Baltic Cities Environmental bulletin 1/08

Visions of sustainable future

Sustainable ecological future of Kaliningrad

Text: A.G. Esipenko

Condition of the atmospheric air, ponds and channels, waste products and waste water management are considered to be the major ecological problems of the city of Kaliningrad. The City Hall is engaged in solving the ecological problems.

Contamination of atmospheric air in Kaliningrad is primarily associated with transport, boiler installations and industrial emissions. The assessment of air quality in the city is carried out by evaluating the instrument samples taken from five stationary observation stations.

The zone of high-level air contamination, developed mainly due to transport emissions (86%), is being formed in the central part of the city. As a result of sharp increase of transport during the last years, the existing city road system does not bear the burden of traffic and the existing network of observation stations does not provide full information regarding the contamination of atmospheric air in different city districts. Therefore, the activities aimed at improving the condition of atmospheric air are associated with renovation, construction of the road system as well as the alternative transport lanes which would remove freight and transit traffic out of the central part of the city and dwelling zones, optimization of traffic.

Advancement of the monitoring system of air condition presupposes the increase of a number of observation stations as well as the establishment of an automated observation system of air condition.

Sewage disposal

Nowadays the city sewage disposal plants provide only mechanical treatment of sewage, since they are morally and physically outdated. Due to the overload of a main sewage collector, a number of household and domestic sewers flows into the city channel. Inadequate condition of channels and ponds is also accounted for unauthorized sewage disposal.

The solution of the indicated problems is associated with the implementation of the project on construction of sewage disposal plant of biological treatment as well as the construction of a new collector which is larger in its diameter. It will lead to the elimination of untreated sewage disposal to the ponds of the city. Alongside with this construction, the work on advancing the analytical control over the condition of channels is being carried out.

Waste management situation

Waste management in the city includes the process of collection, transportation and burial at the landfill. Approximately 10% of a total number of waste products produced in the city is used as the secondary material resources. The municipal enterprise and private firms are engaged in waste collection and utilization. During the last 12 years the enterprise on processing of waste products, which contain mercury, has been operating in Kaliningrad. In the framework of the international TACIS program the city co-financed the establishment of the Centre on hazardous clinical waste management of health care institutions of the city.

The information system on waste treatment has been elaborated and is being introduced from 2008 with the aim of acquiring reliable information regarding the development and movement of sewage and eliminating unauthorized dumps. Optimization of waste management presupposes the establishment of a system of selective collection, processing of a larger amount of waste with the aim of manufacturing products and minimizing the number of waste accumulated at the landfill. The local budget resources as well as joint international projects will be used for the realization of the indicated objectives.

Moreover, the sustainable ecological future of Kaliningrad is linked to development of green zones, parks and public gardens. The program «Green city» is elaborated for the realization of these objectives up to the period from 2008 till 2010. The development of ecological education and raising of awareness among the youth also play an important role. Ecological seminars, contests, projects and ecological camps are organized for this reason every year.

More information:
A.G. Esipenko, Head of the Environmental Protection Unit
Kaliningrad City Hall

Vilnius preserves unique nature and biodiversity

Text: Violeta Ivinskiene and Aloyzas Burba

Comprehensive studies explored the influence of the development of the city of Vilnius in Lithuania on individual species of flora and fauna and their diversity . On these bases protection regulations were drafted and distribution maps of individual species of flora and fauna drawn up. Also an indicator system and a video film on the city’s biodiversity were created to attract awareness.

The Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University carried out research about the status of the city’s biological diversity and forecasted the tendencies of biodiversity change when?. The research revealed that 46 species of mammals live in Vilnius city. About 100 species of egg-laying birds live, 50 species winter, and about 200 species are observed during migration in Vilnius city and its suburbs. Even 35 species of fish and 2 species of lamprey (70 percent of freshwater fish of the country) permanently live or spawn in the waterbodies of the city. The research was ordered by the municipality of Vilnius.

Vilnius and its surroundings are a habitat of 9 species of amphibians, of which 2 species Trituruscristatus (Great Crested Newt ) and Bufo viridis (European Green Toad) are included in the Red Data Book of Lithuania (RDBL). Amphibians in the city suffered greatly from habitat transformation and fragmentation, transport, especially during their migration. Also almost 5000 species of invertebrates, which constitute one-fourth of all known species in Lithuania, inhabit Vilnius and its surroundings.

In 2002, a ten-year Vilnius Strategic Plan was approved; in 2004, environmental policy directions were approved and the environment monitoring programme launched. In year 2007 the city of Vilnius developed a new waste treatment system of Vilnius region, which was implemented by closing two old landfills and opening a new regional landfill to meets the European requirements.

Raising ecological awareness

With a view to raising ecological awareness of the community, two environmental protection forums were organised in 2007, during which the exhibition of work of environmental protection organizations, reporting conferences of ecological projects and environmental protection seminars were held. Participants included children from kindergartens, school pupils, representatives of research bodies, and companies dealing with waste management and landscape improvement.

