BONUS-169

The Russian consultation on developing the Science Plan

St. Petersburg, 31 January 2006

Timetable for Consultations, 31 January 2006

31 January 2006	Time (hrs)
Registration with coffee/tea	09.30 – 10.00
Plenum 1 – Opening, welcome and information on BONUS ERA-NET and BONUS-169 developments	Chair: A.F. Alimov Rapporteur: V.D. Smirnov
A.F. Alimov (ZIN RAS): Opening of meeting and welcome addresses	10.00 – 10.15
K. Kononen (BONUS): Aims and developments in BONUS-ERA NET & BONUS-169	10.15 – 10.45
V.D. Smirnov (RFBR): RFBR activities and interdisciplinary researches	10.45 – 11.00
Ch. Hopkins (BONUS/ICES): Process for developing the BONUS-169 Science Plan and objectives of the Consultations	11.00 – 11.20
N.G. Bogutskaya (ZIN RAS): Allocation of participants to Working Groups (WGs 1-6) and administrative/house-keeping information	11.20 – 11.35
Working Group sessions (in separate rooms)	11.35 – 13.00
Lunch	13.00 – 14.00
Working Group sessions (continued)	14.00 – 15.00
Coffee break	15.00 - 15.10
Plenum 2 – Outcomes and conclusions of Working Group, discussion of next-steps	Chair: A.F. Alimov Rapporteur: V.D.Smirnov
Plenum summary presentations by Working Group Chairs/Rapporteurs (15 min per WG)	15.10 – 16.30
A.F. Alimov (ZIN RAS): Conclusions, next steps and closing of the Consultations	16.30 – 17.00

