Baltic Sea Regional Project Inesis Kiškis, World Bank

Baltic Sea Environment Program The Baltic Sea Environment Program is a regional environmental program that has progressed from “ planning ” to “ implementation. ”

Why a Baltic Sea Environment Program? Baltic Sea is a source of well being of 90 million people Baltic Sea is a source of well being of 90 million people Since 1950 the environmental quality of the Baltic Sea has considerably degraded Since 1950 the environmental quality of the Baltic Sea has considerably degraded

What Triggered Degradation? Natural vulnerabilities Natural vulnerabilities Semi-enclosed sea Semi-enclosed sea Persistent water stratification Persistent water stratification Long residence of the water volume Long residence of the water volume Slow decomposition rate Slow decomposition rate Human contribution: Human contribution: Large nutrient loads Large nutrient loads Accumulation of toxic substances Accumulation of toxic substances

Prioritization of activities One can not do everything at once One can not do everything at once 132 “ hot spots ” identified 132 “ hot spots ” identified Source-point pollution vs. non-point pollution: load contribution is equal Source-point pollution vs. non-point pollution: load contribution is equal Decision: municipal and industrial sources are “ easier ” to start with Decision: municipal and industrial sources are “ easier ” to start with

What has been done? A number of water and wastewater facilities in Eastern Baltic cities upgraded A number of water and wastewater facilities in Eastern Baltic cities upgraded Pollution load significantly reduced Pollution load significantly reduced Water companies strengthened institutionally Water companies strengthened institutionally

Example – Daugavpils, Latvia Example – Daugavpils, Latvia

Example – Klaipeda, Lithuania

What did we learn? What did we learn? Investment is not the only answer for achieving the goals of the Program Well defined objectives and priorities Well defined objectives and priorities Clear policy frameworks Clear policy frameworks Institutional strengthening Institutional strengthening Well targeted investments Well targeted investments

Second Generation of Projects To address the non-point source pollution: To address the non-point source pollution: Rural Environmental Protection Project. Rural Environmental Protection Project. Baltic Sea Regional Project Baltic Sea Regional Project

Objective of the Project “ To create some preconditions for application of the ecosystem approach in managing the Baltic Sea Large Marine Ecosystem in order to achieve and maintain sustainable biological productivity of the Baltic Sea ”

Goals of the Project Facilitate strengthening of regional institutions through capacity building efforts Facilitate strengthening of regional institutions through capacity building efforts Develop and apply an ecosystem-based management strategy to the BSLME Develop and apply an ecosystem-based management strategy to the BSLME Assess and evaluate the socio-economic effects of the ecosystem-based management for farming, fishing and coastal communities Assess and evaluate the socio-economic effects of the ecosystem-based management for farming, fishing and coastal communities

Baltic Sea Regional Project Component 1: Large Marine Ecosystem Activities, ICES Organisation BSSG C1C, ICES LME-team Advisory Com Ecosystem Baltic WG:s and SG:s Advisory Com Environment Advisory Com Fisheries Coordination Center Fisheries Riga Coordination Center Ecosystem Health Gdynia Coordination Center GIS Data Vilnius Coordination Center Productivity Riga Coordination Center Socio-economy Tallinn C1AC Lead Laboratory ICES surveys Kaliningrad Lead Laboratory Coast fish monit Tallinn Lead Laboratory fish age/stomach Riga Lead Laboratory Zooplankton Gdynia Lead Laboratory Salmon restor. Riga Lead Laboratory alien species Klaipeda Lead Laboratory Biol. Eff.monit Gdynia Lead Laboratory Histopathology Kaliningrad Lead Laboratory Phytob.monit, SOOP Tallinn National Laboratories and Institutes HELCOM IBSFC Baltic 21 WWF International consultants

Project organization Baltic Sea Steering Group HELCOM ICES IBSFC Coordinators C1 C2 EstoniaLatviaLithuaniaPolandRussia CC, LL, LIU CC, LLCC, LL, LIU National Laboratories/authorities International Consultants Baltic Sea Com.s/WG.s Advisory Com Ecosystem Advisory Com Environment Advisory Com Fisheries

Coordinated Effort HELCOM in Cooperation with IBSFC and ICES HELCOM in Cooperation with IBSFC and ICES Riparian Governments Riparian Governments Non-Governmental Organizations Non-Governmental Organizations Scientific Research Institutions Scientific Research Institutions Fishermen, Farmers and their Organizations Fishermen, Farmers and their Organizations Bi- and Multilateral Financiers Bi- and Multilateral Financiers

Duration of the Project First phase – First phase – Phases 2 and 3 may follow if Phase 1 is successful Phases 2 and 3 may follow if Phase 1 is successful