In implementing the EU environmental protection directives in Lithuania and raising ecological awareness of the public, the Environment Protection Division organizes international seminars and conferences. In the period of 2005–2007 over 10 international conferences and seminars were organized in co-operation with others for municipality politicians, employees of eldercares’ and companies, and teachers. The environmental protection problems of the city and issues of ecological awareness raising of the public were thoroughly discussed in them.

The most valuable complexes of biological diversity are found in the protected areas which are registered in the Cadastre of the State Service for Protected Areas. Verkiai RP is a habitat for about 870 species of plants, of which 34 species are included in the Red Data Book of Lithuania (RDBL) (in total, 357 plants are included in the RDBL). Three species of plants are protected in accordance with the EC Habitats Directive (ECHD). Pavilniai RP is a habitat for 5 ECHD species (three of them are included in the RDBL). A rare mushroom, also included in the RDBL, was found in Vingis Park located in the city.

46 species of mammals live in Vilnius city. Eleven of them are included in the RDBL: nine species of Chiroptera (bat), Mustela erminea (stoat) and Lutra lutra (otter). Two species of bats and otter are protected in accordance with the ECHD. There are eight areas of habitat protection of European importance in the city. Erinaceus concolor (southern white-breasted hedgehog), Meles meles (badger), Sus scrofa (wild boar), Capreolus capreolus (roe deer), more rarely Cervus elaphus (red deer) and Alces alces (moose) live in woods, groves and parks. Lepus europaeus (European hare), Vulpes vulpes (red fox), Martes martes (pine marten) and Martes foina (beech marten), etc. like more open spaces. Otters – indicators of clean water – are found in the center of the city in the confluence of Vilnelė and Neris rivers.

About 100 species of egg-laying birds live, 50 species winter, and about 200 species are observed during migration in Vilnius city and its suburbs. Rarer species include Cinclus cinclus (white-throated dipper), Ciconia nigra (black stork), and Picus viridis (green woodpecker). 131 species of birds, of which 16 species are included in the RDBL, are found in parks. The richest diversity of birds occurs in small groves, gardens and agrolandscape areas.

Even 35 species of fish and 2 species of lamprey (70 percent of freshwater fish of the country) permanently live or spawn in the waterbodies of the city. The richest diversity of fish is found in the River Neris (31 species). It includes even eight ECHD species: Lampetra fluviatilis (river lamprey), Salmo salar (Atlantic salmon), Aspius aspius (asp), Cobitis taenia (spined loach), Rhodeus sericeus (bitterling), Cottus gobio (bullhead), Barbus barbus (common barbel) and Thymallus thymallus (grayling). Besides, Alburnoides bipunctatus (spirlin), Leucaspius delineatus (sunbleak) and Chondrostoma nasus (nase) protected under the Bern Convention live here. Considerable diversity of fish (19–22 species), one species of EC importance, Lampetra planeri (brook lamprey), also occurs in smaller tributaries of the River Neris. Diversity of fish is at least three times smaller in lakes.

Vilnius and its surroundings is a habitat of 9 species of amphibians, of which 2 species Trituruscristatus (Great Crested Newt ) and Bufo viridis (European Green Toad) are included in the RDBL. The special areas for Triturus cristatus protection (the part of Natura 2000 net in Lithuania) is designated in Verkiai RP. Bombina bombina (Fire-bellied Toads) is founded near Vilnius surroundings, this species also is included in RDBL and ECHD Annex II. Triturus vulgaris (Smooth Newt),Bufo bufo (Common Toad), Rana temporaria (European Common Frog) are most abundant amphibians in Vilnius. Amphibians in the city suffered greatly from habitat transformation and fragmentation, transport, especially during their migration.

Almost 5000 species of invertebrates, which constitute one-fourth of all known species in Lithuania, inhabit Vilnius and its surroundings. Over 20 species of the RDBL are found, and 10 species of insects are included in the ECHD. Papilio machaon (old world swallowtail) flies over suburban hills, woods are inhabited by Lopinga achine (woodland brown), Synanthedon conopiformis (Dale’s oak clearwing), Synanthedon vespiformis (yellow-legged clearwing), Calosoma inquisitor (caterpillar-hunter), Netocia lugubris,Osmoderma eremita (hermit beetle), etc. Verkiai RP and Paneriai wooded hills are national habitats of Osmoderma eremita, which is extinct in many European countries. The River Neris within the territory of the city is the most important breeding area of Ophiogomphus cecilia (green club-tailed dragonfly). The lakes of Verkiai RP are inhabited by Leucorrhinia albifrons (eastern white-faced darter) and Leucorrhinia pectoralis (large white-faced darter). Rare crustaceans and molluscs are found in Vingis Park which is frequented by Vilnius residents.

More information:
Dr Violeta Ivinskienė, Chief Expert of the Environment Protection Division of Vilnius City Municipality
Dr Aloyzas Burba, Senior Researcher of Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University

New policy of sustainable development in Panevezys

Text: Zita Tverkute

The Policy and Action Plan of the Sustainable Future for 2008-2013 was approved by the City Council of Panevėžys on January 15, 2008. The aim of the policy of sustainable development is to ensure healthy and safe environment for the inhabitants in promoting sustainable economical and public development, decreasing the negative impact to the environment and saving natural resources. The environmental education plays an important role in raising the awareness of the public, decision makers and other interest groups towards the topics and stressing their responsibilities and possibilities to influence.

