Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

Although nutrient load from land-based sources to the Baltic Sea has reduced significantly, good ecological status of the coastal waters has not been reached, partly due to land-based load, and partly because of internal loading from the bottom sediments. The BalticReed Project will uptake nutrients from the Baltic Sea, improve water quality and restore the coastal habitats by harvesting dense reed beds, and, in addition, recycle the reed biomass and nutrients to be utilized on land. Harvesting of coastal reed beds can cost-efficiently remove significant amounts of nutrients from coastal waters, as one ha reed bed contains approx. 5-10kg of P and 50-100 kg N. It has been estimated that in Sweden and Finland there are over 300 000 ha coastal reed beds, and the estimated cost per reduction has been estimated being approx. 30 - 60 €/kgP and 2,1- 3,75 €/kgN, based on previous local level pilots. Concrete nutrient reductions and habitat improvements will be achieved with reed harvesting and habitat restoration pilots in Finland, Åland and Sweden. In addition, in collaboration with commercial stakeholders of the region, the BalticReed project will analyze the main bottlenecks and opportunities for commercialization of reed-based value chains and products, learn from operating reed-based markets in Estonia, and pilot reed-based products and value-chains during the project. At the same time, legislative, social, and ecological sustainability of reed harvesting will be ensured. The project will consult and engage key local and environmental stakeholders and coastal inhabitants for establishing region-wide terms and practices for constant and sustainable, reed-based annual nutrient reductions. The Project Budget is approx. 3 MEUR, and the partneship includes John Nurminen Foundation (LP), Race For The Baltic, Åland Goverment, Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Östergötland County Administrative Board and the ELY Centre for Southwest Finland.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The project has been well initiated. The project team is in place and motivated. One initial meeting was held 20/06/2023 to ensure all project partners are aware of the program requirements. Since then monthly meetings have been held to follow up the progress of the project. The project management has been smooth. Two steering group meetings have been held, and the phase 1 partner reports were completed without major obstacles. Selection of reed harvesting sites are ongoing in all project areas. Discussions with landowners, harvesters and companies involved in logistics and processing of reed are ongoing. In Sweden the first harvesting was done in autumn 2023, while in all other areas the initial harvesting will start in 2023. A monitoring program, focusing on pre- and post monitoring for the harvest sites has been completed to ensure monitoring is completed in a uniform manner throughout the consortium. Progress has been made regarding mapping stakeholders in the value chain for reed-based solutions, including land owners, municipalities, harvest machine manufacturers, harvesting companies, logistics providers and commercial companies. Market-, feasibility- and business case analysis for different commercial uses for reed have been initiated. More than 10 possible commercial products have been identified - in each product category background research has been conducted (previous project material, scientific reports, news articles) and experts (research institutes, trade professionals, other NGO´s) have been contacted and interviewed. Planning and development of new products has been initiated by conducting a literature research to learn about reed, and preliminary laboratory trials to produce fully biodegradable composites with natural non-toxic binders have been successful. The project will continue to look into possibilities of the material and look into partners to develop the product further. The legislation review has been initiated I Finland, Sweden and Åland. The aim is to compare the legislation of harvesting permits and recognize the key legislative bottlenecks regarding reed harvesting on a large scale between the project countries, as well as comparing practices of the Central Baltic area in multipurpose planning. The base guideline of the legislation review has bee set and two reports were ordered, an overall legislation review and a policy review which will eventually be presented to the government. Project communication has been active. A communication plan for the project has been completed as foreseen. The website has been opened and is continuously updated (D1.5.1) The project kick-off was held on 19/09/2023 in accordance with the project plan (D1.5.2.). 77 persons representing 44 organizations interested in reed participated in the kick-off seminar. The project has been presented in the media and in several seminars in the project area. The internal project communication has been functioning very well, and monthly partnership meeting have been arranged to ensure knowledge and information exchange among the partners is efficient and that the implementation of the project progresses as foreseen. Also, specific and working groups focusing on monitoring, harvesting and value chain development have been established among the relevant partner organizations to ensure efficient coordination and a smooth progress of the activities on a project level. No major obstacles, delays or deviations that affects the reaching of the project objectives have occurred.

