Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Belarusian Research Centre Ecology Economic Commission for Europe Working Group on Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Experience of the Republic of Belarus with preparation of a state-of-the-environment report based on indicators

Dr.Maria Germenchuk, professor November 2, 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

30.04.2020

Republic of Belarus

2

The main goal this report is to describe the experience of the Republic of Belarus and the use of environmental indicators in the preparation of National report «The state of environment in the Republic of Belarus».

30.04.2020

3

•

National report «The state of environment in the Republic of Belarus»

Introduction Part 1.

Overview Part 2.

Air pollution Part 8.

Transport Ozon del.sb.

Part 3.

Change of Climate Part 4.

Water resources Part 5.

Biodiversity BOD, NT T Part 6.

Land Erosion , pesticide Part 7.

Agriculture Part 9.

Waste Part 10.

Radiation situation Part 11.

Environmental management Conclusion. The list of the used sources At the present time environmental policy, which is held at the state level, is a key element of sustainable development of the Republic of Belarus.

Issues of ecological and economic activity, sustainable usage of natural resources are at the head of the national priorities. Implementation of environmental policy firstly intends to ensure the government bodies, scientific and public organizations, population of the country, as well as foreign partners the objective systematic information about the state of environment, natural resources and its protection.

30.04.2020

4

The main rules of preparation of National report « The state of environment in the Republic of Belarus »

• • The structure and content of the national report are based on the recommendations, which are set out in «Guide on Preparation of Assessment Reports for Protection of Environment , based on Application of Environmental Indicators in the East European States» (ECE/CEP/140); The environmental indicators was developed by the European Economic Commission of the United Nations Organization and are reflected in document «Recommendations to Governments of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia States on Application of Environmental Indicators and Preparation of the Assessment Reports on Environmental Protection on its basis».

30.04.2020

5

EVALUATION OF FURTHER SIX INDICATORS FROM THE UNECE INDICATOR GUIDELINES

Indicator

BOD and concentration of ammonium in rivers Nutrients in fresh water 30.04.2020

A. Effective inter‐agency cooperation mechanisms to produce the indicator

Information submitted by the Department of Hydrometeorology of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Data formats need to be improved

B. Data quality assurance and control procedures for the production of the indicator

Need to intensify guidance to ensure data quality control procedures

C. Publication of the indicator in statistical compendiums and state‐of‐the‐environment reports

Annually since 2006, the main published Information-Analytical Center National monitoring system Environment of the Republic of Belarus (http://www.nsmos.by) However, we must continue to unify reporting formats 6

Indicator

Area affected by soil erosion

A. Effective inter‐agency cooperation mechanisms to produce the indicator

Indicator is based on the data of the Republican Scientific Subsudiary Unitary Enterprise "Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry"

B. Data quality assurance and control procedures for the production of the indicator

Identification of areas affected by water and wind erosion in the country is conducted within soil survey of agricultural lands once per 15‐20 years. Scientific and methodological management and quality control for soil, survey works is maintained by the Institute for Soil Science and Agrochemistry 30.04.2020

C. Publication of the indicator in statistical compendiums and state‐of‐the‐environment reports

Statistical report "Environmental Protection in the Republic of Belarus, 2011". Published in Russian and English. The book comprises information on web‐site of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus 7

Indicator

Pesticide use 30.04.2020

A. Effective inter‐agency cooperation mechanisms to produce the indicator

Indicator is based on the data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus

B. Data quality assurance and control procedures for the production of the indicator

Pesticide application in the country is under control of the State Institution "Main State Inspection on Seed growing, Quarantine and Plant Protection" and its territorial subdivisions annually provided by organizations with information on pesticide utilization

C. Publication of the indicator in statistical compendiums and state‐of‐the‐environment reports

Statistical book "Environmental Protection in the Republic of Belarus, 2011". Published in Russian and English. The book comprises information for 2000, 2005‐2010; web‐site of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus 8

Indicator

Consumption of ozone‐depleting substances

A. Effective inter‐agency cooperation mechanisms to produce the indicator

Formed on the basis of the form statistical reports submitted respondents in the Ministry of Natural Resources

B. Data quality assurance and control procedures for the production of the indicator C. Publication of the indicator in statistical compendiums and state‐of‐the‐environment reports

defined by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer Annually since 2006, the main published Information-Analytical Center National monitoring system Environment of the Republic of Belarus (http://www.nsmos.by) 30.04.2020

9

Indicators in conclusion of National report «The state of environment in the Republic of Belarus»: water • • • • The annual average content of organic matter (BOD-5) in water of rivers, usually does not exceed the MPC, with the exception of the rivers Western Bug river and some parts the Mukhavets river, the Dnieper and the Svisloch river where recorded higher annual average BOD-5; The annual average water content of ammonia nitrogen more MPC noted, for some parts of the river the Western Dvina river and the Neman (Stolbtsy). For the Western Bug is installed downward trend in the contamination of ammonia nitrogen. Significantly improved the state of the Dnieper river, the pollution of nitrogen ammonium noted only in the area of Rechitsa and Loev. Elevated levels of it is observed in water the Sozh . Unfavorable hydrochemical parameter of ammonium is typical to the Berezina river. Contamination of the Pripyat f river ound only on the stretch of river in the area of Pinsk. Average annual concentrations of nitrates in the water of the rivers did not exceed the MPC. 30.04.2020

10

• • Indicators in conclusion of National report «The state of environment in the Republic of Belarus»: Land Resources

.

Total area of eroded and erosion-prone land in the country is more than 4 000.0 thousand hectares, including arable – about 2,600 hectares. The share of water erosion is 84%, wind erosion – 16%.

Detected residual forms of pesticides on farmland.

30.04.2020

11

• Indicators in conclusion of National report «The state of environment in the Republic of Belarus»: Air pollution

.

Monitoring of the ozone layer was held at the Minsk ozone station of the National Research Center for ozone monitoring BSU. It included regular measurements of total ozone column, surface ozone concentrations and the levels of surface ultraviolet solar radiation.

30.04.2020

12

Green economy, green growth

• • The transition to a green economy depends on the decision of two equally important goals: to maintain and ecosystem structure and function and the development of approaches to reduce the use of resources in production and consumption; as well as to reduce an impact on the environment (resource efficiency).

30.04.2020

13

National Report Republic of Btearus

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS BASED ON “GREEN” ECONOMY PRINCIPLES Minsk -- 2012

30.04.2020

14

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Foreword Section 3. Achievements in Sustainable Development 3.1. Social Progress 3.2. Economic Development 3.3. Environment and Nature Management 3.3.1. Protection of the Atmosphere 3.3.1.1. Greenhouse Gases 3.3.2. Industrial and Consumer Waste 3.3.3. Water and Potable Water Supply 3.3.4. Preservation of Natural Ecosystems, Biological and Landscape Diversity.

3.3.5. Mineral Deposits Section 5. Directions and Principles of Transition to a "Green" Economy 5.1. Economic Policy and Instruments. The Role of the State in the Transition to a "Green" Economy 5.2. Education for "Green" Economy 5.3. Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development 30.04.2020

15

Conclusions:

• •

The development of national environmental monitoring systems should include mainstreaming indicators in practice for certain studies of environmental management.

Belarus successfully using the proposed indicators in the activity.

•

Suggestions: Develop and implement pilot project on base of Belarus “To develop recommendations for the development of

national and transboundary environmental monitoring

systems “ for the organization of the institutional framework for the management of environmental quality in the region of Belarus, Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine in transition to the principles of "green economy"

30.04.2020

16