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.
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.
Posted by Sanni Turunen, Wednesday, 16th January 2019 @ 10:18am
The policy areas Nutri and Bioeconomy welcome you to learn, share and exchange ideas about nutrient recycling in agriculture and state of the Baltic Sea in Jyväskylä, Finland 12-13 February 2019. It is possible to present project results at the Project Fair during the first evening.
You can download the draft programme and information about registration, accommodation and other practicalities in here. We expect to have participants from administration, advisory services, projects, research and other stakeholders that work with issues related to agri-environmental measures.
Register here. The registration closes at 28.1.2019.
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.
