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EVAGULF: Protection of aquatic communities in the Gulf of Finland: risk-based policymaking

Type of Entry: Project
Website: www.evagulf.fi/en
Duration: 01/09/2006 - 31/12/2007
Description: EVAGULF is a Finnish-Estonian joint project that aims for clarifying the general view on eutrophication and its ramifications in the Gulf of Finland as well as for evaluating effects of protective actions already done and the risks connected to present state of the ecosystem. Main object of the project is to construct a decision-analysis tool to ease the work of decision-makers.

Existing follow-up databases, observations in literature and expert knowledge will be integrated and analysed by using modern risk assessment methodology. Bayesian computational methods enable combining the data of a different form as well as concrete elucidation of benefits and risks concerned with alternative decisions. Thus, policymakers are required only to assess the magnitude and type of risks they are willing to take.

Results of EVAGULF enable sorting out the actors behind the shifts in occurrence of different species: e.g. which populations can be managed only by the Finnish conservation actions and in which cases gaining on the objectives requires international co-operation. The knowledge will enable more cost-effective use of the available financial resources. Joint analysing tools, for one, will promote the development of congruent view and conservation policy between Finland and Estonia.

Project started in September 2006 and will continue to the end of 2007. It is a preliminary period aiming to a larger proposal where the object is to get involved as many nations and international actors as possible from the Baltic area.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Climate change, Data collection, Decision-making process, Environmental management
Contact: Eveliina Lindén
University of Helsinki, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences / Helsingin Yliopisto, Bio- ja ympäristötieteiden laitos
Sapokankatu 2
48100 Kotka
FINLAND
Telephone: +358-5-2344157
Fax: +358-5-3400082
E-Mail: eveliina.linden@helsinki.fi
Website: http://www.helsinki.fi/bioscience/
Partner: Estonian Marine Institute (http://www.sea.ee/)
Finnish Environment Institute (http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?node=5297&lan=en)
Finnish Institute of Marine Research (http://www.fimr.fi/en.html)
Helsinki University of Technology (http://www.tkk.fi/English/)
Budget: 391.433
Financed by: Interreg IIIA (http://www.interreg-finest.net/)
South-East Finland Regional Environment Centre (http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?node=4668&lan=en)
Estonian Ministry of the Interior (http://www.siseministeerium.ee/?lang=en)
University of Tartu (http://www.ut.ee/index.aw/set_lang_id=2)