Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

L A K E P E I P S I / C H U D S K O E - P S K O V S K O E , E S T O N I A A N D T H E R U S S I A N F E D E R A T I O N / 4 1 3ConclusionsThe Lake Peipsi basin faces various challenges, including seriouseutrophication affecting both human and fish populations, pollutionfrom power stations, large towns, oil shale industries and miningactivities, and the difficulties inherent to transboundary watermanagement. Although the anticipated economic growth in theregion is likely to increase the pollution reaching the lake, measuresare being taken such as the building of new wastewater treatmentfacilities to ensure that the pace of eutrophication is slowed.The region also faces economic challenges. Although fishing haslong been one of the major activities of the area, the lake’s fishresources are now under severe pressure, further complicated byeconomic difficulties and high rates of unemployment. The depletedfish populations can no longer provide a living for so many andthere is therefore an urgent need to diversify the economy in thebasin.Many bilateral agreements have been implementedconcerning various aspects of joint management of the lake, butreal coordination and cooperation remain problematic due to theabsence of a comprehensive water programme, insufficient publicparticipation and coordination in the lake basin, especially asregards environmental monitoring, and complicated borderissues, which have so far impeded effective collaboration. Thereis, however, a developed legislative base and desire for greaterefficiency on both sides upon which to build.From an environmental point of view, the lake basin can beconsidered an extensive ecosystem in its own right. It istherefore essential to maintain it in as healthy a condition aspossible, and to remember that the loss or change of any onecomponent could have serious consequences on the entiresystem.The most important planning and development issue in LakePeipsi is preparation for the Lake Peipsi Management Plan. Incooperation with Estonian and Russian governments, regionaland local authorities, private companies and the public, this is tobe completed by 2007, and should provide a starting point foraddressing the various challenges encountered in the basin in amore integrated manner.ReferencesAndersen, J.-M.; Sults, U.; Jaani, A.; Alekand, P.; Roll, G.; Sedova, A.; Nefedova, J.;Gorelov, P.; Kazmina, M. 2001. Strategy for Wastewater Treatment in the LakePeipsi Basin. Tartu, Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation.Estonian-Russian Transboundary Water Commission. 2001. Materials and Protocols.Jaani, A. 2001. ‘The Location, Size and General Characterization of Lake Peipsi’. In:T. Nõges (ed.), Lake Peipsi. Hydrology, Meteorology, Hydrochemistry. Tallinn,Sulemees Publishers.Keevallik, S.; Loitjärv, K.; Rajasalu, R.; Russak, V. 2001. ‘Meteorological Regime’. In:T. Nõges (ed.), Lake Peipsi. Hydrology, Meteorology, Hydrochemistry. Tallinn,Sulemees Publishers.Laugaste, R.; Nõges, T.; Nõges, P.; Yastremskij, V.; Milius, A.; Ott, I. 2001. ‘Algae’.In: E. Pihu and J. Haberman (eds.), Lake Peipsi. Flora and Fauna. Tallinn,Sulemees Publishers.Leisk, Ü. and Loigu, E. 2001. ‘Water quality and pollution load of the rivers of LakePeipsi basin.’ In: T. Nõges (ed.), Lake Peipsi. Meteorology, Hydrology,Hydrochemistry. Tallinn, Sulemees Publishers.Nõges, T., Haberman, J., Jaani, A., Laugaste, R., Lokk, S., Mäemets, A., Nõges, P.,Pihu, E., Starast, H., Timm, T.; Virro, T. 1996. ‘General Description of LakePeipsi-Pihkva’. Hydrobiologia, No. 338, pp. 1–9.Peipsi CTC (Center for Transboundary Cooperation). 2001. Lake Peipsi BusinessProfile. Tartu.Pihu, E. and Kangur, A. 2001. ‘Fishes and Fisheries Management’. In: E. Pihu and J.Haberman (eds.), Lake Peipsi. Flora and Fauna. Tallinn, Sulemees Publishers.Russian Scientific Research Institute of Water Management. 2000. Assessment ofTransboundary Water Pollution from Emissions of Baltic and Estonian ThermalPower Stations. St. Petersburg.———. 1999. Analysis of Hydrological and Environmental State of Narva River BasinIncluding Lake Chudsko Basin and Creation of General Report. St. Petersburg.Stålnacke, P. 1999. Nutrient Loads to the Lake Peipsi – Experiences from a JointSwedish/Estonian/Russian Project. Tartu, Peipsi Center for TransboundaryCooperation.Stålnacke, P.; Sults, Ü.; Vasiliev, A.; Skakalsky, B.; Botina, A.; Roll, G.; Pachel, K.;Maltsman, T. 2001. ‘Nutrient Loads to Lake Peipsi’. Jordforsk Report, No. 4/01.St. Petersburg Center of Independent Environmental Assessment of the RussianAcademy of Sciences. 2001. Management of Water Resources and Protectionof Narva River Basin including Lake Pskovskoe-Chudskoe Basin. St.Petersburg.