Press release
HELCOM HABITAT Meeting to focus on protection of endangered species and marine spatial planning
Helsinki, 3 May (HELCOM Information Service) – The HELCOM Nature Protection and Biodiversity Group (HELCOM HABITAT) will convene its regular meeting on 7-11 May in Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss ways to halt the decline in biodiversity and habitat destruction and to protect the endangered species in the Baltic marine area.
The development of the nature protection and biodiversity segment of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which is currently being drafted by HELCOM to drastically reduce pollution to the Baltic Sea and restore its good ecological status, will once again top the agenda of the HABITAT Group Meeting. “Our experts will look into some outstanding issues related to the development of concrete nature protection actions, as well as provide further guidance for the development of the segment,” says Jan Ekebom, Chairman of HELCOM HABITAT.
The protection of endangered species and habitats will also be one of the major topics at the meeting, especially finding ways to reach and guarantee, together with other international bodies, favourable status for seal, harbour porpoise and wild salmon populations. The Meeting will also look into possibilities to reintroduce the extinct Baltic sturgeon.
Much discussion is expected to center on strengthening of the network of the Baltic Sea protected areas. Currently, the network comprises of approximately 90 sites protecting species, habitats, important ecological processes and geological formations. “The network of Baltic Sea Protected Areas is an important mean to safeguard biodiversity of the Baltic Sea,” explains Jan Ekebom. “We will discuss the evaluation of the ecological coherence of the current network, establishment of new protected areas, as well as their management.”
It is expected that the representatives of the coastal countries will consider developing a large-scale marine spatial planning and a large-scale zoning scheme for the Baltic Sea. “Marine large-scale spatial planning and marine zoning are tools that provide possibilities to coherently manage human activities impacting the marine environment according to the Ecosystem Approach,” says Juha-Markku Leppänen, HELCOM’s Professional Secretary. “We will discuss a proposal for a pilot project which will concentrate on producing principles of marine spatial planning. As there is presently little or no cross-boundary spatial coordination of human activities between the HELCOM Member States the project will deliver an important tool for the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in the Baltic Sea.”
Note to Editors:
The Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, more usually known as the Helsinki Commission, or HELCOM, is an intergovernmental organisation of all the nine Baltic Sea countries and the EU which works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution.
HELCOM is the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area," known as the Helsinki Convention.
HELCOM HABITAT, which is one of the HELCOM Working Groups, works to conserve and protect biodiversity, species and habitats and promote the sustainable use of living marine resources; and to ensure that the need for environmental protection is duly considered in different activities that affect the marine environment, by using tools such as spatial planning and environmental impact assessments.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Juha-Markku Leppänen
Professional Secretary
HELCOM
Tel: +358 (0)207 412 627
Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639
E-mail: juha-markku.leppanen@helcom.fi
Mr Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
HELCOM
Tel: +358 (0)207 412 635
Fax: +358 (0)207 412 639
E-mail: nikolay.vlasov@helcom.fi