Biodiversity_01_UNDPelv
18
9/6/12
9:11 AM
Page 18
B I O D I V E R S I T Y : D E L I V E R I N G R E S U LT S I N E U R O P E A N D T H E C I S
1.2 Freshwater ecosystems The biodiversity of freshwater systems in the region has suffered as a result of a range of anthropogenic impacts. These include major modifications to natural ecological processes (through, for example, dam construction and interrupted connectivity of river systems), changes in discharge regimes, water abstraction, over-exploitation of aquatic species, habitat degradation, pollution by agricultural and industrial effluents, and the impacts of alien invasive species. Climate change is acting as an additional stressor, adding to these impacts14. There has been some progress in reducing pollution in the EU Member and candidate States of Eastern Europe, where the introduction of EU regulations and programmes has led to improved wastewater treatment, reductions in volumes of industrial effluents, reduced use of fertilizers, limits to phosphate content in detergents and lower emissions of atmospheric pollutants.
Prespa Lake in Macedonia. PHOTO: MICHAEL R APPLETON
Fish are one of the most important sources of protein for people in the region. According to an FAO report from 201115 the inland waters of Central Asia produced more than 57,000 tonnes of fish in 2009, but this was just over a quarter of what was harvested in 1988. Eastern Europe has not seen such a dramatic collapse, and has a current annual production of around 50,000 tonnes. In the Russian Federation, the production of inland fish was around 437,000 tonnes in 1988; catches declined to about half that figure in 1994, but have now stabilised. Overfishing as a result of inadequate regulation and enforcement is the most obvious cause of the collapse of fisheries, but in Central Asia the declining quality and quantity of water and wasteful water management have also been major contributing factors. The spread of alien invasive species, through deliberate or accidental introduction, has also had a major impact on fisheries of native species and on entire aquatic ecosystems. All of these problems are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.
14 Verdonschot, Piet F.M. et al. (2010). Climate change and the hydrology and morphology of freshwater ecosystems. In eds Kernan, M., Battarbee R. & Moss, B. Climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Blackwell Publishing Limited. 15 Welcomme, R. (2011). Review of the state of the world fishery resources: inland fisheries. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 942, Rev. 2. Rome, FAO.