Pan Baltic Scope is happy to invite you to its Opening conference – introducing lasting macro-regional tools for Baltic maritime spatial plans.

Maritime spatial planning (MSP) has become a hot topic moving even further each year, taking on board wider scope of issues and improving the regular approaches and practices.

Pan Baltic Scope is the international collaboration of planning authorities and regional organizations created to strengthen the knowledge and enhance the cross-border dimensions in MSP cooperation establishing durable tools for such partnership.

The partners representing the national planning authorities will highlight the status and progress of MSP processes in each country opening the panel for discussion.

We welcome sister project SEANSE from the North Sea to join us and introduce itself to ensure synergies and exchange of the practices between actions and sea basins.

Ecosystem-based approach, green infrastructure, land-sea interaction, cumulative effect assessment and socioeconomic analyses in MSP will be in the centre of practical discussions in the parallel workshops.

We invite practitioners and researchers interested in MSP, as well as policy makers and stakeholders involved in marine and coastal activities to get acquainted with Pan Baltic Scope and its plans, as well as dive together into the vastness of the maritime spatial planning.

Agenda

Those are two working meetings to agree with the experts about the further steps within the activities of:

1. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE on 10 – 11 September. Read about the outcomes here>>.

2. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS on 11 – 12 September.

Read about the OUTCOMES HERE >>

The Government of Åland with its project partners, the Regional Council of Satakunta, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, and Nordregio, will be hosting a meeting with two workshops on Åland to discuss the future development of the sea and how we can benefit from each other, cross-nation and cross-sector wise. Why we want to do this is because we want to support Blue Growth and sustainable development with the Maritime Spatial Plans in the Baltic Sea. Therefore, inviting experts, policymakers, and planners to network and collaborate on themes, which will increase cross-sectoral and transboundary development. Together we can bring better plans for the Baltic Sea.

1.Blue Growth and Economy in the Gulf of Bothnia – in Mariehamn on the 15th of October.

We will have a common lunch before the workshop, which starts at 13:00. If you wish to join the lunch please indicate it in the registration form below.

We will have a more in-detail workshop/meeting the next day for those who are interested (please remember to register separately to that event).

We will present and discuss topics such as:

• Maritime Spatial Planning
• Sustainable development at Sea
• Needs, interests, and possibilities for Blue Economy actors
• Collaboration between nations
• Land Sea Interactions

2.Blue Growth and Economy in the Bothnian Sea and Archipelago area – in Mariehamn on the 16th of October.

We will present and discuss topics such as:

• Cumulative impact
• Socio-Economic stats in the Gulf of Bothnia
• What are the links between Land and Sea
• Collaboration networks for the future
• Common needs, interests, and possibilities VS differences, possible issues amongst sectors

In case of any queries please contact Stefan Husa (Pan Baltic Scope Project coordinator, The Government of Åland) via email stefan.husa@regeringen.ax.

You are welcome to REGISTER HERE

One main topic will be the results of the joint questionnaire of the Activities 1.2.1 Ecosystem-Based Approach (EBA) Toolbox and 1.2.2. Implementation of EBA in sub-basin SEA, where we try to figure out similarities and differences of the national SEA processes and experiences with the EBA in the Baltic Sea Region. Based on this, we will work together on a coherent understanding, find ways to deal with existing hindrances and create a valuable input for both activities.

AGENDA

SAVE THE DATE for the Pan Baltic Scope 2nd Workshop on Data Sharing.

During the workshop, first prototypes of Baltic maritime spatial planning web-map will be introduced and group discussions about Prototypes for default visualization and sectoral visualization will be held.

For further information please contact:
Kristine Kedo
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia
kristine.kedo@varam.gov.lv

Read a short insight on how it went here >>

AIM

• Coordinated activities
• Learned from each other
• Created a common view

AGENDA DRAFT

Tuesday, 11th December
12.00 Optional Lunch in Old Town
13.00 Meeting Start
Approximately 18.00 Meeting End day one
Dinner

Wednesday, 12th December
9.00 Meeting Starts
12.00 Meeting Ends
12.00 Optional Lunch in Old Town

ISSUES

• Timeslot for Exchange between Activities (Discussion)
• Products and final reports – which, when, who (Decision)
• Recommendations from activities and project as a whole – how and when (Discussion)
• Communication issue (Decision)
• Any other business – please suggest beforehand, to Project Management

READ about the outcomes HERE >>.

Pan Baltic Scope Green infrastructure workshop, in cooperation with HELCOM State and Conservation and HELCOM Fish Working Groups (Essential Fish Habitats).

THE WORKSHOP

The purpose of the joint Workshop on Essential Fish Habitats is to consider existing knowledge regarding essential fish habitats at the Baltic Sea regional scale, and how remaining gaps could be filled.

The workshop will discuss and validate existing spatial data on essential fish habitats based on proposals collated within the PanBaltic Scope project.
The presented information will be further used in the PanBaltic Scope project to develop a concept of Green infrastructure for supporting maritime spatial planning in the HELCOM region.

WHO

The workshop is open to experts from Contracting Parties, partners of the Pan Baltic Scope project and invited experts on Baltic Sea essential fish habitats.

PROPOSALS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Please send proposals for contributions to support this topic by 15 September to Margarita Vološina from the Latvian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (margarita.volosina@varam.gov.lv) with a copy to the HELCOM (lena.bergstrom@helcom.fi) and VASAB Secretariats (liene.stikane@vasab.org).