Tag: Baltic Sea

Ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning: A Critique of existing Practice in Germany

This week saw the publication of an open-access article in the journal Town Planning Review, that built on and took further applied work conducted for BirdLife International, together with colleagues at NABU in Germany. The article examines the implementation of an ecosystem-based approach (EBA) in Germany’s current maritime spatial plan for its Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the Baltic and North Seas (published and adopted in 2021). The findings in the paper are based on an in-depth interpretive policy analysis of the final plan itself, earlier consultation drafts, submissions to the consultation process and the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) conducted in conjunction with the plan preparation process. Key findings include the following:

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Nature Conservation and Sustainable Transformation on the Island of Bornholm: A Window of Opportunity?

In April 2024, the FREIIA project team met on the Danish island of Bornholm in the southwestern Baltic Sea. For our project partners on Bornholm, the primary focus lies on achieving a circular economy and indeed, Bornholm district council has ambitious aims to reduce landfill and incineration to zero by 2030 and innovative measures in place to facilitate the reuse and recycling of an impressively wide range of materials. 

Coastal landscape at Sandvig, Bornholm (Photo: C. Walsh)

At the same time, a shift in approach to nature conservation and appreciation of the fragility of the island’s natural environment is evident. The principal focus of nature conservation in Denmark has been on the preservation of certain landscape qualities. This static approach, enshrined in the 1992 Nature Conservation Act, allows for the continuation of existing uses (particularly farming) and is less suited to achieving biodiversity or ecosystem restoration objectives. Indeed, in some cases, active conservation measures are necessary to ensure that a landscape remains as it was at the time of its designation. 

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A National Park for the Baltic Sea? A Panel Discussion in Kiel

Against the background of proposals to establish a new marine national park in the territorial waters of the German Baltic Sea in Schleswig-Holstein, the Centre for Ocean and Society at Kiel University and the EnJust Network, organised an interdisciplinary panel discussion which took place in Kiel on the evening of January 17th. The panel discussion sought to combine perspectives from marine ecology (Jan Dierking, GEOMAR Kiel), philosophy (Konrad Ott), marine spatial planning (Kira Gee, Hereon), international law (Nele Matz-Lück, Kiel University) and geography / marine governance (my own contribution). Unfortunately, on the day both Kira and Nele were unable to attend. The panel discussion, focussed on the question of the suitability of various marine protection concepts for the conservation of the Baltic Sea, rather than debating arguments in favour or against a national park per se, was moderated by Annegret Kuhn and Christian Elster (both Kiel University). We spoke (in German) to an engaged audience from both Kiel University and associated research institutes and the wider public in a packed room.

Map of proposed National Park area (source: adapted from MEKUN)
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