LIST of PARTICIPANTS

Аладин Николай Васильевич	Aladin Nikolay Vasilievich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	aral@zin.ru
Александров Сергей Валерьевич	Alexandrov Sergey Valerievich	АтлантНИРО, Калининград	AtlantNIRO, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, ул. Дм. Донского, 5	Dm.Donskoy Str., 5, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	hydrobio@atlant.baltnet.ru
Алексеев Аркадий Павлович	Alexeev Arkadiy Pavlovich	Межведомственная ихтиологическая комиссия, СПб	Interagency Ichthyological Committee	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	belomor@zin.ru
Алимов Александр Федорович	Alimov Alexander Fedorovich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	director@zin.ru
Андрушайтис Андрис	Andrusaitis Andris		BONUS, BSRP		Daugavgrivas street, 8, Riga, LV 1048, Latvia	andris@hydro.edu.lv
Анцулевич Александр Евгеньевич	Antsulevich Alexander Evgenievich	СПбГУ	St.Petersburg State University	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9	Universitetskaya embankment, 7-9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	hydra@aa1079.spb.edu
Артамонов Михаил Юрьевич	Artamonov Mikhail Yurievich	СПбОО "Экология и бизнес", СПб	"Ecology and business", St.Petersburg	197342 Санкт-Петербург, а/я 66	box 66, St.Petersburg, 197342, Russia,	artamonov@helcom.ru
Басова Светлана Леонидовна	Basova Svetlana Leonidovna	СЗ Управление Росгидрометслужбы, СПб	North-western Administration of Roshydromet	199026, Санкт-Петербург, 23-я линия В.О., 2а	23 Liniya, 2a, V.O., St.Petersburg, 199026, Russia	basova@meteo.nw.ru
Богуцкая Нина Гидальевна	Bogutskaya Nina Gidalievna	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	office@zin.ru
Бодрова Елизавета	Bodrova Elizaveta	СПО ГОИН, СПб	State Oceanographical Institute, St.Petersburg	199026 г. Санкт-Петербург, В.О. 23 линия 2а	23 Liniya, 2a, V.O., St.Petersburg, 199026, Russia
Волков Владимир Александрович	Bolkov Vladimir Alexandrovich	Нансен-Центр СПб	NIERSC, St.Petersburg	197101, Санкт-Петербург, Большая Монетная 26/28, "Нансен-Центр"	NIERSC, Bolshaya Monetnaya str., 26/28, Saint Peterburg, 197101, Russia
Глазкова Елена Александровна	Glazkova Elena Alexandrovna	БИН РАН, СПб	BIN RAS, St. Petersburg	197376, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Проф. Попова, 2	Prof. Popov str., 2, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia
Голубков Сергей Михайлович	Golubkov Sergey Mikhailovich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	golubkov@zin.ru
Дианов Михаил Борисович	Dianov Mikhail Borisovich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	mix@zin.ru
Драбкова Валентина Гавриловна	Drabkova Valentina Gavrilovna	Институт озероведения РАН, СПб	Institute of Limnology RAS, St. Petersburg	196105, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Севастьянова, 9	Sevastyanov st., 9, St.-Petersburg, 196105, Russia	drabkova@limno.org.ru
Ежова Елена Евгеньевна	Ezhova Elena Evgenievna	АО ИО РАН, Калининград	AO SIO RAS, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, пр. Мира, 1	Prospect Mira, 1, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	elena_e@ioran.baltnet.ru
Еремина Татьяна Рэмовна	Eremina Tatiana Removna	ГГМУ, СПб	State Hydrometheorological University, St.Petersburg	195196, Санкт-Петербург, Малоохтинский пр., 98	98, Malookhtinsky pr 195196, Saint-Petersburg, Russia	tanya@rshu.ru
Жакова Любовь Васильевна	Zhakova Lyubov Vasilievna	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	aral4@zin.ru
Жамойда Владимир Алексеевич	Zhamoida Vladimir Alexeevich	ВСЕГЕИ, СПб	VSEGEI	199106, Санкт-Петербург, Средний пр., 74	Sredny Pr., 74, St.-Petersburg 199106, Russia
Захарчук Евгений Александрович	Zakharchuk Evgeny Alexandrovich	СПО ГОИН, СПб	State Oceanographical Institute, St.Petersburg	199026 г. Санкт-Петербург, В.О. 23 линия 2а	23 Liniya, 2a, V.O., St.Petersburg, 199026, Russia	ocean@nwmet.nw.ru
Ионов Виктор Владимирович	Ionov Victor Vladimirovich	СПбГУ	St.Petersburg State University	199178, Санкт-Петербург, В.О. 10 линия, 33/35	10 Liniya, 33/35, V.O., St.Petersburg, 199178, Russia	victor@VI3787.spb.edu
