Well-developed countries, with some fairly large cities, a variety of industries, and modern agriculture and forest management surround the Baltic. Ever since industrialisation started here in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the Baltic Sea receives steadily increasing amounts of pollutants. These waste substances come in the form of municipal and industrial effluents, as well as from farming, forestry, and discharges from increasing shipping.

Pollution from industry around the Baltic Sea has a substantial impact on the environment throughout the Baltic Sea region. A large portion of the problem stems from industries located in the countries in transition, mostly in the eastern part of the region. Many of the industries in these countries are still using technology installed when the plants were originally constructed. Industries found to be most damaging to the environment are the pulp and paper industries, chemical industries and metal producing/processing plants.

Agriculture introduces pesticide residues to the atmosphere and water. The drainage of coastal wetlands for cultivation adds to the nutrient load to the Baltic Sea. New agricultural strategies must be developed for the countries in transition in the Baltic Sea catchment area. As agriculture intensifies, the overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides must be avoided and alternatives developed. Large-scale livestock husbandry should also be abandoned.

The transport sector contributes between 40-80% of the total emissions of nitrogen oxides. Emissions of nitrogen oxides from the transport sector have not decreased markedly in any of the countries around the Baltic. Shipping poses another potential hazard. Oil tankers carry over 100 million tons of oil and oil products per year. Spills can release large amounts of oil into the marine ecosystem, often with devastating results. A great number of oil spills are detected in the Baltic Sea Area every year either due to accidents or illegal operational discharges. The increasing number of illegal operational oil spills can be explained by increased shipping, increased number of sub-standard ships, and outdated oil and waste reception facilities in a number of countries.

Municipalities account for almost half the number of pollution problem areas around the Baltic Sea. Sewage and wastewater treatment are the main issues for this source of pollution. At present, considerable improvements have been achieved in the countries in the northern and western parts of the Baltic region in the treatment of municipal, and combined municipal and industrial wastes.

In the Baltic region a separation is visible between the EU member states and the formerly centrally planned economies. In the Baltic region in general very common problems in the field of integrated coastal zone management include the absence of overall national legislation specifically for coastal zone planning, the absence of a legal definition for the coastal zone, problems of vertical integration between governmental levels and administrations, weak co-operation and communication between various levels of government and a lack of integration of sectoral interests at a local level. In the countries in transition social and economic problems often put off the solution to environmental issues. Common problems of these Baltic States in need of attention also include a relatively low level of environmental awareness, lack of financial means and purposive investments, problems caused by changing land ownership and few possibilities for public participation in coastal management and decision making. In a desire for co-operation in order to face the key environmental problems of the Baltic region several international initiatives have been taken

The environmental situation in the Baltic Sea has improved since environmental pollution measures were enacted on a large scale by the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea several years ago. Substantial reduction in pollution load from countries like Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Germany since then has helped to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea. However, in the formerly centrally planned countries, the legacy of the past is monumental. Although industrial restructuring is taking place, it will be many years before environmental effects are more visible. As industrial enterprises in those countries become economically more efficient, environmental improvements will to a large degree be side effects of the overall change, provided that the principles of Best Available Technology and Best Environmental Practice are fully recognised and applied.

Baltic 21
In 1996, the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Sea Region took the initiative to develop an Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region aiming at sustainable development encompassing economic, social and environmental aspects. The Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region was adopted in 1998 and is a joint, long-term effort by the 11 countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS). The emphasis is on regional co-operation, and the work is focused on seven economic sectors, spatial planning and, since spring 2000, also on education. The Baltic Sea Region is the first region in the world to adopt common regional goals for sustainable development. Implementation is in progress (see further www.ee/baltic21/)

VASAB 2010
In 1992, an intergovernmental programme on multilateral cooperation in spatial planning and development was established. It was guided by the Conference of Ministers responsible for spatial planning and development (Fifth Conference in Wismar, 20 - 21 September 2001) and focused on the implementation of a Vision And Strategies Around the Baltic on Spatial Development which adopted by the Ministers in 1994 (Towards a Framework for Spatial Development in the Baltic Sea Region). VASAB 2010 is a spatial development action programme which identifies key themes for transnational co-operation for sustainable spatial development (see further information see www.vasab.org.pl).

The Helsinki Convention (HELCOM)
Issued to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea, the first Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area was signed in 1974 by the coastal states of the Baltic Sea at that time. It was the first international agreement to cover all sources of pollution, both from land and from ships as well as airborne. In 1992, a new Convention was signed including a new article (Art. 15) on nature conservation and biodiversity, which entered into force on 17 January 2000. The present contracting parties to HELCOM are Denmark, Estonia, European Community, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. The Helsinki Commission has established a system of more than 60 Baltic Coastal and Marine Protected Areas and established management plans for five large coastal lagoons and wetland areas along the south and south eastern Baltic coasts (for further information see www.helcom.fi).

Integrated Coastal Zone Management is now under the remit of the Helsinki Commission Nature Conservation and Coastal Zone Management Group, commonly referred to as "HELCOM HABITAT". This group aims - among other things - to promote the development of coastal zone management plans as instruments of resource management for environmentally sustainable development in coastal and marine areas. In order to reach these goals, the Group will review and observe the status quo of biodiversity conservation in the Baltic Sea countries, identify gaps and deficits, and develop strategies.

ICZM in the Baltic
The current, individual, national State-of-the-Art reports (click the individual countries), written by EUCC, have been compiled as a result of a commission from HELCOM - Habitat. They contain the latest information about important aspects of ICZM and have been peer reviewed by eight of the nine countries.

Each country file has been written in a standardised way to enable the information to be compared and contrasted. Each report describes the national coastline and explains the formal definition of the coast and any setback lines policy. This is followed by chapters on coastal management & spatial planning in the coastal zone, and coastal & marine environmental and nature conservation policy. For each of these three chapters, the involved authority, the policy developed and the legislation in use is delineated. Tourism & recreation and coastal defence are discussed within the framework of economic developments, important sectors and trends. At this point, the current state of ICZM is considered in relation to the legal framework and completed, ongoing & related ICZM projects. A short, independent evaluation is then added. Finally, NGOs involved in ICZM are listed as are the reference sources for the compilation of the document.

The information drawn together in the document is the first time that such data has been brought together in one document. These State-of-the-Art reports of the nine riparian States of HELCOM allow some interesting comparisons to be made and conclusions to be drawn about ICZM in the region:

Table 1. Length of the Baltic Coastline

Table 2. Definition of the Coast

Table 3. Setback lines policy

Table 4. Overview of Protected Zones

Table 5. Responsible National Coastal Authorities

Table 6. Responsible Local Coastal Authorities

Table 7. Specific ICZM Legislation

Table 8. Relevant legislation for ICZM

Table 9. ICZM projects in the Baltic States

The main challenge now for HELCOM is to take the implementation of individual ICZM projects in each of the member States to a systematic approach at an international level. In order to begin this process, HELCOM Habitat have commissioned EUCC - The Coastal Union to present a document to the next meeting of the Group (May 2003) detailing a set of Principles which will underpin ICZM work in the future. This Common Approach will build upon the EU ICZM Strategy but take it further. When completed, the document will also be posted at this site.

Prepared by Marian Eeltink and Alan Pickaver at EUCC International Secretariat

© Copyright: EUCC - The Coastal Union, September 2002