Project outputs: Nutrient reductions coupled with coastal habitat restoration(EN)
Floating islands as a novel method for improving water quality and biodiversity in coastal bays(EN)
Participating organisations in the cooperation for developing sustainable solutions for market-based reed products and value chains(EN)
Participating organisations in the development of new and innovative uses for reed(EN)
Organisations participating actively in the development for legislative solutions to promote reed harvesting and use(EN)

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P2) Improved environment and resource use

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 064 Water management and water resource conservation (including river basin management, specific climate change adaptation measures, reuse, leakage reduction)

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: John Nurmisen Säätiö sr

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0895353-5

Address: Pasilankatu, 00240 Helsinki, Finland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website (not verified): http://www.johnnurmisesaatio.fi

Total budget: EUR 695 820.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 556 656.16

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 139 164.04

Contractors:

Name: Reedfly OÜ
VAT registration or tax identification number: EE101486154

Ålands landskapsregering

Name: Ålands landskapsregering

Department: Department of Social Affairs, Health and Environment / Environmental bureau

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0145076-7

Address: Strandgatan, 22100 Mariehamn, Finland

Department address: Strandgatan, 22100 Mariehamn, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.regeringen.ax

Total budget: EUR 277 174.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 221 739.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 55 434.96

Varsinais-Suomen elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus

Name: Varsinais-Suomen elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus

Department: Nature Protection Department

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2296962-1

Address: Itsenäisyydenaukio, 20101 Turku, Finland

Department address: Itsenäisyydenaukio, 20101 Turku, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.ely-keskus.fi/varsinais-suomi

Total budget: EUR 501 064.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 400 851.36

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 100 212.84

Yrkeshögskolan Arcada

Name: Yrkeshögskolan Arcada

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2553871-2

Address: Jan-Magnus Janssons plats, 00560 Helsinki, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.arcada.fi

Total budget: EUR 259 488.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 207 590.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 51 897.60

Länsstyrelsen Östergötland

Name: Länsstyrelsen Östergötland

Department: The Water division

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 202100-2270

Address: Östgötagatan, SE-581 86 Linköping, Sweden

Department address: Östgötagatan, SE-581 86 Linköping, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/ostergotland/Sv/Pages/default.aspx

Total budget: EUR 670 100.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 536 080.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 134 020.00

Contractors:

Name: Naturvatten i Roslagen AB
VAT registration or tax identification number: 556612-6875
Name: Eurofins Water Testing Sweden
VAT registration or tax identification number: 559115–3613
Name: Pelagia Nature & EnvironmentAB
VAT registration or tax identification number: 5566433917
Name: Lanemo Konditori & Bageri
VAT registration or tax identification number: 5568307457
Name: Nordic MasterCar AB
VAT registration or tax identification number: 5566435177
Name: SGS Analytics & Services Swede
VAT registration or tax identification number: 556152-0916

Race For The Baltic

Name: Race For The Baltic

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 802480 – 1303

Address: Nybrogatan, 114 34 Stockholm, Sweden

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.raceforthebaltic.com/

Total budget: EUR 588 498.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 470 798.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 117 699.60

Contractors:

Name: Sjöutsikt Sverige AB
VAT registration or tax identification number: SE556466344001

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Government of Åland

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Partners and Projects info

Varsinais-Suomen elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Partners and Projects info

