The project has been divided into work packages that complement each other.

WP 1 – Supply of ecosystem services

The objective of WP1 is to compile consistent projections of plausible future development of the marine ecosystem. The projections include the marine flora and fauna at lower and higher trophic levels, with respect to climate and macroeconomic scenarios and management alternatives.

It is particularly important to estimate the changes in selected ecosystem services and the uncertainties. The aim is to establish a database with historical and future model results that can be used in WPs 2 and 3.

WP leader: Markus Meier, SMHI
Participating organizations: UH, AU, IfW, LUKE, SMHI, SU

WP 2 – Wellbeing from cultural ecosystem services

WP2 identifies and assesses the values of different cultural ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea, and produces information on the spatial and temporal distribution of these services. The main focus is on recreation, but also other cultural ecosystem services that significantly contribute to human wellbeing, such as aesthetics of landscape, non-use benefits and inspiration, are covered.

We analyze how changes in the environmental quality and ecosystem services induced by climate change and eutrophication (provided by WP1) affect human wellbeing. Value estimates will be expressed with qualitative, quantitative and monetary measures.

To understand the variety of cultural services of the sea we identify different “Baltic Sea identities” among the citizens around the sea. The findings of this work package will feed into the cost benefit analysis and maps of cultural ecosystem services in WP3.

WP leader: Eija Pouta, LUKE
Participating organizations: UH, AU, IfW, LUKE, UW

WP3 – Tools for policy and management

Based on input from WPs 1 and 2, we evaluate the future prospects and strategies for attaining and maintaining the socially desirable level of marine ecosystem services. This will be achieved by analysing the impacts of socio-economic drivers, climate change and alternative effort levels in nutrient abatement and fisheries control on the future flows of provisioning and cultural ecosystem services.

We demonstrate and communicate the future projections and values of selected ecosystem services to end-users through maps made available through the web. Finally, we carry out a cost-benefit analysis exploring the economic prospects for attaining and maintaining Good Environmental Status (GES) under growing climatic and societal pressures.

WP leader: Marianne Zandersen, Aarhus Univesity
Participating organizations: UH, AU, LUKE, SMHI, SU, UW

WP4 – Stakeholder interaction

The objective of WP4 is to enable interaction between the research team and the major stakeholders and users of the research data. This will be achieved by creating an interactive tool that facilitates collecting and sharing data regarding recreational hotspots.

We will also specifically enable an effective two-way interaction with HELCOM, ICES, national actors in charge of implementing EU directives, end-users of the Baltic Sea ecosystem services and relevant NGOs. Finally, a policy brief will be produced to ensure effective communication of recommendations and key findings of the research project.

WP leader: Kerstin Blyh Joyce, Stockholm University
Participating organizations: UH, AU, IfW, LUKE, SMHI, SU, UW

WP5 – Management

This WP provides the project with overall guidance and management.

WP leader: Kari Hyytiäinen, University of Helsinki
Participating organizations: UH, AU, IfW, LUKE, SMHI, SU, UW