FE570 Finlandīs Programme for the Protection of the Baltic Sea
The Finnish Governmentīs decision-in-principle
The Finnish Environment 570, Environmental Protection, p. 20. ISBN 952-11-1621-8 (PDF). Also available in print (952-11-1204-2).
Abstract
On 26.4.2002, the Finnish Government made a decision-in-principle on steps to be taken to protect the Baltic, i.e., Finland’s programme for the protection of the Baltic Sea.
In order to achieve a good ecological state in the Baltic Sea, steps will be taken in six main areas, viz.: combating eutrophication, decreasing the risks of hazardous substances, curbing the risks caused by various uses of the Baltic Sea, preserving and increasing biodiversity, increasing environmental awareness, and research and follow-up. Discharges will be cut both in Finland and, with the aid of international cooperation, in countries in adjacent regions.
In combating eutrophication, the most important actions refer to agriculture, municipal wastewater treatment plants, dispersed settlements and the wastewater treatment plant of St. Petersburg. Discharges from industry, fish breeding and other activities are also to be cut. In order to improve oil combating capacity on the eastern Gulf of Finland, new capacity will be procured. The use and discharge of hazardous substances will be reduced in priority order and in international cooperation. Steps will also be taken to combat adverse effects of sea traffic and boating, channel works, extraction of soil substances and the use of coastal areas, and natural diversity is to be increased.
The total costs of the protection programme are estimated at 300 – 370 million euro during a 10 – 15 years’ period. Additional state finance is proposed for extra actions in agriculture, for the south-western sewage works in St. Petersburg, and for the oil combating vessel in the eastern Gulf of Finland.
Counsellor Maija Pietarinen, Ministry of the Environment,
firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi
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