The webinar on strategies for cost-effective marine restoration in the Nordics, co-organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Working Group for Environment and Economy and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), arranged under the auspice of the PROTECT BALTIC project, brought together key stakeholders to explore innovative strategies for restoring marine ecosystems in a resource-efficient manner. The event, held virtually, aimed to share knowledge, inspire collaboration, and identify pragmatic approaches to marine restoration, particularly in the Baltic Sea region.
Moderated by Mikelis Bendiks, the webinar focused on the critical aspects of marine restoration: the why, what, and how. While the need for marine restoration is widely recognized, the discussions concentrated on identifying actionable measures, and how to implement them effectively within the constraints of limited financial, technological, and human resources. Maximizing impact while minimizing costs was a central theme.
The event was structured into two segments over a three-hour agenda. The morning session provided foundational insights and case studies, setting the stage for a deeper discussion of restoration strategies. The afternoon session featured an additional case study and concluded with a panel discussion, where audience questions were addressed, and perspectives on marine restoration were exchanged.
A key takeaway from the discussions was the importance of shared understanding among diverse stakeholders. The webinar emphasized the need to aligning approaches, terminology, and metrics across projects and countries to better be able to evaluate and share information on restoration costs and outcomes effectively. By learning from successful practices and adapting them to specific contexts, participants explored scalable methods for marine restoration across the Nordic region and beyond.
Interactive elements enhanced the event's engagement. A pre-event questionnaire allowed attendees to share their views on the main challenges for, and potential of, marine restoration, and these insights were incorporated into an AI-generated video summarizing the participants’ perspectives. Additionally, live illustration provided real-time visual interpretation of key points highlighted by the presenters and panelists, enriching the discussions and making complex concepts more accessible.