Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea ... - Naturvårdsverket

SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Report 5873 • Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak
Economic Marine Information
Preface
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, by assignment of the Swedish
Government, has carried out a project, led by Katrin Zimmer to gather information
about the economic impacts of the human influence on the Baltic Sea and the
Skagerrak 1 environment. The project, based on already existing material, attempts
to compare the situation if no further measures are implemented compared to if
further measures are implemented. The countries around the Baltic Sea have been
invited to participate in the project and the search for economic marine information
has been carried out in every state that borders the Sea.
The goal of the project is to provide decision makers with the information available
regarding the economic benefits of ecosystem services, the cost of measures required
to protect these services, as well as the estimated costs of non-action.
The assignment was divided into different subprojects which resulted in different
reports.
1. Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak
2. The economic value of ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea and
Skagerrak - Existing information and gaps of knowledge
3. Trends and scenarios exemplifying the future of the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak
- Ecological impacts of not taking action
4. The costs of environmental improvements in the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak
- A review of the literature
5. Costs and benefits from nutrient reductions to the Baltic Sea
6. Tourism and recreation industries in the Baltic Sea area - How are they affected
by the state of the marine environment? - An interview study
7. Economic information regarding fisheries - Swedish Board of Fisheries
Each of the reports 1-5 contains information on knowledge gaps and suggestions of
new research or how existing information could be compiled.
All subprojects have been compiled into one synthesis report with the title What´s
in the Sea for me – Ecosystem Services of the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak.
This report presents the concept of ecosystem services and subsequently classifies
and gives a broad review of all services obtained from the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak.
By providing thorough descriptions, accompanied numerous examples, of each
of 24 ecosystem services provided by coastal and marine ecosystems, the author
seeks to qualitatively illuminate the importance of the various services. The ecosys-
1 The project defines the Baltic Sea and the Skagerrak as the waters of the Bothnian Bay, the Bothnian
sea, the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Riga, the Baltic Proper, the Danish Straits, the Kattegat and the
Swedish coast of the Skagerrak.
3