Scientific publication: Cities have a big but unutilized role in protecting marine environments – Turku and Helsinki get recognition for their conservation work

An article in the international Nature Cities -publication calls cities for having a stronger role in marine protection. The article raises Turku and Helsinki as pioneers on the matter.

Cities have various effects on the state of the marine environment for example through land use, ports, transportation and nutrient inputs. However, the role of cities in marine protection is still mostly unutilized.

According to the new Cities as underexplored actors in marine protection -article, cities’ marine protection work is often fragmented and short-termed. Conservation work is often excluded from the rest of municipal policymaking.

Researcher Anna-Lena Bercht states that there is a need for more commitments fixed to city-level that are politically binding and long-termed, and which are applied to different city-wide functions.

The Baltic Sea Challenge as an example of integrative practice in the city organization

In the article, Turku and Helsinki’s joint Baltic Sea Programme, the Baltic Sea Challenge, is seen as a good model for cities’ independent and holistic marine protection work.

According to Bercht, municipal commitments such as the Baltic Sea Challenge can strengthen the continuity and significance of cities’ conservation work for the Baltic Sea. Such commitments can also make marine protection a visible part of cities’ strategic guidance.

The Baltic Sea Challenge was founded by Turku and Helsinki in 2007. During the nearly 20 years, many divisions in both cities have been part of implementing the measures on the Baltic Sea Programme.

– The joint programme has engaged both cities. The Baltic Sea has stayed on our agenda, even though the rest of the world’s attention has been elsewhere from time to time, says Olli-Pekka Mäki, head of environmental protection in Turku.

Next year the programme will celebrate a 20-year anniversary. The cities still have a lot to do for the benefit of the Baltic Sea, but we are on the right path.

Nature Cities is an international research journal which focuses on cities, sustainability and climate questions. The publication is part of the esteemed Nature Portfolio -publishing company. The article can be found behind a paywall from:

 Cities as underexplored actors in marine protection | Nature Cities