Ковалев Валерий Васильевич	Kovalev Valery Vasilievich	РФФИ, Москва	RFBR, Moscow	119991, ГСП-1, Москва, В-334, Ленинский проспект, 32а	Leninsky prospect, 32A, B-334, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia
Ковальчук Николай Андреевич	Kovalchuk Nikolay Andreevich	БИН РАН, СПб	BIN RAS, St. Petersburg	197376, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Проф. Попова, 2	Prof. Popov str., 2, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia
Кононен Кайса	Kononen Kaisa		BONUS, AKA			kaisa.kononen@aka.fi
Коршенко Александр Николаевич	Korshenko Alexander Nikolaevich	ИО РАН, Москва	SIO RAS, Moscow	117997, Москва, Нахимовский проспект д.36	Nakhimovsky Prospekt, 36, Moscow, 117997, Russia	korshenko@mail.ru
Кровнин Андрей Сергеевич	Krovnin Andrey Sergeyevich	ВНИРО, Москва	VNIRO, Moscow	107140, Москва, В.Красносельская, д.17	V. Krasnoselskaya str., 17, Moscow, 107140, Russia	vniro@vniro.ru
Кудерский Леонид Александрович	Kuderskiy Leonid Alexandrovich	Институт озероведения РАН, СПб	Institute of Limnology RAS, St. Petersburg	196105, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Севастьянова, 9	Sevastyanov st., 9, St.-Petersburg, 196105, Russia
Кудрявцев Владимир Николаевич	Kudryavtsev Vladimir Nikolaevich	Нансен-Центр СПб	NIERSC, St.Petersburg	197101, Санкт-Петербург, Большая Монетная 26/28, "Нансен-Центр"	NIERSC, Bolshaya Monetnaya str., 26/28, Saint Peterburg, 197101, Russia
Лемешко Наталья Александровна	Lemeshko Natalia Alexandrovna	ГГИ, СПб	State Hydrological Institute, St.Petersburg	199053 г. Санкт-Петербург, В.О. 2-я линия, д.23	2 Liniya V.O., 23, St.Petersburg, 199053, Russia	dimacrat@mail.ru
Максимович Николай Владимирович	Maksimovich Nikolai Vladimirovich	СПбГУ	St.Petersburg State University	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9	Universitetskaya embankment, 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	maximovich@pobox.spbu.ru
Мордасов Михаил Валентинович	Mordasov Mikhail Valentinovich	ГИДРОМЕТЕОИЗДАТ, СПб	HYDROMETEOIZDAT, St.Petersburg	199397 г.Санкт-Петербург, ул.Беринга, 38	Bering str., 38, St. Petersburg, 199397, Russia	gimiz@peterlink.ru
Науменко Елена Николаевна	Naumenko Elena Nikolaevna	АтлантНИРО, Калининград	AtlantNIRO, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, ул. Дм. Донского, 5	Dm.Donskoy Str., 5, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	naumenko@atlant.baltnet.ru
Некрасов Алексей Всеволодович	Nekrasov Alexey Vsevolodovich	ГГМУ, СПб	State Hydrometheorological University, St.Petersburg	195196, Санкт-Петербург, Малоохтинский пр., 98	Malookhtinsky pr., 98, Saint-Petersburg, 195196, Russia
Орлова Марина Ивановна	Orlova Marina Ivanovna	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	omi@zin.ru
Пака Вадим Тимофеевич	Paka Vadim Timofeyevich	АО ИО РАН, Калининград	AO SIO RAS, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, пр. Мира, 1	Prospect Mira, 1, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	paka@ioran.baltnet.ru
Плотников Игорь Светозарович	Plotnikov Igor Svetozarovich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	aral3@zin.ru
Поздняков Дмитрий В.	Pozdnyakov Dmitry V.	Нансен-Центр СПб	NIERSC, St.Petersburg	197101, Санкт-Петербург, Большая Монетная 26/28, "Нансен-Центр"	NIERSC, Bolshaya Monetnaya str., 26/28, Saint Peterburg, 197101, Russia	pozdnyakov@niersc.spb.ru
Пугачев Олег Николаевич	Pugachev Oleg Nikolaevich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	admin@zin.ru
Рожков Валентин Алексеевич	Rozhkov Valentin Alexeevich	СПбГУ	St.Petersburg State University	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9	Universitetskaya embankment, 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
Рябченко Владимир Алексеевич	Ryabchenko Vladimir Alekseevich	ИО РАН, СПб	St.Petersburg SIO RAS, St.Petersburg	199053, Санкт-Петербург, В.О., 1-ая линия, 30	1 Liniya V.O., 30, St.Petersburg, 199053, Russia	vladimir_ryabchenko@vr5841.spb.edu
