The BASE Project (2012 – 2014)

Upon the completion of the BALTHAZAR project, HELCOM and EU signed a contract for a new joint cooperation project, the BASE Project, which utilises the experience and results achieved under BALTHAZAR (Phases I and II). The project activities started in June 2012. The aim of BASE is to further support the implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan in Russia.

Priority areas

BASE is addressing three priority areas of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan: eutrophication, hazardous substances, and biodiversity and nature protection. Monitoring activities to support and measure the implementation progress within the abovementioned segments will also be carried out.

BASE promotes and implements cost-effective solutions to reduce nutrient pollution to the Baltic Sea from different sources, including municipal waste waters and intensive agricultural activities in Leningrad and Kaliningrad Oblasts.

In addition, BASE will promote biodiversity in the Baltic Sea water area through activities focusing on Protected Area management and natural salmon population conservation

BASE will promote biodiversity in the Baltic Sea water area. Photo: Metsähallitus NHS / Heidi Arponen

The project activities are being coordinated with external stakeholders from other projects, in order to avoid overlap and ensure the efficiency of the proposed measures. Overall, BASE will seek to build the capacity of regional and municipal authorities with regard to fundraising and implementation, and aim to facilitate dialogue and coordination between the various levels of administration. In addition, the project will develop measures to raise public awareness on the state of the Baltic Sea and will contribute to environmental education in local schools and other institutions.

In all project activities, both Russian and EU expertise is involved in order to ensure compliance with Russian and EU environmental best practices and requirements.

The target groups of the action include relevant Russian federal authorities, such as the RF Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, RF Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Agency for Fishery; regional environmental and agricultural authorities; institutions responsible for environmental monitoring; scientific organisations; environmental NGOs and the general public.