Implementation started
Marine and coastal areas are very important for many activities and face similar environmental and spatial planning challenges across the Baltic Sea region. Increasing demands to exploit these areas are creating potential conflicts with other interests, such as the conservation of natural resources and ecosystem services. It is essential that different values and interests are recognised in the maritime spatial plans to achieve long-term sustainable development in the Baltic Sea region.
A Central Baltic project – Coast4us – which aims at sustainable coastal zone planning, was launched in 2018. The project seeks to develop planning in pilot areas relating to climate change adaptation, strengthen biodiversity and reduce eutrophication and pollution in the catchment area by following strategies, such as the Baltic Sea Action Plan, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBS) concept and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
Objective of the measure:
Developing an area through long-term and sustainable planning requires a holistic and inclusive approach in which cooperation with the local residents is the key to ensuring that wishes, needs, development potential and problems are identified. New methods for local cooperation, such as various GIS tools, are tested in the project. Another objective is to inform the public about marine ecosystem services. Sustainable coastal zone plans, including advice and recommendations, will be prepared for the selected pilot areas in 2020. The project will ensure that the advice and recommendations are applicable to all sustainable coastal zone planning.
PROGRESS: underway