Рябчук Дарья Владимировна	Ryabchuk Darya Vladimirovna	ВСЕГЕИ, СПб	VSEGEI, St.Petersburg	199106, Санкт-Петербург, Средний пр., 74	Sredny Pr., 74, St.-Petersburg 199106, Russia
Сапожников Виктор Вольфович	Sapozhnikov Victor Volfovich	ВНИРО, Москва	VNIRO, Moscow	107140, Москва, В.Красносельская, д.17	V. Krasnoselskaya str., 17, Moscow, 107140, Russia	vniro@vniro.ru
Серебрицкий Иван Александрович	Serebritsky Ivan Alexandrovich	Правительство Санкт-Петербурга	The Government of St.Petersburg
Сивков Вадим Валерьевич	Sivkov Vadim Valerievich	АО ИО РАН, Калининград	AO SIO RAS, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, пр. Мира, 1	Prospect Mira, 1, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	sivkov@baltnet.ru
Смирнов Валерий Дмитриевич	Smirnov Valery Dmitrievich	РФФИ, Москва	RFBR, Moscow	119991, ГСП-1, Москва, В-334, Ленинский проспект, 32а	Leninsky prospect, 32A, B-334, GSP-1, Moscow, 119991, Russia	smirnov@rfbr.ru
Смирнов Константин Федорович	Smirnov Konstantin Fedorovich	СПО ГОИН, СПб	State Oceanographical Institute, St.Petersburg	199026 г. Санкт-Петербург, В.О. 23 линия 2а	23 Liniya, 2a, V.O., St.Petersburg, 199026, Russia
Спиридонов Михаил Александрович	Spiridonov Mikhail Alexandrovich	ВСЕГЕИ, СПб	VSEGEI, St.Petersburg	199106, Санкт-Петербург, Средний пр., 74	Sredny Pr., 74, St.-Petersburg 199106, Russia	vsegei@vsegei.sp.ru
Суслопарова Ольга Николаевна	Susloparova Olga Nikolaevna	ГосНИОРХ, СПб	State Research Institute of Lake and River Fisheries (GosNIORKH), St. Petersburg	199055, Санкт-Петербург, наб. Макарова, 26	Makarov enb., 26, St-Petersburg,199055, Russia
Телеш Ирина Викторовна	Telesh Irina Victorovna	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	itelesh@zin.ru
Тихонова Наталия	Tikhonova Natalia	СПО ГОИН, СПб	State Oceanographical Institute, St.Petersburg	199026 г. Санкт-Петербург, В.О. 23 линия 2а	23 Liniya, 2a, V.O., St.Petersburg, 199026, Russia
Тулин Ян	Thulin Jan		BONUS, BSRP, ICES		H.C.Andersens Boulevard,44-46, Copenhagen, DK-1553, Denmark	jan@ices.dk
Фельдман Валерий Николаевич	Feldman Valery Nikolaevich	АтлантНИРО, Калининград	AtlantNIRO, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, ул. Дм. Донского, 5	Dm.Donskoy Str., 5, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	feldman@atlant.baltnet.ru
Филатов Николай Николаевич	Filatov Nikolay Evgenievich	ИВПС РАН, Петрозаводск	Northern Water Problems Institute RAS, Petrozavodsk	185030, Петрозаводск, пр. Александра Невского, 50	Prospekt Aleksandra Nevskogo, 50, Petrozavodsk, 185030, Karelya, Russia	nfilatov@nwpi.krc.karelia.ru
Фрумин Григорий Телеевич	Frumin Grigory Tellevich	ГГМУ, СПб	State Hydrometheorological University, St.Petersburg	195196, Санкт-Петербург, Малоохтинский пр., 98	Malookhtinsky pr., 98, Saint-Petersburg, 195196, Russia	frumin@rshu.ru
Фукс Виктор Робертович	Fuks Victor Robertovich	СПбГУ	St.Petersburg State University	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 7-9	Universitetskaya embankment, 7/9, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	victor@VF1285.spb.edu
Хлебович Владислав Вильгельмович	Khlebovich Vladislav Vilgelmovich	ЗИН РАН, СПб	ZIN RAS, St. Petersburg	199034, Санкт-Петербург, Университетская наб., 1	Universitetskaya embankment, 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia	salt@zin.ru
Хопкинс Кристофер	Hopkins Christopher		BONUS, ICES		H.C.Andersens Boulevard,44-46, Copenhagen, DK-1553, Denmark	chris.hopkins@aquamarine.se
Цветков Владимир Юрьевич	Tsvetkov Vladimir Yurievich	ИПК "Прикладная экология", СПб	"Applied Ecology", St.Petersburg	196105, Санкт-Петербург, ул. Севастьянова, 9	Sevastyanov st., 9, St.-Petersburg, 196105, Russia	vts@ipkecol.spb.ru
Чубаренко Борис Валентинович	Chubarenko Boris Valentinovich	АО ИО РАН, Калининград	AO SIO RAS, Kaliningrad	236000, Калиниград, пр. Мира, 1	Prospect Mira, 1, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia	chuboris@ioran.baltnet.ru
Чугаевич Всеволод	Chugayevich Vsevolod	РГУ им. Канта, Калининград	Immanuel Kant State University of Russia, Kaliningrad	236041, Калининград, ул. А.Невского, 14	A.Nevskogo, 14+F29, Kaliningrad, 236041, Russia	ocean@albertina.ru

FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL FOR BONUS-169 SCIENCE PLAN

BONUS-169 participating States and institutions

Danish Research Agency (Danish Natural Science Council);
Estonian Science Foundation;
Academy of Finland;
Forschungszentrum Juelich - Projekttraeger Juelich, Germany;
Latvian Council of Science;
Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania;
Ministry of Scientific Research and Information Technology, Poland;
Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, Sweden;
Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning;
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency;
Russian Foundation for Basic Research;
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

The Executive Committee of BONUS and the Chair of the Advisory Board, on 21 April 2005 determined that Christopher Hopkins (aquamarine@telia.com) should develop a draft Framework for the BONUS-169 Baltic Sea Science Plan, based on the eight workpackages that have already been identified for the European Commission.

It was noted that ‘The plan is supposed to convert the research needs arising from the management bodies into scientific questions, which the science community can respond with research ideas. In practical terms, the Science Plan will be the material for future Calls for Proposals.’

The capability to survey, monitor, assess and manage the marine environment and its living resources, including fisheries, varies greatly among the coastal Baltic Sea States. The research and development (R&D) capacity, necessary for these purposes and to operationalize the ecosystem approach to management must be enhanced on a pan-Baltic scale. As the complexity of the issues is increasing, there is a strong need to build, mobilize and further integrate ‘core science’capabilities in order to underpin the sustainable development of the Baltic Sea as a whole with regard to ecosystem-based management. In this context, the States in economic transition require assistance in capacity building, both in terms of human resources development and facilities. In addition, research institutions should be encouraged to further coordinate their use of infrastructure, network building and collaboration with a view to enhancing capacity interchange in the region.

In carrying out the task and preparing the current Framework document, the author especially emphasizes the following:

It is essential to mobilize a critical mass of the scientific community working on Baltic Sea issues.

The Framework should be inclusive rather than exclusive, and indicative rather than definitive, so that it may attract interest, discussion and eventually a high number of responses to the Call.

When developing a science plan for the future, it is extremely important for the success of the plan that top-down planning (i.e. the problem-oriented themes included in the preliminary framework) and bottom-up input (i.e. question-driven priorities of scientists and research organizations) are effectively coupled.

Framework document is intended to be a living manuscript, it is not the final product, but one of several steps in a progression (i.e. a stepwise process) towards reaching the concluding stage, a wide range of consultation, collaboration and inputs are necessary with a view to further developing and improving this Framework document.

***Summary* from FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL FOR BONUS-169 *BALTIC SEA SCIENCE PLAN***

Assignment concerning BONUS Task 2.5: Potential Future Transnational Research Schemes (Coordinator: ICES)

AIMS

BONUS-169 is intended to be a joint programme proposal under Article 169 of the Treaty, involving

the eight EU Member States in collaboration with the Russian Federation that together form the contiguous Baltic Sea coastal countries, aimed at creating a cooperative, well-integrated and focused transnational research programme for the Baltic Sea region, in order to support the sustainable development of the region through the provision of outputs facilitating implementation of ecosystem-based management,
including:

Better coordinating the region’s nationally funded research by more closely promoting, planning, funding, implementing, and publicizing pan-Baltic research.
Bridging the gap between science and users by ensuring that the research needs connected with sustainable development of the Baltic Sea better reflects the initiatives and outputs of the region’s scientific community, while also better synthesizing and disseminating research outcomes for improved receptivity and utilization in policy and decision-making.
Developing capacity to create prudent, long-term, holistic multidisciplinary solutions involving sustainable use of the sea, by:
1. understanding and quantifying the role of climate change and variability, and its implications for the dynamics of the region’s ecosystems and associated impacts on human communities;
2. understanding the physical, chemical and biological functioning of marine ecosystems, and understanding and quantifying human impacts (e.g. pollution including eutrophication, unsustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and degradation of habitats and ecosystems) on the marine environment and its biodiversity and human well-being;
3. developing the scientific basis for sustainable use and protection of the marine environment and its associated biodiversity, recognizing the essential benefits arising from socioeconomic development while also realizing the responsibility to conserve, and where appropriate restore, ecosystem health and the production potential of natural capital.
Educating and training new generations of young scientists and technicians to apply novel concepts and technologies for the above-mentioned purposes.

