Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NORDBALT-ECOSAFE (Nitrogen and phosphorus load reduction approach within safe ecological boundaries for the Nordic-Baltic region)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-02-29
The NORDBALT-ECOSAFE project involves eight partners in the Nordic-Baltic region and includes seven work packages and a crosscutting
issue on climate change. The project aims to develop new standards for setting safe ecological boundaries in water bodies and novel
nutrient regulations using models, mitigation and policy tools and governance schemes. We will make an in-depth assessment of nutrient
reference conditions and establish harmonised safe ecological boundaries for various biological indicators in water bodies, including
climate change impacts. We will apply a state-of-the-art catchment model (SWAT+) to the project’s six river basins to demonstrate to
stakeholders how to estimate nutrient concentrations, loads, sources and pathways, followed by a comparison of our findings with existing
national models to assess model credibility. The water body status after adoption of the new ecological boundaries will be investigated
using the SWAT+ output and an analysis of a large-scale river dataset on the entire Nordic-Baltic region. In NORDBALT-ECOSAFE
we will produce guidance for the use of high frequency sensors in nutrient monitoring and their pros and cons compared to standard
monitoring techniques. An analysis of trends in river stoichiometry (CNP) in the region will be made and the outcome compared with
that of historical policies. We will develop novel indicators for balancing GHG emissions with nutrient loadings to water bodies and
a framework for novel nature-based solutions (NBSs) and mitigation measures (MMs), including guidance for optimum efficiency for
nutrient reduction and side effects. Finally, a River Basin Management Support System for implementing NBSs and MMs in river basins
to meet nutrient reduction targets will be developed and demonstrated. Stakeholders and policy makers will be involved at all project
stages.
issue on climate change. The project aims to develop new standards for setting safe ecological boundaries in water bodies and novel
nutrient regulations using models, mitigation and policy tools and governance schemes. We will make an in-depth assessment of nutrient
reference conditions and establish harmonised safe ecological boundaries for various biological indicators in water bodies, including
climate change impacts. We will apply a state-of-the-art catchment model (SWAT+) to the project’s six river basins to demonstrate to
stakeholders how to estimate nutrient concentrations, loads, sources and pathways, followed by a comparison of our findings with existing
national models to assess model credibility. The water body status after adoption of the new ecological boundaries will be investigated
using the SWAT+ output and an analysis of a large-scale river dataset on the entire Nordic-Baltic region. In NORDBALT-ECOSAFE
we will produce guidance for the use of high frequency sensors in nutrient monitoring and their pros and cons compared to standard
monitoring techniques. An analysis of trends in river stoichiometry (CNP) in the region will be made and the outcome compared with
that of historical policies. We will develop novel indicators for balancing GHG emissions with nutrient loadings to water bodies and
a framework for novel nature-based solutions (NBSs) and mitigation measures (MMs), including guidance for optimum efficiency for
nutrient reduction and side effects. Finally, a River Basin Management Support System for implementing NBSs and MMs in river basins
to meet nutrient reduction targets will be developed and demonstrated. Stakeholders and policy makers will be involved at all project
stages.
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE project has applied a harmonized method to calculate nutrient reference conditions in different freshwater bodies (lakes and rivers) in the Nordic-Baltic region and compared the achieved nutrient reference conditions with the existing nationally applied reference conditions (D1.1). NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has also developed new boundaries for good/moderate conditions for total N and total P concentrations for a range of river and lake types in the Nordic-Baltic region (D1.2). The new boundaries are developed based on a huge dataset of EQR values for biological indicators in rivers and lakes and nutrient concentrations for the partner countries. A new policy brief on pros and cons about use of real time sensor data for monitoring and decision making has been published as a deliverable (D2.1). Also a novel interactive map showcasing real time sensor data from river monitoring stations in the NORDIC-Baltic region has been published (D2.2) and is online on the project Online Networking for users to zoom in on a specific station and having access to a factsheet to learn more about its instrumentation, data capture processes, databases, maintenance, and calibration procedures to promote a better understanding of the current availability as well as the pros and cons of online sensors among stakeholders, decision makers, and other end-users (see https://projects.au.dk/nordbalt-ecosafe(opens in new window)). A new fact sheet has been published that evaluate benefits and tradeoffs of implementing Constructed Ponds and Wetlands in Agricultural Areas (D3.1).
The Nordic-Baltic region has a long tradition of developing and testing different Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) and mitigation measures (MMs) within agriculture and forestry. It is therefore well-suited for the development of a novel decision support tool guiding river basin managers and stakeholders in the selection of the most effective NBSs and MMs for reaching the required nutrient load reductions and their optimal placement in a river basin. As a first step in the development of such a tool NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has identified the NBSs and MMs that are most well-established in the Nordic-Baltic region and compiling them in a NBS and MM portfolio (D5.1). Based on the NBS and MM portfolio, a classification framework considering various factors that are essential for selecting, designing, and evaluating a particular measure has been developed in NORDBALT-ECOSAFE (D5.2). In combination with the SWAT+ modelling in WP4, the classification framework can help to identify the most suitable measures and optimize their placement in a given river basin/catchment. NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has also developed examples of Info Sheets that enables end-users to compare between the six NORDBALT-ECOSAFE countries established knowledge on NBSs and MMs as this is expected to add more to the existing body of knowledge than additional fact sheets about the measures in a regional context.
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has published a fact sheet to assist policy makers and river basin managers to apply a systemic approach to preventing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution across economic sectors to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (D6.1). The fact sheet includes examples of how to conduct efficient and just policies for mitigating agricultural nutrient emissions in the Nordic-Baltic region. NORDBALT-ECOSAFE had its first round of meetings with regional and national stakeholders in the project river basins early in the project period to have their inputs to the project aims and WPs (D7.3)
The Nordic-Baltic region has a long tradition of developing and testing different Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) and mitigation measures (MMs) within agriculture and forestry. It is therefore well-suited for the development of a novel decision support tool guiding river basin managers and stakeholders in the selection of the most effective NBSs and MMs for reaching the required nutrient load reductions and their optimal placement in a river basin. As a first step in the development of such a tool NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has identified the NBSs and MMs that are most well-established in the Nordic-Baltic region and compiling them in a NBS and MM portfolio (D5.1). Based on the NBS and MM portfolio, a classification framework considering various factors that are essential for selecting, designing, and evaluating a particular measure has been developed in NORDBALT-ECOSAFE (D5.2). In combination with the SWAT+ modelling in WP4, the classification framework can help to identify the most suitable measures and optimize their placement in a given river basin/catchment. NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has also developed examples of Info Sheets that enables end-users to compare between the six NORDBALT-ECOSAFE countries established knowledge on NBSs and MMs as this is expected to add more to the existing body of knowledge than additional fact sheets about the measures in a regional context.
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has published a fact sheet to assist policy makers and river basin managers to apply a systemic approach to preventing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution across economic sectors to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (D6.1). The fact sheet includes examples of how to conduct efficient and just policies for mitigating agricultural nutrient emissions in the Nordic-Baltic region. NORDBALT-ECOSAFE had its first round of meetings with regional and national stakeholders in the project river basins early in the project period to have their inputs to the project aims and WPs (D7.3)
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has developed and tested a new method to derive nutrient reference conditions for river and lake types in the NORDIC-BALTIC region as the methodology has been tested in the six partner countries.
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has developed a Fact Sheet with new safe nutrients boundaries for establishing good ecological conditions in different river and lake types in the NORDIC-BALTIC region.
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE has developed a Fact Sheet with new safe nutrients boundaries for establishing good ecological conditions in different river and lake types in the NORDIC-BALTIC region.