Green Infrastructure

The EU Green Infrastructure Strategy defines the GI as a “strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. It incorporates green spaces (or blue if aquatic ecosystems are concerned) and other physical features in terrestrial (including coastal) and marine areas.” The GI planning is step towards implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 and achieving its Target 2: “By 2020, ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced by establishing green infrastructure and restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems.”

The PanBaltic Scope project aims to clarify the concept of GI in the context of the maritime spatial planning as well as to test the methodological approaches and data availability for mapping of marine GI in the Baltic Sea.

Tasks

Outline a concept of GI utilizing previous and ongoing studies and projects;
Test the concept by utilizing available data;
Develop definitions how to present habitats important for fish and improve Baltic-wide maps on important fish habitats, based on the existing knowledge and information from ongoing activities, such as ICES WGSFD8 and ICES WGVHES;
Collect feedback on the draft concept from the HELCOM-VASAB MSP working group and HELCOM State and Conservation group involving authorities and agencies dealing with nature protection and biodiversity conservation from all Baltic Sea countries, for further developing the concept.

Progress

Stocktaking on previous attempts and experience in the Baltic Sea region with regard to mapping of ecological values or sensitive areas as well as data availability for mapping of essential fish habitats carried out.

1^st Workshop on Green Infrastructure and Essential Fish Habitats held on 29-30 May 2018 in Riga. Participants of the workshop have discussed the concept of GI, its main forming components including Essential Fish Habitats and agreed on the work plan until the next workshop to be held in December 2018.

Results

Activity Leader

Participating Partners

Mapping of Green Infrastructure: Pan Baltic Scope Approach

Short description

The Pan Baltic Scope project has developed a concept of marine green infrastructure (GI), defining it as a spatial network of ecologically valuable areas which are significant for the maintenance of ecosystems’ health and resilience, biodiversity conservation and multiple delivery of ecosystem services essential for human well-being. The project has tested GI mapping at the scale of the Baltic Sea, covering the two essential aspects – identification of areas of high ecological value and potential supply of ecosystem services.
The brochure outlines the concept of marine GI, briefly describes the GI mapping approach applied by the Pan Baltic Scope project and the obtained results, as well as discuss opportunities to apply the concept in ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning. For the detailed and explicit description see Final Report (September 2019) Green Infrastructure Concept for MSP and Its Application Within Pan Baltic Scope Project.

Download HERE (English)

Download HERE (Polish)

Green Infrastructure Concept for MSP and Its Application Within the Pan Baltic Scope Project

Short description

The Pan Baltic Scope project has developed a concept of marine green infrastructure (GI), defining it as a spatial network of ecologically valuable areas which are significant for the maintenance of ecosystems’ health and resilience, biodiversity conservation and multiple delivery of ecosystem services essential for human well-being. The project has tested GI mapping at the scale of the Baltic Sea, covering the two essential aspects – identification of areas of high ecological value and potentialsupply of ecosystem services. The report gives an overview of the concept of GI, explores the existing approaches to GI mapping, describes the methodology developed by the Pan Baltic Scope project for marine GI mapping as well as concludes about the future research needs and opportunities to apply this information in the MSP process.

Download HERE

Leaflet: Marine Green Infrastructure – What It Is and How to Map It?

Short description

This leaflet will shortly explain what is Green Infrastructure and how to map it. The Pan Baltic Scope project defines marine green infrastructure (GI) as a spatial network of ecologically valuable areas which are significant for the maintenance of ecosystems’ health and resilience, biodiversity conservation and multiple delivery of ecosystem services essential for humanwell-being. Mapping marine GI is still a novelty. The Pan Baltic Scope project has taken a challenge to develop a concept for marine GI applicable in maritime spatial planning and to test GI mapping at the Baltic Sea scale.

Download HERE

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