European Freshwater Species Strategy By Jasmine Bachmann WWF European Freshwater Programme This paper was written by Jasmine Bachmann, WWF Danube Carpathian Programme Office. Invaluable inputs and supervision were received from Jane Madgwick, WWF International. Acknowledgements are given to Jean Pierre D`Huart Günther Lutschinger Guido Schmidt Luc Dries Jari Lukkonen Erika Schneider Ulrich Eichelmann Simone Borelli Eckbert Schneider Silke Engling Michaela Bodner Heinz Stalder Vincent Graffin Micheal Lofröth Chris Tydeman Marja Innanen Panagiota Maragou Philip Weller Tibor Kovacs Petr Obrdlik Andreas Wurzer Elizabeth Leighton Callum Rankine from WWF. Thanks also to Dick Groenendijk, Dutch Butterfly Conservation, The Netherlands Berthold Heinze, Federal Forest Research Centre/EUFORGEN, Austria Nic Peet, BirdLife International, United Kingdom Viera Standova, Daphne, Slovakia Rustam Sagitov, Baltic Fund for Nature, Russia Alexei Zavarzin, Baltic Fund for Nature, Russia Special thanks are given to Suzie Holt and Trudy Follwell for additional help with the content and editorial support. Author’s address: Jasmine Bachmann WWF International Danube Carpathian Programme c/o WWF Austria Ottakringerstr. 114/116, 1160 Vienna, Austria [email protected] Co-ordinator’s address: Jane Madgwick WWF International European Freshwater Programme c/o WWF Denmark Ryesgade 3F, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark [email protected] June 2000 WWF. Any reproduction in full or in part of this publication must mention the title and credit the above mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. Table of Contents 1. Introduction __________________________________________________________ 1 2. Origin and Purpose _____________________________________________________ 1 3. Status Report on Freshwater Species _______________________________________ 2 4. Freshwater Species in International Treaties _______________________________ 10 5. The European Freshwater Programme ____________________________________ 14 6. The Use of Species in WWF Programmes __________________________________ 15 7. The Use of Freshwater Species in the European Freshwater Programme_________ 17 8. Methodology__________________________________________________________ 22 9. "Key Species" for the WWF European Freshwater Programme ________________ 25 10. Acronyms, Abbreviations and Explanations ________________________________ 61 11. Appendices _____________________________________________________________ 12. Literature ______________________________________________________________ WWF European Freshwater Species Strategy 1. Introduction Today, many freshwater species are threatened with extinction, due to loss or changes to their habitat. Numerous factors contribute to this decline; intensification of agriculture; intensive forestry and fishery; pollution; the introduction of non-indigenous species; over-harvesting and physical obstructions such as dams and locks all have grave repercussions on the life cycles and populations of freshwater organisms. These escalating pressures and subsequent species decline is contributing to an overall threat to the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems. The WWF European Freshwater Programme aims to highlight the decline of freshwater species, and has identified 15 species/species groups that would support a wide range of conservation, communication and fundraising activities in order to achieve the programme goals, and conserve the rich biological resources of freshwater ecosystems. 2. Origin and Purpose The project to develop the European Freshwater Species Strategy, with a list of 10-15 selected species, was started in July 1998, thanks to the financial support of WWF Sweden. The project co-ordination was undertaken by the WWF Danube Carpathian Programme office, based in Vienna, Austria. Jasmine Bachmann carried out the project under the supervision of Philip Weller (director of the WWF Danube Carpathian Programme), with constant guidance from Jane Madgwick (Head of the WWF European Freshwater Programme). The overall purpose of this project, as part of the WWF European Freshwater Programme, is to develop a species strategy for Europe to help WWF meet its nature conservation goals, including marketing, fundraising and communications. This will be done by selecting up to 15 species which can act as indicators/keystones/flagships for WWF European freshwater activities. Special focus has been given to rivers and floodplains. The project is intended to form a basic component of the European Freshwater Programme and follow-up work related to this activity will be incorporated into the work-plan (i.e. communications strategy and ecoregional project) of the Freshwater Programme and the activities of Programme Offices and National