BALTICSEANOW.INFO
BalticSeaNow.info - Innovative participatory forum for the Baltic Sea
- Thematic cluster:
- Vigorous sea
- Programme:
- Central Baltic Programme
- Priority:
- 1. Safe and healthy environment
- Direction of support:
- Environmental awareness raising and expertise
- Duration:
- Nov 2009 - Feb 2013 (3 years, 4 months)
- Total funding:
- 1 281 740 €
- ERDF funding:
- 1 002 170 €
Development idea
The status of the Baltic Sea has changed dramatically over recent decades. It has been referred to as one of the most polluted seas in the world. Many international efforts, actions and political steps have been taken to tackle the problem. However, it was necessary to increase the involvement of citizens in order to promote awareness of the environmental state of the Baltic Sea and the actions needed to improve its ecological status.
Aim of the project
BalticSeaNow.info had the aim of increasing environmental awareness and sense of responsibility among the general public with regard to the current situation and the future of the Baltic Sea. The project developed channels for public involvement in environmental discussion.
Main project activities
The project established a common Baltic Sea web portal with the focus on interactive and participatory elements such as web cams, online environmental information, social media channels, discussion groups and video clips. Observations and stories produced by the public created a framework for joint discussions, information sharing, development of ideas and participation. The project culminated in a series of events in the participating countries, for example, a Baltic Sea market tour and public lectures.
Partners
Turku University of Applied Sciences
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Varsinais-Suomi
- ERDF funding:
- 432 356 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 144 118 €
The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SMHI
- Country:
- Sweden
- Region:
- Östergötland
- ERDF funding:
- 136 325 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 45 442 €
Tallinn University of Technology, Marine Systems Institute
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Põhja-Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 169 196 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 29 858 €
Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Varsinais-Suomi
- ERDF funding:
- 86 101 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 28 699 €
Estonian Fund for Nature
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 85 000 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 15 000 €
Environmental Projects Ltd
- Country:
- Latvia
- Region:
- Riga
- ERDF funding:
- 93 194 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 16 446 €
Results
Web-portal BalticSeaNow.info
Participatory Baltic Sea web-forum is information sharing portal providing the platform for discussion groups, web cameras, video forums, observations and stories from the general public.
| balticseanow.turkuamk.fi |
Environmental awareness raising via public events
The project implemented and joined several public events to increase environmental awareness and to increase public involvement to the protection of the sea.
The project was visible on big mass events like Tartu Hanseatic Days, Kotka Sea days (Kotkan Meripäivät), World Village Festival (Maailma kylässä - festivaali), Pori Jazz, Kuresaare Maritime Festival and Tallinn Maritime Days. It organised also a bit smaller happenings like Onboard Tallink Supertar, photo exhibitions, pub discussions and action days for kids.
Methods for collecting environmental observations of the general public
The project encouraged general public to observe the state of the Baltic Sea.
The project gave secchi-discs for people who committed to use them to observe the water depth visibility and report it online. Furthermore, a guide on how to use the secchi-disc to observe the water quality was published. The observations done during the year 2011 were collected to one publication.
Guide to secchi-discs "Miten voit itämeri?" (FI)
Report "Itämeren näkösyvys havainnot" (FI)
Educational materials on the protection of the Baltic Sea
The project produced series of education materials to enhance citizens' awareness and involvement on protection of the Baltic Sea.
The Marine Research publication gives a brief overview of different approaches and devices used to study the Baltic Sea environment, the changes in its state, and the processes influencing the dynamics in it.
Report "Marine research" (ENG/EST)
Publications analysing the concept of public involvement
The publications summarize and analyse project experiences on public participation and involvement (BalticSeaNow.info - Experiences on Public Involvement) and experiences on events (Meri Valvoo &Pallomeri - Ethico-Aesthetic Interventions in Public Space).
The publications also contain analysis on the experiences of the whole project (Osallistamalla Itämerikansalaisuuteen - BalticSeaNow.info).
Report "Experiences in public involvement" (ENG)
Report "Ethico-aesthetic interventions in public space" (ENG/FI)
Report "Osallistamalla Itämerikansalaisuuteen" (FI)
Report "Towards Baltic Sea citizenship - Experiences in public involvement" (ENG)
