BONUS BALTSPACE project finished successfully

Results will have a long-lasting impact on MSP in the Baltic Sea Region

After an intensive period of cooperation between MSP experts, the BONUS BALTSPACE project ended in March 2018. Project manager Michael Gilek from Södertörn University in Stockholm is very satisfied with the results: "We set out with bold plans to clarify and improve the capacity of MSP to respond to sustainability challenges in the Baltic Sea. Now, at the end of the project, I am almost surprised by the sheer volume, richness and depth of project outcomes. We have, for example, produced an extensive empirical material from around the Baltic Sea on how MSP can address various integration challenges, such as stakeholder and knowledge integration. Project researchers have also in dialogue with planners and stakeholders developed and applied MSP tools, as well as approaches to analyse and evaluate sustainability aspirations in MSP. In short: great work by a great team – Thank you BALTSPACERs!"

However, the finalisation of the project also means that project partners now are working on spreading BONUS BALTSPACE findings and recommendations to other projects, such as PanBalticSCOPE and to relevant stakeholders, such as MSP Authorities and MSP expert groups. The goal of the project is to create a long-lasting impact on MSP in the Baltic Sea Region. “Our science-based suggestions have already influenced MSP processes significantly, for example in terms of changed stakeholder practices in Polish MSP, and we are confident that our policy briefs and other communication material will continue to be relevant for MSP practitioners and stakeholders in the coming years. Not the least, the project’s recommendation to further develop social sustainability considerations in MSP on top of today’s predominant focus on environmental and economic objectives, can substantially improve MSP’s capacity to respond to multi-dimensional sustainability challenges in the Baltic Sea and beyond", according to Gilek.

The majority of the project outputs are currently available from the output section of the project website. If there are any questions or remarks, do not hesitate to contact one of the project partners directly.