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Executive Summary
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document is the result of the collaborative effort of the leading specialists of the Republic of Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine, assisted by many international experts. It represents the first-ever attempt to produce an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the environmental situation within the whole Dnipro Basin.
Information gathered by the national experts from the three riparian countries and materials produced by IDRC, UNIDO and IAEA within the framework of the Project are unique, both in terms of their wealth and depth of analysis. This material has covered a broad range of economic, environmental, institutional and other activities, as well as their environmental consequences.
This analysis employed new information gathering mechanisms, the experience of a number of GEF projects to date in the design of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, and tools originally developed for the Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA), to provide a maximum focus on transboundary issues without ignoring national concerns and priorities.
The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Dnipro River Basin was produced using the most reliable scientific information as a basis for examining the state of the environment and the root causes of environmental degradation within the Basin. The TDA identifies the key environmental issues in the Basin and its transboundary sections, and assesses the significance of these issues for the whole Basin and each riparian country. The completed analysis involved justification of the most urgent transboundary issues and examination of the root causes of environmental degradation in the Basin. The need for preventive and corrective actions was also justified.
As a result of this analysis, key areas for environmental action have been identified as an initial basis for developing detailed strategic environmental programmes at the international and national level that aim to ensure the sustainable use and protection of natural/water resources in the Dnipro Basin.
The TDA identifies information gaps and deficiencies in the national legislative and institutional framework of the riparian countries. The experts examined the role of various economic sectors, the socio-economic situation, and the existing level of public awareness and involvement in decision-making on environmental issues.
The causal chain analysis was completed for each priority transboundary issue using the GIWA methodology modified by the national experts from the three riparian countries.
Detailed characterisation of the Dnipro Basin is presented in the Basin Passport, produced as part of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. The Basin Passport reflects concise information on a broad range of aspects of the existing situation in the Basin, including its physical and geographic characteristics, administrative and territorial setting, resources, socio-economic indicators, anthropogenic pressures and the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. It also contains a list of international environmental agreements signed by the three riparian countries.
Six priority transboundary issues relating to five major areas of concern were identified using the GIWA methodology and prioritised in terms of their significance.
An indicator-based approach was employed in this analysis, using a suite of indicators supported by relevant factual information and reflecting specific features of the Dnipro Basin. These indicators can be used as important monitoring tools in the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and National Action Plans (NAPs).
Causal chain analysis (using a suite of pressure/status/impact indicators) enabled the identification of the most significant immediate, sectoral and root causes of key environmental issues in the Basin.
The TDA document provides a useful basis for the development of the SAP and NAPs that will embody the priority actions on environmental rehabilitation in the Dnipro Basin.
