The Vistula Lagoon – Current knowledge base and knowledge gaps

This report is a ‘snapshot’ of the current condition of the Vistula Lagoon. It consists of two major chapters. The first one describes physical conditions of the lagoon, climate, natural resources and land use patterns and the main problems related to the ecology and environmental protection. The second chapter deals with the management issues concerning socio-economic and political issues and the legal and management frameworks in the Polish and the Russian parts of the lagoon. Detailed information on administrative units, international conventions applied to the Vistula Lagoon, overview of legislative acts dealing with environmental issues in Russian system of legislation is contained in Annexes. The main environmental problems in the lagoon area are linked to flood danger in low-lying areas, increase of salinity and salt-wedge intrusions into discharging rivers, high level of eutrophication, problem of nutrients recycling from sediment and invasion of alien species. All of them may become more severe due to climate changes in the area.