Organisations. This report is the output of the first year, but the project is expected to continue for at least three years. The next two years of the project will focus on campaigns and actions based on the preparatory work completed within this report. Methodological Outline 1) The project co-ordinator will conduct · a review of existing examples of methods and uses of freshwater keystone/indicator/flagship species (i.e. WWF Species Workshop, Red List, Austrian Living Rivers, WWF Marketing) based on literature review and consultations with appropriate persons (including persons involved in conservation, marketing, communications); · a review of the status of freshwater species in Europe as part of international treaties (Bern Convention, EC Habitats Directive). 2) A draft outline of a European Freshwater Species Strategy and the means of incorporating selected freshwater species into WWF programmes (i.e. ecoregions project, freshwater scorecards) will be developed. 1 3) A draft outline of proposed freshwater indicator species will be proposed based upon consultations with experts from throughout the European region (west of Ural mountains and north of the Caucasus). 4) An expert advisory group meeting (5 or 6 persons maximum) will be held to review the draft strategy and outline of indicator species, including representatives from partner organisations. 5) A revised strategy and list of up to 15 species will be prepared and sent to WWF Programme and Project Offices (Mediterranean, Russia, Baltic) and the European Freshwater Steering Group for comments. 6) A final report containing a review of existing methodologies and uses of keystone/indicator/flagship species (see point 1 above), a Freshwater Species Strategy for Europe, and list of species selected will be prepared. A preliminary summary of data related to each of these species and potential conservation strategies will be prepared (e.g. strategic conservation actions, communications, marketing/fundraising, political context, species action plans). At the conclusion of the project the following outputs will be realised: 1) A short review of examples of the use of keystone/indicator/flagship species (i.e. indicators of environmental quality, flagship species for promoting public interest). 2) A short review of the status of freshwater species in Europe as part of international treaties. 3) A definition of proposed strategy for uses of freshwater keystone/indicator/flagship species in WWF work. Possible uses include: a) Indicators of environmental quality b) Marketing c) Praising public awareness d) Species led campaigns (i.e. river basin management in Water Framework Directive) 4) A list of European Freshwater Species selected for the European Freshwater Programme 5) A report summarising the relationship between the list of species and the above four criteria, together with recommendations for action (i.e. introductions). This report will also include a summary about the relevant policy issues and organisational structures required to deliver benefits, together with the priorities for action. 6) A preliminary summary of data available related to each of the selected species and proposals for species action plans. 7) A proposal for WWF action for freshwater species in Europe over the next 2 years, as part of the European Freshwater Programme. 3. Status report on freshwater species As terrestrial beings, humans inhabitat the “land” of wetlands, and avoid getting wet! The fact that a large number of species worldwide depend either directly or indirectly on freshwater habitats can be easily overlooked. When evaluating European living rivers and lakes for biodiversity, it is not sufficient to only consider birds and fish. The complex nature of life- cycles, feeding habits and migration patterns of mostly terrestrial species, means that a large number of them are dependent on wetlands at some point in their lives. A wide range of other species, such as mammals, amphibians, insects and plants are dependent on wetland habitats. It is also important to stress that there are many exclusively aquatic species. 2 The ongoing degradation of freshwater ecosystems, due to human impact, not only disturbs habitats, but all life connected with them. These changes in the environment per se are not the main problem - it is the speed at which these changes take place that causes concern. Throughout evolution, plant and animal species have appeared and disappeared, but these changes have occurred over geological periods (Olschowy, 1985). During the last 10,000 years, human influence has accelerated the process greatly; the changes are too rapid for species to be able to adapt to the different circumstances. The omnipresent human impacts result in the creation of new ecological conditions and totally destroy some