Good examples
Dozens of active and enthusiastic actors have accepted the Baltic Sea Challenge. They have ideas, wishes, and will to develop the work done for the Baltic Sea, both in their own activities, and together with others.
We have interviewed some of these actors, and asked them about the Baltic Sea, and the Challenge. Read the answers and adopt the tips!
What does the Baltic Sea mean to your organization?
Even though we are not a coastal municipality, we are near the coast. Therefore all the actions here in the upriver have an effect in the Baltic Sea also. The Baltic Sea is a joint cause for the Finns. There was clearly a will in the municipality to participate in the campaign.
Mari Pihlaja-Kuhna, environmental auditor
Vihti municipality
To the city of Oulu, the sea area is part of the city’s history, and it belongs to the city structure. The significance of the sea area in bringing industrial activity and port traffic to the Oulu area has been crucial. The importance of the sea area for leisure and recreation is remarkable, both during winter and summer.
Marketta Karhu, director of the environmental protection unit, environment protection designer
City of Oulu
It is an important water system since it functions as the receiving waterway for the loading of river Vantaa, as the area for recreational use of the Association, and also as a traffic route.
Kirsti Lahti, executive director
Water Protection Association of River Vantaa and Helsinki region
What is best about the Baltic Sea?
The versatile possibilities provided by the Baltic Sea: recreational use, trade, navigation, and fishing.
The Baltic Sea work group from the Kaarina upper secondary school
The diverse nature and animal species, the beautiful archipelago.
Sari Peltonen, ProAgria Plant product group director
The Association of ProAgria Centres
Why did you decide to participate in the Baltic Sea Challenge?
All means aiming to improve the poor water quality in the Baltic Sea are necessary. Through the Challenge campaign a large group of new actors can be reached and engaged in the protection work.
Kirsti Lahti, executive director
Water Protection Association of River Vantaa and Helsinki region
We do things to improve the state of the Baltic Sea anyway, so it is natural to let others know about it as well. And since we are part of the state administration, to act as an example at the same time.
Pirjo Daavittila, water resources management engineer
The Construction Establishment of Defence Administration
What kind of actions does your organization implement in the Baltic Sea Challenge?
The measures are concentrated on encouraging the environmentally responsible actions of rural companies, mostly farm enterprises. These measures include, among others, guidance and education about the proper utilization of nutrients, soil protection, preventing nutrient washout, and well-balanced feeding of animals. We are going to publish a book compiling environmental advice for a farm enterprise. The guide has expert knowledge about the environmental risks of a farm enterprise, and about measures with which these can be reduced.
Sari Peltonen, ProAgria Plant product group director
The Association of ProAgria Centres
They are gathered in the action plan. In Vihti there are long-life projects in water quality improvement which affect the Baltic Sea. In addition, all kind of water issues related guidance, information, bulletin and monitoring that the officials do daily, naturally serves the Baltic Sea.
Mari Pihlaja-Kuhna, environmental auditor
Vihti municipality
The Kaarina upper secondary school wants to increase youth awareness about the environmental problems and protection of the Baltic Sea, as well as about its significance to the citizens. In order to achieve this goal the school established a Baltic Sea work group in the spring 2008, the task of which is to organize actions related to the Baltic Sea. There is also an annual competition of Baltic Sea knowledge for eight graders. The Kaarina upper secondary school will encourage other schools to accept the Baltic Sea Challenge and to join actions for the Baltic Sea in the autumn semester 2008. There is also a Baltic Sea themed course planned for the year 2009: The Baltic Sea - our common interest.
The Baltic Sea work group from the Kaarina upper secondary school
How does participating in the Challenge show in the everyday life of your organization’s employees?
Information about the Baltic Sea Challenge has been and will be given in the interest group magazine, at the environmental day of the management, and in the annual actions report.
Pirjo Daavittila, water resources management engineer
The Construction Establishment of Defence Administration
Not very strongly yet, but the issue rises up when dealing with water protection questions. The significance will most likely increase when examining the follow-up data of our action plan.
Marketta Karhu, director of the environmental protection unit, environment protection designer
City of Oulu
Has participating in the Challenge been useful, let’s say, with customer contacts?
We are hoping to get new cooperation partners and to learn new ways of action through the Challenge.
The Baltic Sea work group from the Kaarina upper secondary school
ProAgria is participating more and more in the agricultural water protection projects as a partner.
Sari Peltonen, ProAgria Plant product group director
The Association of ProAgria Centres
Have you participated in, or supported, the protection work of the Baltic Sea done by other actors?
(Papery) Christmas cards won’t be sent this year; instead the Christmas greeting will be in the interest group magazine. The money saved will be donated to the Protection Fund for the Archipelago Sea.
Pirjo Daavittila, water resources management engineer
The Construction Establishment of Defence Administration
The students of our school collected funds by working for one day in the fall 2008 and donated the whole income to the Operation Earth campaign, which focuses among others on the Baltic Sea.
The Baltic Sea work group from the Kaarina upper secondary school
We have participated in the project planning, or the project implementation of other actors.
Sari Peltonen, ProAgria Plant product group director
The Association of ProAgria Centres
We have given a donation to the WWF, and we are cooperating with (i.a.) municipalities which also have accepted the Challenge.
Kirsti Lahti, executive director
Water Protection Association of River Vantaa and Helsinki region
How do you see the state of the Baltic Sea in 10 years?
The state of the Baltic Sea will improve, if with small steps.
Sari Peltonen, ProAgria Plant product group director
The Association of ProAgria Centres
