1.
The Ecosystem Approach
in Maritime Spatial Planning
”One approach - three checklists”
Jan Schmidtbauer Crona

2.
In the EU directives
MSF directive: “An ecosystem-based approach,
whereby human activities affecting the marine
environment will be managed in an integrated
manner promoting conservation and sustainable
use in an equitable way of oceans and seas.”
MSP directive: ”The application of an ecosystem-
based approach will contribute to promoting the
sustainable development and growth of the
maritime and coastal economies and the
sustainable use of marine and coastal
resources.”

3.
Baltic SCOPE project
proposal
Issues to be considered in the context of these
three activities will include
• Joint application of the ecosystem approach,
and how to support the MSFD and good
environmental status in transboundary MSP,
• Active cooperation within SEA, including cross-
border impact assessment of natural processes
and human activities,
“Ways to handle and understand the ecosystem
based approach” and SEA”

4.
The Ecosystem Approach
Definition (CBD)
”The Ecosystem Approach is a strategy for
the integrated management of land, water
and living resources that promotes
conservation and sustainable use in an
equitable way.”
12 principles (Malawi principles) – CBD
1998
Both “What” and “How”, goal and method

5.
“What”
The Ecosystem Approach is a strategy for the
integrated management of land, water and living
resources that promotes conservation and
sustainable use in an equitable way, with the
aim to ensure that human use of ecosystems is
kept within the limits of ecosystems’ capacity
to regenerate with regard to their structure,
dynamics and function.

6.
“How”
The application of the Ecosystem Approach entails
a holistic systems perspective on marine
ecosystem and its interaction with human
activities, adoption of the precautionary approach
and adaptive management.
It demands a continuous development of
knowledge on ecosystems and their use, mapping
and assessment of ecosystem services and the
values they provide as well as horizontal and
vertical participation and cooperation between
planners, researchers and sea use sectors.

7.
The Ecosystem Approach in MSP is a
holistic approach with focus on:
• preserving/restoring (structure and
functioning of) marine ecosystems;
• maintaining ecosystem services to
support human needs;
• providing spatial solutions for
management of human activities in a
way that is compatible with achievement
of good environmental status and the
capacity of marine ecosystems to respond
to human-induced changes.

8.
It’s a cake! Not a cookie!

9.
It is considered in the planning process through:
Adaptations in planning process through:
• Best Knowledge and Practice
• Precaution
• Alternative development
• Identification of ecosystem services
• Mitigation
• Relational Understanding
• Participation and Communication
• Subsidiarity and Coherence
• Adaptation
And integrated assessments
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which
links to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)-for projects
Socio-economic assessment including identification and
evaluation of Ecosystem Services

10.
Keyelementsofthe
EcosystemApproach1
− Best Knowledge and Practice: The allocation and development of human uses shall be based
on the
latest state of knowledge of the ecosystems as such and the practice of safeguarding the
components
of the marine ecosystem in the best possible way.
− Precaution: A far-sighted, anticipatory and preventive planning shall promote sustainable
use in
marine areas and shall exclude risks and hazards of human activities on the marine ecosystem.
Those
activities that according to current scientific knowledge may lead to significant or irreversible impacts
on the marine ecosystem and whose impacts may not be in total or in parts sufficiently predictable
at present require a specific careful survey and weighting of the risks.
− Alternative development: Reasonable alternatives shall be developed to find solutions to avoid
or
reduce negative environmental and other impacts as well as on the ecosystem goods and services.
− Identification of ecosystem services: In order to ensure a socioeconomic evaluation of effects
and
potentials, the ecosystem services provided need to be identified.
− Mitigation: The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any
significant
adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan.
HELCOM/VASAB Document on the ecosystem-based approach and
MSP “Guidelines on the Application of an Ecosystem
Approach in Transnationally Coherent MSP” (part of the Regional
Baltic Maritime Spatial Planning Roadmap 2013-2020)

11.
Key elements of the
Ecosystem Approach 2
− Relational Understanding: It is necessary to consider various effects on the ecosystem caused
by
human activities and interactions between human activities and the ecosystem, as well as among
various human activities. This includes direct/indirect, cumulative, short/long-term,
permanent/temporary and positive/negative effects, as well as interrelations including sea-land
interaction.
− Participation and Communication: All relevant authorities and stakeholders as well as a wider
public
shall be involved in the process at an early stage. The results shall be communicated. The Integrated
Coastal Management (also known as ICZM), as an informal and flexible instrument, can support the
process of participation and communication.
− Subsidiarity and Coherence: Maritime spatial planning with an ecosystem-based
approach as an
overarching principle shall be carried out at the most appropriate level and shall seek
coherence
between the different levels.
− Adaptation: The sustainable use of the ecosystem should apply an iterative process
including
monitoring and reviewing.

12.
Key elements of the
Ecosystem Approach 2

13.
1. Ecosystem Approach
in MSP - general checklist
2. Planning support
checklists
3. SEA-Checklist

14.
Look at the general
checklist
•Is it good enough to (after some tweeking) have
as a common project output?
•Any suggestions?
•Can we expand Ecosystem Approach Taskforce
with one person from each SWC-partner?
Environmental Topic contact person
•Can we fill it in for Denmark, Polen and
Germany?
•Should we discuss the different applications?