ROUND TABLE RESOLUTION

 NGOs co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region

 Within the framework of the VIII International Environmental Forum “Baltic Sea Day”

CHAIRMEN: Pauli Merriman - WWF Baltic Ecoregional Program

                        Rustam Sagitov - St. Petersburg Naturalists Society

Participants: 21

We, the undersigned NGOs, recognise the uttermost importance of the effective implementation of the coming Baltic Sea Action Plan as the most important contribution to the protection of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and would like to encourage the Contracting Parties to put efforts not only into the elaboration of the Action Plan but also to its implementation. This means in our understanding to name the responsible institutions already within the plan and also to plan sufficient financial sources for it.

From the NGO round table on 21^st March we would like to bring a few conclusions and recommendations to the plenary of the Baltic Sea Day with regard to the coming Baltic Sea Action Plan and also with regard to the Nature and Environmental Values in the Russian parts of the Gulf of Finland and related threats to them. We formulated our conclusions addressing the whole Baltic Sea as well as the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland with special respect to the hosting country of the Baltic Sea Day.

Participation of NGOs in the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan

The activities of NGOs are very important for solving environmental problems in the Baltic Sea Region. We would like to draw your attention to the leading role of NGOs promotion of public participation in environmental policy implementation. Furthermore, NGOs bring along good expertise on various environmental issues and great knowledge and acquaintance with local conditions. NGOs implement a variety of practical projects to improve the environmental situation at many localities. The large number of successful initiatives in the region illustrates the role of NGOs as a very important partner in the environmental policy implementation processes.

Therefore the coming Baltic Sea Action Plan should highlight the importance of NGOs as important player in the Baltic Sea Region for its implementation. It should promote a strong and effective participation of environmental NGOs, define a set of actions to be implemented by them and define financing mechanisms within the BSAP implementation plan.

But we would also like to draw your attention to the fact that the Russian environmental NGOs are often not considered as “partners” for Governmental authorities, their activities are even hindered by more and more administrative restrictions. However, taking into consideration the great results of the NGO activities in the region, we are convinced about their importance in promoting environmental policy to citizens and also being a good dialogue partner for the authorities. Therefore we encourage the Russian Government to give stronger support to the NGOs and ensure favourable conditions for heir initiatives.

Recognition of nature and environmental values in the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland

The Russian part of the Gulf of Finland is a very valuable and sensitive part of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. We recognise the following most important values in the region:

• wild Baltic salmon population in Luga and other rivers;
• vulnerable population of ringed seals;
• many important fish species and fish communities, e. g. sea-trout, river lamprey, smelt, vendace, white fish occurring in the waters of Gulf of Finland

Moreover it is important to consider that the Russian Gulf of Finland contains valuable ecological complexes nominated as protected areas and most of them having international conservation status (Ramsar sites, Baltic Sea Protected Areas). Coastal land- and coastal waters ecosystems have many important environmental values that must be recognised in a cross-sectorial spatial planning process in the Russian Gulf of Finland.

Furthermore, the NGO round table encourages the Russian Federation authorities to support the livelihood of local community living along the southern cost of the Gulf of Finland. These currently low numbered communities still applying sustainable fishing methods, which from ages lived in harmony with vulnerable Baltic Sea ecosystem. Therefore maintaining such traditions is not only part of the Russian cultural heritage, but also sustainable use of the Baltic Sea recourses, which could serve as a good example for other communities in the whole Baltic Sea region. Appropriate support for Izhora people communities is very crucial especially considering intensive industrial expansion in this region.

Major threats to the ecosystem of the Russian parts of the Gulf of Finland and in the whole Baltic Sea region

The Baltic Sea Region faces booming economic development; intensive industrial expansion is also planned in the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland. Many wide-range exploitation projects are implemented along the coast-line in the Russian Gulf of Finland such as harbours, ports, terminal complexes, industrial activities, that altogether may have adverse impact on the biodiversity and coastal environmental values. Strong expansion of oil-tankers plying the waters, with increased risks of accidents and oil-spillages. It is important to carry out appropriate environmental impact assessments, especially taking into consideration cumulative effects resulting from running a number of potentially dangerous installations. 

Considering the fact that regional impacts to the Baltic Sea are influencing the whole Baltic Sea, the NGOs would therefore like to encourage the Russian Government to consider ratification of the ESPOO convention as utmost important priority to have a comparable legal basis for the Impact Assessment and decisions.

            Another threat which we would like to address comes from introduction of aquatic alien species to the Baltic Sea from the Ponto-Caspian area via rivers and canals in Russia and we would like to encourage the Russian Government to ensure appropriate enforcement measures avoiding this threat.

We also would like to highlight the threats from non-sustainable energy sources in the whole Baltic Sea Region, such as

• the expansion of Nuclear power with sub-standard safety measures not properly considering alternative energy sources and ensuring open public participation and decision making process. The planned high density of Nuclear power plants threatens the Baltic Sea ecosystem with
• the expansion of Nuclear power with sub-standard safety measures not properly considering alternative energy sources and ensuring open public participation and decision making process. The planned high density of Nuclear power plants threatens the Baltic Sea ecosystem with higher water temperature besides the well-known facts of high risk during operation and unsolved waste disposal.
• Furthermore, we are concerned about the expanded use of fossil fuels, e.g. via new Baltic gas pipeline, which does not stimulate promotion of alternative and environmentally friendly energy sources in the Baltic Sea Region.

Concluding our Round table discussion we would like to propose the following actions to be taken on board of the coming Baltic Sea Action plan:

• Define a proper cross-sectoral spatial planning process for the coastal land and coastal waters in the Russian Gulf of Finland, so that environmental values and exploitation interests will be properly balanced. The spatial planning process should involve and welcome all stakeholders of the society.
• To introduce mandatory pilotage for big ships and oil-tanker taffic in the Gulf of Finland in wintertime under ice conditions, to minimise the risks of environmental impact from shipping.
• To develop the Luga Bay and Luga river basin management plan for salmon to safeguard the unique wild salmon population in the Luga river.
• To accomplish a Russian study on potential risks for introduction of aquatic alien species from the Ponto-Caspian area via shipping on the Russian rivers and canals to the Baltic Sea, and to take appropriate actions to mitigate such risks.
• To develop a sustainable energy plan in the BSR, where energy-saving measures and renewable energy sources will play a crucial role.
• To introduce mechanisms ensuring NGOs and public to access appropriate information related to planned and implemented infrastructure development in the region.