Streams as “Green energy” source for Biodiversity and Streams as “Green energy” source for Biodiversity and Purification in Changing Climate Conditions. Purification in Changing Climate Conditions. Developing Initiative “Place a Stone in the Stream”Developing Initiative “Place a Stone in the Stream”

Andris Urtāns Andris Urtāns Nature Conservation Agency, August 22, 2012.Nature Conservation Agency, August 22, 2012.

“Man and Biosphere”

Biosphere reserves are areas of innovation aimed to achieve balance in Nature Conservation and social and economical development

Energy consumption. Europe at night

Basics about water

1. Water is:

• Universal solvent,

• Transmitter of energy and matter,

• Media for physical, chemical and biochemical reactions,

• Living space.

Energy transform matter and ends in the Baltic www.bnsc.gov.uk/.../Pollution/8073.aspx

General information

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General Information

• Area of Latvia 64 00 sq.km, Population about 2 mln,

• 12.4 thousand watercourses and 2000 lakes

• Water (lakes &rivers) covers about 2,4% of Latvia

• Total length of rivers about • 37 500km• 777 streams longer than 10 km• About 30% of total stream

length are meliorated (Deepened, straigthened etc)

• 17 rivers longer than 100 km• 2 rivers longer than 300 km• Beavers 100.000

Visualisation of Non-intervention approach in rivers. Eutrophication, Sedimentation,Tunnelling, Beaver

River as an open System. Differencies of historically extensive management and Non-intervention approach

Climate Change; Mean Summer Climate Change; Mean Summer temperature (VI-VIII) 2000., 2050., 2100. temperature (VI-VIII) 2000., 2050., 2100.

Temperature increase in 2100. Temperature increase in 2100. comparing with 2000.comparing with 2000.

Latvian rivers becomes silent.

Listen :Living river feature – You can hear it !!!

Initiative “Place a Stone in the Stream””

The Aim of the Initiative :

• Support and increase Biodiversity in rivers,

• Improve river functionality and selfpurification capacities,

• Improve functionality of river Coastal zone and shape river landscape,

• Adapt possible Climate Change impacts on to the river ecosystem,

• Raise citizen awareness and motivation through practical involvement.

Stone Phenomenon

• Stones as a diverse microhabitats

• Stone surface covered with “biofilm” acting as wastewater treatment unit

• Stones as an mechanical aeration units (especially during summer periods with low natural oxygen saturation)

• Possible innovative Climate Change adaptation tool.

5 – 10 kv.m riffle area transforms wastes generated by one person

Stone surface

• If covered by erosional sediment, stone surfaces becomes inactive,

Foto: L.Engele

Misused possible Ecosystem services

Giving back river functionalty

Giving back river functionality

Community involvement

Sun, good company and visible result seen by physicists, Estonian environmentalists, NGOs, Head of Municipality

Vidzeme Planning Region Administration and representatives from Mass media in River Vaive 2011

Leaflet produced on processes in rivers and how to install stones

Education and Voluntary River Quality Assessment scheme promoting involvement in practical activities

Many enjoy visibility of result. Initiative is supported by the UNESCO Latvian National Commission

Results

• Reopening of silted stones and their clusters or installation of new stones provides multi level impacts on water chemistry, biological diversity and general quality.

• According to literature 5 – 10 sq.m riffle area transforms organic matter generated by one person, i.e. acts as local wastewater treatment unit.

• More diverse riverside landscape.• Innovative low cost and locally viable Climate

Change adaptation tool.

Conclusion

• Equipped with knowledge and right motivation we can use energy of our rivers improving their selfpurification capacity and saving biodiversity in changing Climate conditions.

• And we are not small screws in big World. There is sense in what we are doing . We are needed here and now.