Arcada University of Applied Sciences

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Partners and Projects info

County Administrative Board of Östergötland

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Partners and Projects info

Race For The Baltic

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Partners and Projects info

John Nurminen Foundation

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Project acronym: BalticReed

Project ID: CB0100093

Project start date: 2023-05-01

Project end date: 2026-04-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Live Lagoons, 2017-2020 Interreg South Baltic (EN) | Live Lagoons tested artificial floating islands for nutrient reductions in the Southern Baltic region. BalticReed can learn and utilize the experiences from the LiveLagoons Project when testing and modifying the use of artificial reed islands in the coastal bays of more northern sea areas. (EN), European Agri-project VELHO, 2010-2014, by ELY Centre in
Southwest Finland
(EN) | The nutrient and carbon contents were analysed in the VELHO Project, and BalticReed can directly utilise these results when calculating the nutriend reductions to be gained in the harvesting activities of the project. In VELHO, also sustainable planning of multiple uses of coastal areas were looked into in local pilot areas located in South-Western Finland. There are potential synergies and lessons learned in these processes, which can be utilized in planning the harvesting activities in BalticReed, and also when developing planning and permitting practices in BalticReed legislative work.
Also learnings from reed harvesting in practice can be utilised when planning the harvesting activities in BalticReed, although the harvesting tests were local and rather small in scale in VELHO. Thus, the value added comes from building of new knowledge in direct cooperation with companies in pilot production chains, and utilizing the experiences for wider use in larger scale, sustainable production chains and in new products.
The ultimate goal of BalticReed is to establish viable reed-based production chains operating in CB region. (EN), Så in i vassen, 2014-2020, Leader Åland (EN) | Så in i vassen was a small pilot by Leader Åland, where reed was cut and utilized e.g. as fodder for animals. The BalticReed project has establsihed contacts with the participant organisations in Åland as they are potential stakeholders also for this project. Engaging the local stakehoders in the planning of harvesting activities is essential for reaching the BalticReed project goals and also new, potential usages for the harvested reed can be developed together with these local stakeholders. (EN), Reed strategy in Finland and
Estonia, 2005-2007 INTERREG IIIA
(EN) | The Project "Reed Strategy in Finland and Estonia" focused on problems and possibilities related to common reed in the coast of Southern Finland and Estonia. The project had a broad scope in water and biodiversity protection but also in recreation and the bioenergy potential of reed. A management plan for coastal reed beds was developed in the project, however, in the end no viable commercial activities were established in Finland, mainly due to low profitability of energy use (biogas).
Althoug time has passed and the mapping methods and practices have developed a lot since the Reed Strategy Project, there are some valuable findings related to multi-purpose planning on which BalticReed Project could partly build on, especially in Sweden, as similar examples haven't been carried out before on Swedish coasts. BalticReed would also partly implement the "Reed strategy" in southern Finland, which was one of the outputs of this project, however, not taken in use in wider scale after the project.
(EN), Project COFREEN ”Concepts for using reed biomass as local
bioenergy and building material”, 2010-2013 INTERREG IVA
(EN) | Project COFREEN focused in developing the use of reed as a building material, and as a source of renewable energy. Although the focus of BalticReed is not in bioenergy but in nutrient reductions and ecosystem restoration, the results and outputs from COFREEN has partly be utilized also when planning the activities in BalticReed.
