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Tackling marine based pollution issues from Source to Sea

UN Environment Global Nutrient Challenge

By IW:LEARN

June 22^nd, 2018

The issue of nutrient pollution in the form of excess nitrogen and phosphorus flows to the marine environment has gradually gained prominence given the growing ecological and socio-economic impacts in coastal and marine ecosystems. Deoxygenation and hypoxia in coastal waters due to land-based pollution has increased exponentially since the 1960s with over 700 eutrophic and hypoxic coastal systems worldwide (Diaz et al., 2010). The risk to ocean health posed by the effects of climate change in terms of warming oceans and acidification will be compounded by land-based pollution.

The GEF funded project “ Global foundations for reducing nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion from land-based pollution, in support of Global Nutrient Cycle (GNC)”, which is implemented by United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) has contributed significantly in amplifying the influence of the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management (GPNM), a global coalition of governments, industry, academics, civil society, UN agencies and various international and regional organizations with interest in sustainable nutrient management. This project has enabled the expansion of partner membership and increased awareness and advocacy at several regional and international events though partner representation. Regional Platforms of the GPNM for Asia and the Caribbean have been established, with convening of stakeholder meetings and engagement of 25 countries between the Asia and the Caribbean regions. The governance of these platforms is being linked to the Regional Seas programmes. A dedicated website for the GPNM, ‘The Nutrient Challenge’ has been developed and houses the knowledge outputs and tools developed from the project.

A global database has been developed with documentation on nutrient loading and occurrence of harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and effects on fish landings, fish abundance, and composition of fish populations. Nutrient loading from the major global watersheds has been estimated using the Global-Nutrient Export from WaterSheds (Global-NEWS) model, and enhancements have been made in predictive capabilities of modelling efforts with respect to nutrient sources, loads, and coastal impacts. Evaluations have been carried out on the impacts of nutrient release from aquaculture on coastal ecosystems. Science and modelling contributions are being incorporated into the other project components and into down-scaled nutrient flux modeling for Manila Bay in the Philippines, one of the project demonstration locations. Several scientific journal publications have been authored by partners engaged in the project.

A policy and technical solutions Tool Box for sustainable nutrient management has been developed to assist decision making by policy and technical professionals as well as practitioners in the fields of agriculture, water and wastewater resource management and general environmental resource management. The toolbox includes an inventory of nutrient reduction best practices has been compiled from countries across the globe, as well as case studies on selected technology and policy options for nutrient over-enrichment reduction, syntheses of policy measures and regulations. The Toolbox incorporates a nutrient budget calculation tool that allows decision makers and field and advisory support professionals to evaluate the impacts of management practices on nutrient inflows to the environment.

On-site application of science and modelling tools in decision-making were tested in Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay in the Philippines, and Chilika Lake in Odisha State in eastern India. Work in Manila Bay focused on strengthening the information and decision support system related to good watershed management practices around scenario modelling on nutrient pollution. Ecosystem Health Report Cards have been developed for Chilika Lake and Laguna de Bay that incorporate critical influencing factors including nutrient influx, in assessment of the overall state of environment. These Report Cards provide innovative means of clearly communicating the issues to stakeholders and serve as a point of reference for investment in appropriate participatory actions toward realizing improved environmental health based on the score rating in subsequent assessments.

Launch of the Laguna de Bay Ecosystem Health Card with local stakeholders

GPNM Asia Regional Nutrient Management Platform meeting, Vietnam, November 2015

Presentation of the Chilika Lake ecosystem healthcard at GPNM Asia Platform meeting, Vietnam, November 2015

With the GEF entering its next replenishment cycle, it can proudly communicate that this nutrient management project (aka GNC) project has played a significant role in contributing to targets under tackling marine based pollution from Source to Sea and the lessons learned and tools produced by this initiative will continue to support projects to be funded under this emerging topic in the next coming years. The project also successfully strengthened the foundations for governments and other stakeholders to initiate comprehensive, effective and sustained programmes to address nutrient over-enrichment and oxygen depletion from land-based pollution of coastal waters in large marine ecosystems.