The need for better integration The need for better integration between science and between science and managementmanagementMARE workshop 1-3 December 2004MARE workshop 1-3 December 2004

Kaj ForsiusKaj Forsius

HELCOMHELCOM

Helsinki Commission(HELCOM)

• Governing body of the Helsinki Convention

• International co-operation for the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea area since 1974

• 1992 the new Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area was signed (entered into force Jan 2000)

Aim of the Convention

• to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution

• to restore the ecosystem and preserve its balance

• to ensure sustainable use of the natural resources

Role of HELCOM

• An environmental policy maker developing common objectives and actions;

• An environmental focal point providing information which can form the basis for decision-making in other international fora;

• A body for developing Recommendations (own and supplementary)

• A supervisory body ensuring that HELCOM requirements are fully implemented throughout the catchment area; and

• A co-ordinating body ascertaining multilateral response in case of major maritime incidents.

HELCOM’s priority areas of work

HELCOM work including assessments, as well as the supporting monitoring, should be targeted at identified threats

• Nature conservation and biodiversity;• Eutrophication;• Hazardous substances relevant for the Baltic

Sea; • Maritime safety and shipping, including

response activities

Principles for HELCOM’s assessment products

Backbone of HELCOM’s work since its beginning in cooperation with scientific network

Aim:• to provide policy relevant information for targeted users at

national, regional and international level• link assessments on pressures with state and impactsIn order to:• make sound decisions to restore the Baltic Sea ecosystem• reach good ecological status• support the implementation of the HELCOM objectives and

actions• to raise general public awareness

Information pyramid

Monitoring and Data

Indicator reports

Thematic reports

Holisticassessments

Scientific reports

&Modelling

Monitoring and Data

Indicator reports

Thematic reports

Holisticassessments

Scientific reports

&Modelling

Ecosystem Approach to management of human activities

• Adopted by HELCOM Ministerial Meeting in 2003• Integrated approach to manage human activities

affecting the marine ecosystems• Sustainable use of the marine resources and

maintenance of ecosystem integrity• Include political, economic and social values, • Should propose solutions which are socially

acceptable,

• Management to be based on sound scientific advice

Ecosystem approach

Ecological quality objectives (EcoQOs) play an integral role

• can allow for the setting of future policy goals • evaluation of management outcomes• EcoQOs should address both

– the critical ecosystem components and – the most significant anthropogenic threats

• Effective tool to gain public support and guide the decisions of managers

From Visions… to Actions!

“Prevent and eliminate pollution

in order to promote the ecological

restoration of the Baltic Sea Area

and the preservation of its

ecological balance”

Ecological Quality

Objectives &

Performance Indicators

are assessment tools

to show how the ecosystem

visions and goals have been met

to set future policy goals

Scope of the EcoQO project

EcoQOs - Eutrophication

Reduce eutrophication

in order to restore ecological balance

within the Baltic Sea and to ensure a functioning

marine ecosystem

Restored depth range of perennial water plants and algae

No excessive growth of opportunistic or nuisance species

No exceptional massive algal blooms.

Restored water clarity

Protect, allow recovery and restore the function of marine ecosystems in order to achieve and maintain good ecological statusgood ecological status

Target levels

• WFD reports (e.g. national & CHARM) (Coastal)• HELCOM Background value Workshop 2000 documents• Historical data: e.g. Laamanen, Fleming & Olsonen

2004 (secchi) and many others• Modelling: e.g. Wulff and Schernewski & Neumann 2004

1900 2000 2050

Reference level

Target level

NUTRIENT INPUTS

SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

physical and hydrodynamicaspects, and climatic/weather conditions (e.g. flushing, wind, temperature, light availability),

TRANSBOUNDARY TRANSPORT

INCREASED NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS &

NUTRIENT RATIOS

TRANSBOUNDARY NUTRIENT FLUXES

increase in primary production

increase in turbidity

decrease in light

penetration

nuisance / toxic algal species and

changes in species composition

increase in phytoplankton biomass (chl-a)

organic matter

degree of oxygen deficiency

(during growing season)

shift from long-lived to short-lived nuisance macrophyte species and

reduced depth distribution

foam

macrophytobenthos biomass and primary production

algal

toxins

Increase in

bacteria

zoobenthos / fish kills & benthic community

structure

Ecosystem structure

(+)

(+)

(+)

(-)

(+)

(+)

(+)

(+)

(+)

(+)

(+)

II

(+) (+)

(-) (-)

II

I

I

III III

II

IIIIV

I

(-)

(-) Release of nutrients from sediment

Is it possible to achieve the agreed target values in combination or do they contradict?

Do the set of target values reflect a Baltic Sea in ecological balance?

Ecological Balance?

Use of models to combine pressures with effects

So far mostly ecological models related to the assessment on the effect in the sea

HELCOM has decided to:• use models to assess the implications of different

policy scenarios on nutrient inputs and the resulting eutrophication status in the different sub areas of the Baltic Sea.

• to assess the possible impacts of agricultural policies, including the implementation of the reform of the EU CAP

Project for “Assessment of implication of different policy scenarios on nutrient

inputs”

• The basis of the effect models are the scenarios of activities at Land

• Link management scenario models with ecological models

• Aim is to:– to assess the impact of different agricultural policy

scenarios on the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea.

– identify cost-effective measures in the future in the different sub basins of the Baltic Sea

Steps in the project

• To develop scenarios for measures to reduce nutrient losses from agriculture for the chosen years (e.g. 2005-2010-2015).

• MARE to evaluate the effectiveness regarding inputs to, concentrations of nutrients and selected biological quality parameters reflecting the good ecological status– Costs, timelag

• Assessment of impacts • Identification of cost-effective measures

Top-DownTop-Down

Top-Down

Bottom-upBottom-up

Bottom-up

A. B. C.

Stakeholderunderstanding/

participation

Building a foundation of understanding:

the “top-down” and “bottom-up” process…

For more information

Please contact:

Helsinki Commission

Secretariat

Katajanokanlaituri 6 B

FI-00160 Helsinki

Finland

http://www.helcom.fi