Policy Area Nutri of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region works on Saving the Sea, which is one of the three main objectives of the Strategy. The aim of the Policy Area is to reduce nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea to acceptable levels.
Of the many environmental challenges facing the Baltic Sea, the most serious and difficult to tackle with conventional approaches is the continuing eutrophication. Excessive nutrient loads through agricultural run-off, inadequately treated sewage, airborne emissions and internal fluxes are the main cause of eutrophication. The impacts of eutrophication include oxygen depletion, reduced water clarity, an increase in filamentous algae, summer blooms of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) and other undesirable changes in species composition.
The latest decades' large-scale investments in waste water treatment plants and key decisions on cleaner shipping have had an important impact on decreasing the nutrient load. According to the latest HELCOM assessment total normalised nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the Baltic Sea have decreased with 12% and 25%, respectively, since the reference period (1997-2003) and 2015. However, to save the sea, further and continued action is needed.
DESIRE project organised the second meeting on 24th of September (Poland, Białystok). The meeting was focused on exchange of information between polish stakeholders about options and problems in terms of peatland restoration in polish part of Nemunas catchment.
The kick off meeting of DESIRE project took place on 20-21 of March 2019, in Greifswald, Germany. The meeting was attended by the project leader, project partners, PA Nutri coordinator and scientists. DESIRE leaders presented premises of the project and discussed individual tasks and stages of project work. Participants of the meeting also had the opportunity to get to know the results of the latest research in the use of wetlands as buffer zones.
The 10th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy of the Baltic Sea Region (12-13 June 2019, Gdańsk, Poland) was devoted to circular economy in environmental, business and demographic context. The keynote of plenary sessions and 18 thematic seminars was “reuse, reduce and rethink”. Forum was visited by more than 700 attendees from governments, international organisations, NGOs, universities, local and regional administrations and businesses. For more information lookhere.
The seminar “Safe nutrient recycling for cleaner Baltic Sea” was jointly organised by policy areas Nutri and Hazards in cooperation with HELCOM and two project platforms BSR WATER and SuMaNu. The aim of the seminar was to introduce the current state of the draft of Baltic Sea Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy and to discuss further steps:
engaging economic instruments, establishing even stronger cooperation between science and business, updating policy and legislative framework to support innovations and facilitate realization of solutions to recycle nutrients.
The seminar was visited by more than 40 participants representing businesses, academia, international organisations, NGOs and governmental, regional and local authorities in the Baltic Sea region.
Posted by Sanni Turunen, Thursday, 28th March 2019 @ 3:27pm
The 10th EUSBSR Annual Forum will be held on June 12-13 2019 in Gdansk, Poland. The theme of the jubilee Forum is "Circular and sharing economy as an answer to demographic changes and environmental challenges in the Baltic Sea Region".
Policy areas Nutri and Hazards together with HELCOM secretariat organize a seminar "Safe nutrient recycling for cleaner Baltic Sea" as part of the Forum. In the seminar we present the status of the HELCOM regional nutrient recycling strategy, highlight nutrient management examples and discuss various aspects related to closing nutrient loops in food production. We want to show you that sustainable nutrient recycling can protect waters and soils, save raw materials and create business possibilities.
You can find the programme and information of the Forum in here.
Nutrient offsetting for the Baltic Sea(NutriTrade) Initiating full scale mussel farming in the Baltic Sea (Baltic Blue Growth) Interactive water management (IWAMA) Better efficiency for industrial sewage treatment (BEST) Consumer guide for sustainably produced meat (CONSUME) Development of sustainable wetland management by restoration and biomass utilisation of peatlands in the Neman river catchment to improve water quality of the Baltic Sea (DESIRE) Enhancing water resources management in four river basins oriented on Baltic protection (BigRivers4Baltic)
Phasing Out of the Use of Phosphates in Detergents, finalized in 2011. (EN and RU)
Putting Best Agricultural Practices into Work (Baltic Deal), 2010-2013.
Assessment of Regional Nutrient Pollution Load and Identification of Priority Projects to Reduce Nutrient Inputs from Belarus to the Baltic Sea, Nov 2012-Dec 2013.
Project on Reduction of the Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea Today (PRESTO), Jun 2011-Mar 2014.
