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Benefits of meeting the Baltic Sea nutrient reduction targets - Combining ecological modelling and contingent valuation in the nine littoral states

Author

Listed:
  • Ahtiainen, Heini
  • Hasselstrom, Linus
  • Artell, Janne
  • Angeli, Daija
  • Czajkowski, Mikouaj
  • Meyerhoff, Jurgen
  • Alemu, Mohammed
  • Dahlbo, Kim
  • Fleming-Lehtinen, Vivi
  • Hasler, Berit
  • Hyytiainen, Kari
  • Karloseva, Aljona
  • Khaleeva, Yulia
  • Maar, Marie
  • Martinsen, Louise
  • Nommann, Tea
  • Oskolokaite, Ieva
  • Pakalniete, Kristine
  • Semeniene, Daiva
  • Smart, James
  • Soderqvist, Tore

Abstract

One of the most serious threats to the Baltic Sea and its ecosystem services is human-induced eutrophication. European Union legislation, in the form of the Marine Strategy and Water Framework Directives, requires information on the benefits of improving the condition of the sea to a good environmental status. Our study uses a unique dataset collected from all nine littoral countries of the Baltic Sea, in combination with state-of-the-art marine modelling of the area, to estimate the benefits of reducing eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. We find average willingness to pay (WTP) for decreased eutrophication to differ substantially by country, but also that there is a general acceptance to pay more to improve the status of the whole sea area. We estimate the aggregate WTP for an improvement in the eutrophication level following the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) to be 4000 million Euros annually. Our results provide, however, a strong message to the decision makers about the need for ensuring fulfilment of the policy targets in the BSAP. Failure to fulfil the targets would imply foregoing substantial societal benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahtiainen, Heini & Hasselstrom, Linus & Artell, Janne & Angeli, Daija & Czajkowski, Mikouaj & Meyerhoff, Jurgen & Alemu, Mohammed & Dahlbo, Kim & Fleming-Lehtinen, Vivi & Hasler, Berit & Hyytiainen, K, 2012. "Benefits of meeting the Baltic Sea nutrient reduction targets - Combining ecological modelling and contingent valuation in the nine littoral states," Discussion Papers 127123, MTT Agrifood Research Finland.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:mttfdp:127123
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.127123
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Baulcomb, Corinne & Fletcher, Ruth & Lewis, Amy & Akoglu, Ekin & Robinson, Leonie & von Almen, Amanda & Hussain, Salman & Glenk, Klaus, 2015. "A pathway to identifying and valuing cultural ecosystem services: An application to marine food webs," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 11(C), pages 128-139.
    2. Heini Ahtiainen & Janne Artell & Mikołaj Czajkowski & Berit Hasler & Linus Hasselström & Anni Huhtala & Jürgen Meyerhoff & James C.R. Smart & Tore Söderqvist & Mohammed H. Alemu & Daija Angeli & Kim D, 2014. "Benefits of meeting nutrient reduction targets for the Baltic Sea - a contingent valuation study in the nine coastal states," Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(3), pages 278-305, November.
    3. George HALKOS & Georgia GALANI, 2014. "Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Reducing Nutrient Loading in Baltic and Black Seas A Review," Journal of Advanced Research in Management, ASERS Publishing, vol. 5(1), pages 28-51.
    4. Kari Hyytiäinen & Lassi Ahlvik & Heini Ahtiainen & Janne Artell & Anni Huhtala & Kim Dahlbo, 2015. "Policy Goals for Improved Water Quality in the Baltic Sea: When do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 61(2), pages 217-241, June.
    5. Scharin, Henrik & Ericsdotter, Siv & Elliott, Michael & Turner, R. Kerry & Niiranen, Susa & Blenckner, Thorsten & Hyytiäinen, Kari & Ahlvik, Lassi & Ahtiainen, Heini & Artell, Janne & Hasselström, Lin, 2016. "Processes for the sustainable stewardship of marine environments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 55-67.
    6. Nordin, Martin & Hojgard, Soren, 2015. "Advisory services for nutrient utilisation," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212586, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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    Keywords

    Environmental Economics and Policy; Research Methods/ Statistical Methods;

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