Background and Justification
Based on the transboundary diagnostic analysis o...
Background and Justification
Based on the transboundary diagnostic analysis of the Yellow Sea, one of the major environmental problems is the enrichment of nutrients in the Yellow Sea which is the major cause of harmful algal blooms in the region. Water pollution in coastal areas has caused social and political attention because of its significant impacts on not only the environment, but also the economy and society as well. More importantly, water pollution issue has been intertwined with other issues such as coastal wetland loss, marine ecosystem degradation and coastal land reclamation, eutrophication from aquaculture, etc. Therefore, more cost-effective, innovative and integrated approaches rather than traditional engineering methods are needed to tackle water pollution in coastal areas under high development pressures in this rapidly changing time.
Manmade wetlands or use of wetland for tertiary treatment of pollution have been recognized as effective ways to remove nutrients and other pollutants from land-based sources in YS region by the PR China, RO Korea and international financial institutions such as the World Bank. Studies indicate that the constructed wetland’s efficiency in water pollutants is reliable, particularly for nutrients removal with a very low wastewater background concentration, meaning it is suitable for the non-point source pollution.
In order to help local government design and invest in cost-effective and with spin-off effect of ecological services for public benefits, the project will develop a regional strategy for using wetland as nutrient sinks based on assessment of good practices that can be applied across YSLME in particular in use of wetland regulatory services to treat wastewater and sewage.
Objectives
The objective underlying the proposed consultancy is to develop a regional strategy for using wetlands as nutrient sink, especially for the coastal wetlands.
The specific objectives of the consultancy include:
- Review of the status of coastal wetlands and their roles in nutrient removals for the Yellow Sea coastal area, and the location, the method, the principle and the results of nutrient removal projects up to 2016 in PR China and RO Korea, and to compare the advantages and disadvantages.
- to synthesize and document knowledge in using wetland as nutrient sinks for improving the ecosystem health of Yellow Sea for replication of good practices for investment
- To propose strategies, approaches and methods to enhance investment, capacity, knowledge and awareness raising to mainstream use of wetland into urban planning, ocean park development, coastal wetland restoration projects and other investment decisions to enlarge wetland sink areas;
These objectives will also support of achieving SDG 14 and implementing CBD, RAMSAR and other relevant Conventions.