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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2023

Testing the concept of green infrastructure at the Baltic Sea scale to support an ecosystem-based approach to management of marine areas

Ruskule, Anda ; Kotta, Jonne; Saha, Champa Rani; Arndt, Philipp; Ustups, Didzis; Strāke, Solvita; Bergström, Lena

Abstract

The concept of Green Infrastructure (GI) can facilitate integration of ecological considerations and ecosystem service mapping into spatial planning. GI has been introduced in EU policy as a key tool for implementing the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 on halting the loss of biodiversity as well as addressing other global environmental problems. Unlike terrestrial ecosystems, mapping of marine GI is still in infancy. Here, application of GI concept in mapping was developed and tested for a large marine region, the Baltic Sea, using existing regional spatial data sets on the distribution of different ecosystem components. Using a qualitative valuation approach, experts assessed 36 marine ecosystem components with respect to their relevance for six ecological value criteria and ten ecosystem services. Then, maps representing the ecological value of Baltic Sea ecosystems and their potential supply of ecosystem services were developed based on a hierarchical aggregation structure, designed to avoid double-counting of features that appeared in many data layers. Finally, results of the ecological value and ecosystem service supply mapping were integrated into the marine GI map. These pioneering results are used to discuss how marine GI mapping can support the ecosystem-based approach in MSP, by improving the knowledge base on the roles and connectedness of ecosystem components. Applied at the transboundary regional scale, as here, the GI concept can support cross-border coherence in spatial planning and provide practical management solutions to improve connectivity and functioning of MPA networks, or develop sustainable planning solutions of marine space.

Keywords

Green infrastructure; Maritime; Ecosystem services; Ecological value; Maritime spatial planning; The Baltic Sea

Published in

Marine Policy
2023, volume: 147, article number: 105374

Authors' information

Ruskule, Anda
Baltic Environmental Forum
Kotta, Jonne
Estonian Marine Institute
Saha, Champa Rani
Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services
Arndt, Philipp
Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)
Ustups, Didzis
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment (BIOR)
Strāke, Solvita
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105374

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/120270