WWF Baltic Sea Programme

Our vision

A healthy, productive, and resilient Baltic region that is sustainably and equitably managed for people’s and nature’s well-being.

Human pressures like unsustainable farming practices, overfishing, pollution and the effects of the climate crisis are altering the ecological balance and depleting renewable resources. We are now losing many of the ecosystem goods and services that nature has provided for free since the dawn of time. By prioritizing sustainability over exploitation and combining science with local knowledge, WWF works towards transforming the Baltic into a healthy, productive, and resilient region that benefits people and nature. We are a diverse, ambitious and influential force, working to conserve and restore the health of the Baltic Sea.

WWF launched the Baltic Sea Programme in 1992. The programme:

• Leverages conservation leadership, regional perspective, local knowledge, and expertise across the WWF network and unites the work of 7 national offices.
• Applies pressure on public and private stakeholders to commit to a source-to-sea approach to water management, sustainable agriculture and safeguarding species and habitats.
• Advocates for strong environmental policies for the Baltic Sea at  EU, regional and national levels and is one of the non-governmental organizations that has Observer status at HELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission).
• Pushes for sustainable fisheries and a coherent network of transboundary, ecosystem-based marine spatial plans including marine protected areas covering 30% of the sea, with one-third of those (10% of the sea) strictly protected,
• Advocates for environmental health are factored into investment decisions by finance actors resulting in redirection towards a sustainable blue economy.