BERNET
BERNET is a network co-operation between seven regions from seven countries around the Baltic Sea. It was formed in 1999 as a regional contribution to improve the aquatic environment in the Baltic Sea and in the regional waters in it´s catchment.
The aim of BERNET
The aim of the BERNET is to improve the management of eutrophication problems in the Baltic Sea Region.
Through this, the BERNET Partners wish to contribute to the overall aim of the Helsinki Declaration of protecting the Baltic Sea against all sorts of pollution.
To achieve this, the BERNET Partners strive to identify and draw attention to the major eutrophication problems in the Baltic Sea Area, to compare and evaluate the present strategies of eutrophication management in the regions, and to develop recommendations for improved regional eutrophication management.
In the period 2003 - 2005, the BERNET focus on the development of water district plans at catchment level as a regional implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. The initiative is named BERNET CATCH: Integrated Management of Catchments, and is financially supported by the EU Commission.
The Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a magnificent, enclosed sea extending from the brackish Botnian Bay to the marine waters of Kattegat.
The Baltic Sea is surrounded by a unique assembly of independent countries with more than 80 million inhabitants. The Baltic Sea constitutes a major resource and asset for all these inhabitants, but the anthropogenic activities are at the same time a major threat to it’s aquatic environment.
The pollution with nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorous) is one of the most severe and widespread environmental threats to the Baltic Sea. The consequences, known as eutrophication, are excessive algal growth, changed food web structures, and widespread oxygen depletion. Eutrophication thus hampers a sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region.
Financial support
The participation of West Finland Regional Environment Center (FIN), The Laholm Bay area (S), Schleswig-Holstein (D), and Fyn County (DK) is financially supported by the EU Commission´s Regional Development Fund through a grant from the INTERREG III B Baltic Sea Region.
Gdansk (PL) and Kaliningrad (RUS) have together with Fyn County applied for financial support from the EU TACIS Cross Border Cooperation program to be decided by the end of 2003.
The participation of Peipsi Center for Transboundary Cooperation (Estonia) in WP3 is supported by EU partners through the Interreg IIIb programme and by co-financing from Peipsi CTC.
Further should be mentioned the DANCEE – Danish Support for Environment in Central and Eastern Europe – which supported the BERNET in 1999 - 2002, and contributed to the development of Regional Action Plans and reports in Kaliningrad (RUSSIA), Pärnu (EST) and Gdansk (PL).
BERNET CATCH reports
BERNET CATCH Executive Summary:
Regional Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in the Baltic Sea Catchment
BERNET CATCH Main Report:Water Quality Management in the Baltic Sea Region- Regional Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive
BERNET CATCH Theme Report:How to define, assess and monitor the ecological status of rivers, lakes and coastal water - Regional Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in the Baltic Sea Catchment
BERNET CATCH Theme Report:Public Participation and Water Management in the Baltic Sea Region- Regional Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in the Baltic Sea Catchment
BERNET CATCH Regional Report:
River Pasleka Water Management Plan
BERNET CATCH Regional Report:River Schwentine Water Management Plan
BERNET CATCH Regional Report:River Mamonovka Water Management Plan
BERNET CATCH Regional Report:River Odense Fjord Water Management Plan
BERNET CATCH Regional Report:River Steensaaen Water Management Plan
BERNET CATCH Regional Report:
River Kyronjoki Water Management Plan