7.2.2.2 South-West Messinia (Eastern Mediterranean Region)
Agriculture (mainly olive farming) and coastal tourism are the two major economic
activities in Western Messinia, Greece. Tourism is expanding and goes hand in hand
with infrastructure development (hotels, roads and airports) and can provide opportunities for diversified livelihoods, but also increases pressures on the environment
and cultural sites. Coastal areas are also affected by agrochemicals, soil erosion,
solid waste landfills and waste water from inland sources. In particular, waste
products from olive production constitute a threat to surface and coastal water
quality. Climate change is expected to increase coastal erosion and decrease the
availability of fresh water, with increased risk for saltwater intrusion into coastal
wetlands and aquifers. There are also plans for offshore oil and gas exploration that
will have implications for the area’s rich coastal biodiversity. The study area
comprises several important cultural sites and Mediterranean habitats included in
the reference list of the Natura 2000 initiative.
9 The MAL will develop a number of
alternative strategies for local economic development that will allow a diversification
and strengthening of a sustainable local economy while minimizing the impact on
the Natura 2000 sites. Long-term planning for sustainable tourism and agriculture
will take into account resilience to future climatic changes, exploiting the expertise
and experience of local stakeholders.
7.2.2.3 Norrström River Basin: Baltic (Baltic Sea Region)
The Norrström drainage basin (22,000 km
2 ) comprises the major part of the Swedish
water management district Northern Baltic Proper. For the case study, economic and
environmental issues are considered both at the local scale and that of the Baltic Sea,
including environmental and physical interactions between the two scales. The basin
is part of the fertile Swedish belt, characterized by extensive agriculture, and
includes the Swedish capital Stockholm. An unresolved and well-recognized problem for the coastal environment and its sustainable development is the human-driven
eutrophication and associated hypoxia with recurring harmful algae blooms, caused
by the combined nutrient emissions from households, agriculture and industry.
These impacts occur on the local/regional scale of the Swedish Norrström case
and the macro-regional/cross-boundary scale of the whole-Baltic case. Sustainable
development solutions must consider the agricultural, urban and industrial activities
in the hinterland, the high and increasing population density, tourism development in
the coastal zone, ongoing and future climate change and their combined effects on
the nutrient loads transported to the coast. The overarching problem and possibilities
for addressing the problem are recognized in strategic planning and development
plans at the local and regional scale.
9 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm
114
E. Akinsete et al.
Agriculture (mainly olive farming) and coastal tourism are the two major economic
activities in Western Messinia, Greece. Tourism is expanding and goes hand in hand
with infrastructure development (hotels, roads and airports) and can provide opportunities for diversified livelihoods, but also increases pressures on the environment
and cultural sites. Coastal areas are also affected by agrochemicals, soil erosion,
solid waste landfills and waste water from inland sources. In particular, waste
products from olive production constitute a threat to surface and coastal water
quality. Climate change is expected to increase coastal erosion and decrease the
availability of fresh water, with increased risk for saltwater intrusion into coastal
wetlands and aquifers. There are also plans for offshore oil and gas exploration that
will have implications for the area’s rich coastal biodiversity. The study area
comprises several important cultural sites and Mediterranean habitats included in
the reference list of the Natura 2000 initiative.
9 The MAL will develop a number of
alternative strategies for local economic development that will allow a diversification
and strengthening of a sustainable local economy while minimizing the impact on
the Natura 2000 sites. Long-term planning for sustainable tourism and agriculture
will take into account resilience to future climatic changes, exploiting the expertise
and experience of local stakeholders.
7.2.2.3 Norrström River Basin: Baltic (Baltic Sea Region)
The Norrström drainage basin (22,000 km
2 ) comprises the major part of the Swedish
water management district Northern Baltic Proper. For the case study, economic and
environmental issues are considered both at the local scale and that of the Baltic Sea,
including environmental and physical interactions between the two scales. The basin
is part of the fertile Swedish belt, characterized by extensive agriculture, and
includes the Swedish capital Stockholm. An unresolved and well-recognized problem for the coastal environment and its sustainable development is the human-driven
eutrophication and associated hypoxia with recurring harmful algae blooms, caused
by the combined nutrient emissions from households, agriculture and industry.
These impacts occur on the local/regional scale of the Swedish Norrström case
and the macro-regional/cross-boundary scale of the whole-Baltic case. Sustainable
development solutions must consider the agricultural, urban and industrial activities
in the hinterland, the high and increasing population density, tourism development in
the coastal zone, ongoing and future climate change and their combined effects on
the nutrient loads transported to the coast. The overarching problem and possibilities
for addressing the problem are recognized in strategic planning and development
plans at the local and regional scale.
9 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm
114
E. Akinsete et al.