To this effect, BONUS-169 is built up around eight workpackages (WPs) that are summarized as follows:

WP1: NATURAL FORCING AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Investigating the regional effects of natural forcing and climate change, including studies of how changes in the atmosphere, the sea, and the land with the associated watersheds affect the climate of the Baltic Sea region, and the implications for ecosystems and human communities and their activities.

WP2: EUTROPHICATION

Investigating the inputs and origins, dispersion/transport and impacts on ecosystems and human communities of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea region, including evaluating the efficacy of management options to redress the root causes of eutrophication and making proposals for improvements.

WP3: SUSTAINABILITY OF LIVING RESOURCES

Investigating the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in Baltic Sea ecosystems, including developing and applying scientific methodology, analyses, models and actions/measures furthering the rational exploitation of the utilized living marine resources and aimed also at understanding and limiting the ecosystem effects of fishing and aquaculture activities.

In this context it is important also to develop a market and information system for consumers of seafood products that arise from sustainable practices in healthy ecosystems.

WP4: BIODIVERSITY

changes of the draft of WP4

Applying and further developing methodology, including analytical techniques and models, to describe and quantify the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea region—incorporating the molecular and genetic levels as well as those of species, communities, habitats and ecosystems—with a view to understanding the role of biodiversity in a range of environments spanning from a baseline in relatively pristine ones to those that are more human impacted.

This should include determining the effects of naturally and human induced changes on biodiversity, on the goods and services provided by coastal and offshore ecosystems, and providing scientifically-based concepts and tools for monitoring and assessing biodiversity and the associated environment, and applying ecosystem-based actions and measures for conserving and, where appropriate, restoring biodiversity.

WP5: POLLUTION AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH

Conducting investigations to elucidate the inputs and origins, dispersion/transport, and fate of pollutants (e.g. heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and artificial radionuclides) in the ecosystem and the effects on human communities in the Baltic Sea region, including evaluating the efficacy of management options to redress the root causes of pollution and making proposals for improvements.

WP6: SOCIO- AND ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

Developing an integrative approach in the field of socio- and ecological economics by analyzing and improving (e.g. through cost – benefit considerations) environmental decision-making scenarios and their implications for both the environment and human socioeconomy, by inter alia: the elaboration and selection of interlinked environmental and socioeconomic indicators related to measuring the performance of sustainable development; environmental valuation (e.g. natural capital arising from ecological goods and services) and ‘green’ accounting; improvement of environmental policies through fostering the use of economic, regulatory, and institutional instruments for enhancing environmental management; improvement of governance systems leading to better cross-sectoral representation and consensus regarding the integration of environmental issues into decision-making processes regarding coastal zone management, rational utilization of commercially important living resources, and nature conservation; and not least, the elaboration and provision of educational, capacity-building and outreach activities for emphasizing the dependence of human socioeconomic sustainability on ecological sustainability.

WP7: SYNTHESIS AND DISSEMINATION

A major role of the programme is the synthesis and dissemination of sound and objective scientific information and knowledge, in a timely manner, to a wider public regarding the importance of healthy marine ecosystems and their relation to humanity, as a basis for education and understanding underpinning appropriately informed public opinion, policies and political will for their implementation.

This requires focus at all appropriate levels within the programme, as well as interactions between the programme and numerous potential stakeholders using all available media, arrangement of dedicated meetings (e.g. workshops and conferences) and other opportunities.

Cooperative education and capacity building schemes, aimed at young scientists and technicians, should figure prominently in the programme.

WP8: MANAGEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Timely, effective and cohesive management at all levels of the programme, involving internal as well as external affairs, is vital for the success of BONUS-169. This should be achieved by implementation of a devolved yet communally accountable governance model involving the establishment of appropriate leadership structures and mechanisms, including the allocation of unambiguous roles and responsibilities—as defined by clearly formulated protocols and procedures—at the levels of key institutional bodies and personnel.

BONUS-169 aspirations, in the context of Article 169 of the Treaty, require agreements and mechanisms to be established permitting comprehensive access to and mobilization of shared infrastructures and facilities in a cost-effective manner, in order to secure both the quantity and quality of scientific outputs at the pan-Baltic level.