Eutrophication and the Ecosystem Approach to Management: A Case Study of Baltic Sea Environmental Governance

Abstract

This study investigates if and how present institutional structures and interactions between scientifi c assessment and environmental management are suffi cient for implementing the ecosystem approach to management (EAM) in the case of Baltic Sea eutrophication. Concerning governance structures, a number of institutions and policies focus on issues relating to eutrophication. In many cases, the policies are mutually supportive rather than contradictory, as seen, for example, in the case of the mutually supportive BSAP and MSFD. The opposite is true, however, when it comes to the linkages with some other policy areas, in particular regarding agricultural policy, where the EU CAP subsidises intensive agriculture with at best minor consideration of environmental objectives, thereby undermining EAM. Enhanced policy coherence and stricter policies on concrete measures to combat eutrophication seem well needed in order to reach stated environmental objectives. When it comes to assessment-management interactions, the science-policy interface has worked well in periods, but the more specifi c that policies have become, for example, in the BSAP case, the more question marks have been raised about science by affected stakeholders. At present, outright controversies exist, and EAM is far from realised in eutrophication policy in the Baltic Sea region. Besides coping with remaining uncertainties by improving the knowledge on problems and solutions -not least in terms of the socio-economic impacts of eutrophication -it may therefore be valuable to develop venues for improved stakeholder participation.

Knowledge for environmental governance: probing science–policy theory in the cases of eutrophication and fisheries in the Baltic Sea

“…It can be argued that this occurred when the Nest system quite directly influenced the nutrient reduction targets formalised in the BSAP (cf. Karlsson et al, 2016). Still, despite close interaction between HELCOM and Baltic Nest during the development of the 2007 BSAP, the experts linked to Baltic Nest stayed in a traditional knowledge-provider mode by presenting modelling results and scenarios to policy-makers.…”

“…Eutrophication governance in the Baltic Sea is a complex multi-level governance arrangement, where the international level via EU legislation and HELCOM recommendations and action plans play a dominant and steering role (Karlsson, Gilek, & Lundberg, 2016). National measures are also important for implementing the international policies and to give effect to national policy priorities.…”

European agricultural policy requires a stronger performance framework to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

“…We found that EU agricultural policy indicators are primarily focused on three SDGs: zero hunger (SDG 2), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and life on land (SDG 15). EU agricultural indicators are missing entirely for good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), life below water (SDG 14) and good governance through institutions (SDG 16) (Figures 3-5)issues that have all been highlighted as important for agriculture by the FAO (FAO, 2017(FAO, , 2018 and other scholars (Begashaw & Rockström, 2017;Jansson et al, 2019;Karlsson et al, 2016). Other assessments, too, have found gaps in agricultural policy and the SDGs.…”

The Ecosystem Approach to Management in Marine Environmental Governance: Institutional interplay in the Baltic Sea Region

“…Although cognitive interplay exists between the three EU policy initiatives, it is even more evident between the EU and HELCOM, especially between the MSFD and the BSAP (Backer et al 2010;van Leeuwen, van Hoof, and van Tatenhove 2012;van Tatenhove et al 2014;Wenzel 2011;Karlsson, Gilek, and Lundberg 2016). Before the MSFD was developed the EAM was not yet established as the guiding principle of EU marine policy.…”