However, BalticReed Project can provide a lot of new knowledge to update the findings of COFREEN, as the harvesting technologies as well as the new market for "green consumer products" has developed a lot since 2013. In addition, more knowledge and interest on the economically more sustainable uses for reed or reed-based materials exist nowadays, and BalticReed already has established contacts with companies interested in cooperation on development of such products.
ELY Centre of Southwest Finland was a partner in COFREEN, and JNF already has existing good cooperation relationships with the Turku university of Applied Sciences, and Riga Technical University (partners of COFREEN). So, to further use of synergies, cooperation with the other COFREEN partner organisations can be easily established in BalticReed.
(EN), Project SUBMARINER „An Assessment of
innovative and Sustainable Uses of the Baltic Marine Resources“, 2010-2013 INTERREG IVB BSR Programme
(EN) | Project SUBMARINER had a broad scope on sustainable uses of Baltic Sea marine resources, common reed being one of them, however not on practical level but on rather up-level review. The work started in the SUBMARINER Project is being continued by the SUBMARINER network, which promotes innovative approaches to the sustainable use of marine resources and offers a cooperation platform to related actors and initiatives in the Baltic Sea Region.
The SUBMARINER network will be engaged into the stakeholder cooperation in BalticReed, to share the findings, results and outputs of BalticReed to benefit widely the whole Baltic Sea region. It would also be possible to the network partners to update the roadmaps developed in SUBMARINER with the new experiences provided by BalticReed. (EN), SLU Vassprojekt, 2021 (EN) | The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has been driving the recent reed development in Sweden, and have e.g. estimated the area covered by reed beds on Swedish coasts. Consequently, SLU in is one of the project's key stakeholders in Sweden. BalticReed partners, JNF, RFTB and ÅUAS already have good cooperation partnerships with SLU, and, thus it will be natural to establish close cooperation with their reed-related research and development work also in this project. (EN), Coastal Reed Project, John Nurminen Foundation 2020-2024 (EN) | The Coastal Reed Project by John Nurminen Foundation locally facilitates the reed-based operations in Finland. The project has been implemented in cooperation with ELY centres and Metsähallitus, who are responsible for managing of the protected, valuable coastal habitats (Natura 2000), where the harvesting activities have taken place, as part of the Finnish biodiversity programme HELMI. The good cooperation with these stakeholders will be continued also in the BalticReed Project. Especially the participation of the coastal ELY Centers and Metsähallitus in sharing experiences would be valuable for the development of sustainable reed harvesting operations region wide, in all particiapting countries and the whole Central Baltic area.
In addition, the lessons learned from the local work can be utilized in BalticReed when starting joint activities in Sweden and Åland, and when up-scaling the development of harvesting activities and establshing of reed-based value chains CB region wide. (EN), Turku University of Applied Sciences: Projects on reed (several) (EN) | Turku University of Applied Sciences (UAS) has lead and participated in several projects on the utilization of reed, from which the key findings and lessons learned will be taken into account also in the activities of BalticReed project. JNF already has existing good cooperation relationship with the Turku UAS, and, thus, cooperation also in future projects will be natural.
The currently ongoing project of Turku UAS develops permitting of reed harvesting on private owned land locally in Southwestern Finland, and the experiences from their work can be utilized when planning the larger-scale harvesting activities in BalticReed.
Turku UAS is also developing new initiatives on reed utilization in the CB Programme 2021-2027 1st Call for funding, and cooperation between organisations and project initiatives has already been discussed before submitting the 1st phase applications. It was recognized, that although the project initiatives have different objectives from each other (e.g. different Programme objective), active cooperation will equally benefit both organisations and projects, and, in particularly, support the common regional goals of circular economy and improving the state of the Baltic Sea.
(EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 992 145.20