Policy of sustainable development in Panevėžys

The priorities of the policy are as follows:

• application of environmental criteria in managing and planning city development;
• saving and improving of city environmental quality;
• saving and strengthening of public health;
• protection of nature variety of Panevėžys City, rational use of natural resources;
• rational and effective waste management;
• public environmental education;

The policy document contains the main aims, tasks and actions for the city institutions for protection of environmental quality, economical and cultural development. Each field of sustainable development has its own action plan with the main programmes, implementation terms and description of financial needs. The Members of the City Council are involved in the process.

The main tasks in waste management include reduction of pollution by waste and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In water protection the tasks include the reduction of pollution and observation of quality of open water reservoirs, as well as, increasing the recreational potentials of them. The air pollution actions concentrate on the reduction of impacts from transport, energy sector and industry to air pollution. The tasks on noise and soil pollution concentrate on prevention and reduction measures.

More information:
Zita Tverkute
Head of Ecology Department
Coordinator of the project Sustainable city of Panevezys

The Baltic Sea is the most polluted sea in the world – what can we do?

Text: Miina Mäki

The most severe threat to the Baltic Sea environment is the overload of nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, which has continued for decades. The increased amounts of nutrients enhance the algal growth which slowly suffocates the sea through a process called eutrophication. It has resulted in a vicious circle called internal loading, an ecological impasse that can be solved only by quick and drastic action.

Phosphorus is the limiting nutrient for the growth of blue-green algae. Therefore, in order to combat the mass occurrences of the blue-green algae reducing phosphorus emissions is of primary importance.

Is the Baltic beyond recovery? The main problems of the Baltic Sea are not local but widespread in space and time. The countries surrounding the Baltic Sea seem ready to invest resources in marine conservation and start addressing the problems as a unified front. Clear evidence of shared concern emerged from the Krakow meeting of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) in November 2007. The countries around the Baltic Sea made a commitment to reverse the trend and bring the dying sea back to life.

The Clean Baltic Sea Project

The mission of the John Nurminen Foundation of Finland is to preserve the Finnish heritage in maritime culture and seafaring. In 2005, the Foundation initiated the Clean Baltic Sea project. The project has, in close cooperation with the Vodokanal and the City of St. Petersburg, successfully introduced the chemical phosphorus removal process at the biggest wastewater treatment plant of St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg was selected as a target because it was the biggest point source of phosphorus to the Baltic Sea. In addition, reducing phosphorus emissions by implementing chemical phosphorus removal at wastewater treatment plants in St. Petersburg was the most cost-effective single action to reduce eutrophication and the occurrence of blue-green algae in the Gulf of Finland. According to an ecological model of Finnish Environmental Institute, the project is expected to demonstrate a visible effect on the condition of the Gulf of Finland within few years.

Chemical treatment process

The chemical treatment process was launched on the 1 st of October 2007 at the biggest Central wastewater treatment plant. The plant purifies wastewaters of approximately half of St. Petersburg’s 5 million inhabitants. The project is still going on at two other big treatment plants in St. Petersburg. After the implementation of chemical phosphorus removal process at the three biggest wastewater treatment plants of St. Petersburg, the phosphorus input to the Baltic Sea will be reduced by over 800 tons per year.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be some 5 million euros. The project costs will be shared on 50-50 principle between the Vodokanal of St. Petersburg and the John Nurminen Foundation. The Foundation is financing its half by funds donated by numerous big enterprises as well as private persons in Finland. The Clean Baltic Sea project has also been supported by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment.

Future cooperation around the Baltic Sea

One of the corner stones of the St. Petersburg project has been intensive cooperation cross borders. The Foundation has proven to be a trustworthy and efficient partner to carry out this kind of a new cooperation between public and private sectors and between countries. The Foundation finds the Union of Baltic Cities an important channel for spreading information and also an interesting platform for future cooperation between different actors. As all the member cities already work together for better environment, why not combining forces to work for the well-being of our common sea?

Encouraged by the successful project in St. Petersburg the Foundation has decided to continue its work for a cleaner Baltic Sea. The Foundation supports actions to implement the new HELCOM recommendations on wastewater treatment by improving phosphorus removal at wastewater treatment plants around the Baltic Sea. Currently the Foundation is, in cooperation with a Swedish Baltic 2020 Foundation, preparing a project for Poland. The Polish water utilities have already taken important measures in phosphorus removal. The challenge is to speed up the process, because the Baltic Sea cannot wait any longer.

“I hope that the practical project initiated by the John Nurminen Foundation will encourage others to join in the work of protecting the Baltic Sea”, wishes Juha Nurminen, the Chairman of the Board of the John Nurminen Foundation. “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

More information at www.johnnurminenfoundation.fi and www.cleanbalticsea.fi