to be Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project , World Lab - Microplastic monitoring (in coordination with decided by river teams PKE Gdansk Friends of the Baltic, Ecoterra PlasticFreeBaltic) and may vary from the Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Nerush - Sharing knowledge on PARTs and compilation of proposed Nerush, Ecohome baseline info Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Center for Env. Solutions 1st Working [End of August], LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice - Presentation of baseline information Meeting of a specific date and place Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project , World Lab - Discussion of progress Basin team to be decided by river PKE Gdansk Friends of the Baltic, Ecoterra - Planning teams and may vary Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Nerush - Proposals for functions and establishment of from the proposed Nerush, Ecohome PARTs Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Center for Env. - - Selecting core project/topic for PARTs (e.g. Solutions inland waterway canal in W.Bug basin or WFD implementation, flood risks or salmon migration - in Nemunas, dams and IAF – in Daugava) 2nd Working [End of October], LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice - Establishing PARTs with involvement of other Meeting of specific date and place Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project , World Lab NGOs Basin teams to be decided by river PKE Gdansk Friends of the Baltic, Ecoterra - Discussing both baseline information and tasks teams and may vary Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Ecohome for PARTs from the proposed Nerush, Nerush - Planning the process Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Center for Env. - In Daugava basin the meeting can be arranged Solutions back-to-back with Dunes, Aarhus and SDG Conference on 26-27 September Joint Project [End of December, LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club LV, PKE Gliwice - Review of the project work, Conference potentially in Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project , World Lab - sharing basin experiences and knowledge Druskininkai], specific PKE Gdansk Friends of the Baltic, Ecoterra - planning for the future date and place to be Center for Env. Solutions, Center for Env. Solutions Ecohome - preferably with involvement of national decided by river teams Nerush, Nerush authorities in river basin management from all and may vary from the Ecohome/Ekokontseptsija Center for Env. participating countries proposed Solutions - potentially can be combined with microplastic project (tbc) Budget, SEK

1 Main activities 216701 2 Wages 70092 3 Consultant fee/external services 108642,6 4 Administration/office related expenses 46728 5 Travel costs incl accomodation 99297 5.1 Kick off workshops 52569 6. Project dissemination 81774 7 Evaluation 14018,4 8 Audit 11682 8.1 Audit report 11682 Total Expenses 648935 Total 100,00% Co-funding (CCB) 64893 Applied for from the NCM 584042

co-funded by EU LIFE Programme Partnership

Nemunas Daugava Western Bug

LT Fund for Nature Env. Protection Club (LV) PKE Gliwice (PL) Green Planet (RU) Peipsi Lake Project (RU) CES (BY) PKE Gdansk (PL) Friends of the Baltic (RU) Nerush (BY) CES (BY) CES (BY) World Lab (UA) Nerush (BY) Ecoterra (UA) Ecohome (BY)

Important: please involve more partners in the national work! To-do / Challenges list

• Collection of baseline information and setting up partnerships – Should be finalised by the 2nd Project Meeting • International River camp – Will be arranged in Baranovichi, Belarus, 20-24 September – Up to 3 persons per country – Camp costs will be taken from second transfer proportionally from all • 2 Project Meetings (October?) – Establishment of PARTs – involve other NGOs and sectors – Potentially back-to-back with other projects/meetings/events – Update on microplastics screening / methodology • Joint Project Conference – Preliminary – Druskininkai, Lithuania, w.51 (18-22 Dec 2017) – All partners and PARTs to be present/presented • Financing and Reporting – Money to be spent by 31 December 2017 – Fin. & narr. Reports by organizations: 31 January 2018 – CCB reports to NCM by 28 February 2018

• New application to NCM co-funded by EU LIFE Programme – November? – Continuation of PARTs work Thank you for your attention!

Östra Ågatan 53, SE-753 22 Uppsala, Sweden +46 73-977 07 93; [email protected] www.ccb.se

@coalitioncleanbaltic/ @CCBnetwork

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co-funded by EU LIFE Programme