The Baltic Sea Fund announces 2005 Award winners

PRESS RELEASE from the Baltic Sea Fund, 2005-02-10

A devoted and environmentally engaged project leader in Gliwice and a co-operative and enthusiastic researcher in Gdansk share the Award of 2005 of the Baltic Sea Fund. The prize sum is EUR 24,000.

This year’s prize-winners were announced today by Åland’s County Governor Peter Lindbäck at a seminar held at Hotel Arkipelag in Mariehamn, and arranged by the Baltic Sea Fund.

The prize ceremony will take place on Saturday, 21 May, at Åland Parliament House in Mariehamn.

 ·        Maria Staniszewska of Gliwice, Poland, is awarded for her long-term efforts in reduction of   eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. She has conducted outstanding work in the environmental organization PKE (Polski Klub Ekologiczny) in order to minimize nitrogen load from the Polish farming. In her work she has primarily focused on introducing ecological farming with low demand of chemical fertilizers. She has also taken initiative in promoting sales of ecologically grown products. As an active lobbyist she has created understanding and awareness of environmentally friendly farming among the wide public.

Maria Staniszewska has been an active promoter of an annual ecological fair in Poland. With the fair she has succeeded in engaging Polish politicians to support ecological farming. The fair has also become an important event in promoting environmentally friendly farming.

The prize sum is EUR 12,000.

 ·        Dr. Krzysztof E. Skóra of Gdansk, Poland, has during the past 15 years with determined actions and unwavering enthusiasm made the marine research centre Hel on Poland’s Baltic Sea coast into a key resource centre in Baltic Sea issues. Today the centre, which is administered by Gdánsk University, has taken great measures in researching and surveying the introduction of alien species in the Baltic Sea, as well as providing education and information programmes in environmental issues. He has focused on remediation of affected marine environments in the Baltic Sea. The projects include efforts to reintroduce bladder rack into the Bay of Gdánsk, as well as reintroduction of sturgeon (the biggest fish in the Baltic Sea).

Dr. Skóra has been very active in his work and his participation in international co-operation in marine environments and in the Baltic Sea issues especially, has been highly appreciated. At Hel centre he has arranged seminars and meetings in the scope of HELCOM and Baltic University Programme. The centre has become an important supplier of information in marine environmental issues, and the focus has been on the young generation.

The prize sum is EUR 12,000.

For more information, please contact:

Edgar Öhberg, Director

Ph. +358-18-15270, +358-457-3135894

e-mail: edgar.ohberg@ostersjofonden.org

www.ostersjofonden.org