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 393 716.16

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 393 716.16. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Selected pilot locations for reed harvesting, blue zones, and reed islands
Nutrient reductions at reed harvesting pilot sites
Blue zones
Cooperation model for local scale reed harvesting
Report on monitoring results
Internal workshops
Study visits
Ecological sustainability guidelines for reed harvesting
Local stakeholder events
Project website
Seminars
Local info events
Media events
Project materials
Value-chain analysis report, with identified bottlenecks and potential development solutions
Pilot production chains
Pilot products
Technical and logistic solutions for reed-based production chains
Innovation hackathons
Workshop on multi-purpose planning
Compilation report on multi-purpose planning and implementation of plans
Legislation review
Legislative workshops
Study trips and cooperation workshops in Estonia
Trainings for companies
New cooperation contacts for companies
Seminar on reed harvesting

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The project improves coastal and marine environment and produces concrete reductions of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, from coastal waters in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) by developing the usage of coastal reed beds and nutrient recycling from sea to land. This reduces eutrophication of the coastal waters, and thus supports the overall aim of the EU SBSR ‘Save the Sea’ objective to achieve good environmental status of the sea, and especially the sub-objective “clear water in the sea”. The project contributes to the specific objectives of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Priority Area NUTRI, which aims at reducing nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea to acceptable levels to mitigate eutrophication and to achieve a good environmental status.
Establishing reed harvesting as a market-based continuous ecosystem service in the whole Baltic Sea region would not only remove nutrients, but it would also contribute to the Policy Area Bioeconomy by improved recycling of nutrients in the society.
The project strengthens the cross-border competence in the BSR on water protection issues by realising horizontal actions between countries, municipalities, and private enterprises, and raises awareness on these issues. It enables the development of new types of actions for protecting the sea, which involve both public and private sectors and create business opportunities in green technology. The project is thus supporting also the EUSBSR priority objectives “Increase prosperity” and “Connect the Region”
Other Baltic Sea Action Plan of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM)
By reducing nutrients from the Baltic Sea with concrete actions, the project contributes to the target of the Baltic Sea Action Plan of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission HELCOM for achieving good environmental status of the sea, ultimately leading to a Baltic Sea in a healthy state. The project contributes specifically to the sub-targets on eutrophication, with the goal of a “Baltic Sea unaffected by eutrophication”; and biodiversity, with the goal of a “Baltic Sea ecosystem is healthy and resilient”.
Other EU Circular Economy Action Plan under the EU Green Deal
By increasing nutrient recycling and decreasing dependency on mined and imported fertilisers, the project contributes to the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. It supports the plan’s goals on reducing pressure on natural resources and creating sustainable growth and jobs. More specifically, the project supports the actions on Designing sustainable products; Circularity in production processes; Food, water and nutrients; and Getting the economics right.
Other EU Biodiversity Strategy under the EU Green Deal
By improving habitats in overgrown coastal areas, which are important for many species part of which have become threatened or endangered, the project contributes to the EU Biodiversity Strategy under the EU Green Deal. The EU biodiversity strategy aims to put Europe’s biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of people, climate and the planet. The project contributes especially to the sub-objective on nature restoration.
Other Finnish national action plans for marine environment and nutrient recycling
By recycling nutrients in reed biomass with the aim to establish market-based long-term production chains, the project contributes to objectives of the Finland’s national action plans for marine environment and nutrient recycling. The project contributes specifically to the following main targets on 1) utilising effectively nutrients in biomasses; 2) decreasing nutrient discharges to water courses and air and 3) Creating new business in nutrient recycling.
Other Helmi habitats programme on biodiversity (Finland)
By creating sustainable market-based utilisation opportunities for reed material harvested to restore coastal biodiversity, the project supports realisation of the Finnish Helmi habitats programme. It contributes specifically to the parts focused on restoring aquatic bird habitats, wetlands and coastal areas; and restoring coastal and aquatic environments. Finding utilisation possibilities for harvested reed which is otherwise left to the coastal areas improves the sustainability of the Helmi programme from the water protection, climate change and biodiversity perspectives. It also improves the long-term durability of the whole programme, as market-based reed harvesting would enable continuing programme activities after the Helmi programme financing has ended.
Other Sweden's environmental objectives
By removing nutrients from the Baltic Sea by removal of reed biomass, the project contributes directly to Sweden’s environmental objectives 1) Zero eutrophication: "Nutrient levels in soil and water must not be such that they adversely affect human health, the conditions for biological diversity or the possibility of varied use of land and water”; 2) A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos: "The Baltic Sea must have a sustainable productive capacity, and biological diversity must be preserved. Coasts and archipelagos must be characterised by a high degree of biological diversity and a wealth of recreational, natural and cultural assets.” and 3) A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life: “Biological diversity must be preserved and used sustainably for the benefit of present and future generations. Species habitats and ecosystems and their functions and processes must be safeguarded.”
Other Development and Sustainability Agenda for Åland islands 2030, incl. 7 development goals. Åland has also made a new climate goal for the agenda.
The project aims to develop goal nr.3 all water is of good quality, nr. 4. Ecosystems in balance and biological diversity and nr 5. Attractive for residents, visitors and businesses. Thus, project Baltic reed is of great importance to be successful with the Development and sustainability strategy of Åland islands.
Åland University of Applied sciences (ÅUAS) follows the Development and sustainability agenda for Åland Islands in research, development and training activities. ÅUAS also participates in the national program Sustainable, responsible and carbon neutral university of applied sciences (2020). The project Baltic reed is well in line with the goal 2: Our research-, development- and innovation (RDI) activities develop solutions to sustainability challenges and contribute ÅUAS to achieve this goal.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

Sverige (SE), Linköping

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR4 The number of improved urban and agricultural load sources, Measurement unit: number of load sources

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 112 (56.25%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 446 (56.28%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Baltic Sea Coastal Nutrient Management with Reed

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer