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Priority Transboundary Issues of the Basin
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2.3. Priority Transboundary Issues of the Basin
Twenty two GIWA issues from five major concern areas were assessed in order to determine their relevance and transboundary nature in the context of the Dnipro Basin. Using the GIWA methodology, the following suite of criteria was defined and used for the prioritisation of these transboundary issues:
- Transboundary nature of an issue.
- Scale of impacts of an issue on the Dnipro Basin and Black Sea ecosystems.
- Scale of impacts of an issue on economic activities, the environment and human health.
- Relevance of an issue from the perspective of national priorities reflected in existing national policies and action plans on environmental rehabilitation and biodiversity conservation in the Dnipro Basin.
- Scope of the systemic relationship with other environmental issues and economic sectors.
- Expected multiple benefits that might be achieved by addressing an issue.
- Lack of perceived progress in addressing/solving an issue at the national level.
As a result of this analysis, 12 major transboundary issues were identified in the Dnipro Basin. These are listed below in order of priority:
1) Chemical pollution;
2) Modification/loss of ecosystems or ecotones and decreased viability of biological resources due to contamination and diseases;
3) Modification of the hydrological regime of surface waters;
4) Eutrophication;
5) Pollution by radio nuclides;
6) Flooding events and elevated groundwater levels;
7) Solid waste;
8) Accidental spills and releases;
9) Microbiological pollution;
10) Changes in the water table;
11) Suspended solids;
12) Impact on biological and genetic diversity.
Of these 12 transboundary issues, identified and examined in the TDA, the following six issues were considered as a priority:
i. Chemical pollution;
ii. Modification/loss of ecosystems or ecotones and decreased viability of biological resources due to contamination and diseases;
iii. Modification of the hydrological regime;
iv. Eutrophication;
v. Flooding events and elevated groundwater levels;
vi. Pollution by radio nuclides.
Based on the results of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, the proposed options were formulated to resolve these six priority transboundary issues.
In addition, a baseline assessment of the state of the transboundary sections of the Dnipro Basin, completed as part of the TDA process, provided a basis for the justification of the long-term ecological quality objectives for the Dnipro Basin.
