Brussels, 23/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - According to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature), as we previously indicated, the ecological quality of rivers in the European Union and in the accession candidate countries leaves much to be desired. Also, if nothing is done to restore these waters to the natural state, there is a significant possibility that the enlarged Union does not respect, as it should, the standards imposed by the Water Framework Directive, which requires that the Member States guarantee, by 2015, an ecological condition of waters considered to be "good" or "very good". A new study on the state of rivers, lakes and wetland areas in Europe, published last Thursday by the WWF, reveals alarming trends.
The Rhone, Seine, Ebro, Segura, Danube (in Austria), Meuse and the Scheldt are among the rivers requiring the most significant restoration works to satisfy, in the given time, the ecological status of good quality. "Although heavy pollution in Europe's rivers is reduced, most European rivers are far from achieving their ecological potential", states Jane Madgwick, head of the WWF "Freshwater" programme.
Moreover, according to the European water and wetland index drafted by the WWF, 55 of the 69 river stretches that cross 16 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom) suffer from a mediocre ecological status due to the multiple pressures they experience: canalisation, dams, locks, over abstraction of water, industrial discharges, insufficient water treatment and heavy use of fertilisers.
Out of all the river stretches examined by the WWF, only a handful already satisfy the requirements of the future Directive: Wye and Usk (Wales), Teno (Finland), Morave (Austria), Coe (Scotland), Derwent (Great Britain), and Semois (Belgium).
Several of the most natural river stretches in Europe are located in the candidate countries (Narva in Estonia, Raba in Hungary, Goksu in Turkey and Mesta in Bulgaria), and many rivers in these countries are in a better condition that those in certain Member States of the Union. To the extent that Estonia, Slovakia and Hungary should have less difficulty in satisfying the new standards than certain Member States.
To achieve the status of "good ecological quality", it would be necessary to restore the flood zones and allow rivers to follow their own course, which presents, among others, the advantage of reducing the impact of floods on cities and urban areas, underlines the WWF. It would also be appropriate, feels the WWF, to undertake changes in the methods for water consumption, agricultural practices and irrigation.
France, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey have inadequate monitoring systems and lack basic information needed to improve the state of their rivers, wetlands and scarce freshwater resources. If we do not remedy the situation, those of these countries that are members of the European Union will be in violation of the Water Framework Directive, in 2006.
The notable improvement of rivers in Europe requires a substantial initial investment, but the cost of the revitalisation of rivers would be largely compensated by the savings in terms of damage caused by flooding, water treatment and public health, points out the WWF.