Future Trends in the Baltic Sea
With increasingly fierce competition for space and resources, the Baltic Sea is one of the world's most threatened marine ecoystems. WWF and RSA's report explores how conflicting demands on the Baltic Sea can be resolved.
Strategic management of Baltic Sea resources
The report shows projected trends for the many sectors using the Baltic Sea over the next 10 to 20 years. The density of sea traffic in the region is already one of the highest in the world, and the number of ships is expected to double by 2030. The wind energy sector is also set to grow by more than 6,000%. Growth is also predicted for tourism and recreation, port capacity, electric cables and pipelines, as well as physical exploitation of the coastline and sea bottom.
The use of marine space and resources has until now been planned and managed sector by sector with little coordination between Baltic Sea nations. The report argues that an integrated and coordinated approach that takes into account the needs of the marine ecosystem is essential. Applying such an Integrated Sea Use Management (ISUM) framework across countries, sectors and governments will reduce potential conflicts, benefit the environment and contribute to economic development by providing greater certainty for future investments.
The report was launched at the WWF’s annual Baltic Sea Seminar in Stockholm on 26th August 2010. It is accompanied by a series of interactive maps illustrating scenarios for the development of various sectors in the Baltic Sea region over the next 20 years. The map is available to view at www.panda.org/baltic/map.
Download a copy of Future Trends in the Baltic Sea.
