UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Goals:
Elaboration of a strategic planning methodology for the wise development of the coastal region in Northern Russia (White Sea-Barents Sea Region): Development of Integrated Coastal Management in the Gulf of Kandadalaksha.

Location:
Coastal areas of the White Sea (specifically Kandalaksha Bay) and the Barents Sea (specifically Kislaya Bay).

Partners:
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through the Coastal Regions and Small Islands platform and the UNITWIN/UNESCO Network (“WiCoP-Europe”);
Russian State Hydrometeorological University with its partners: the Local Administration of the City of Kandalaksha; the Kandalaksha State Nature Reserve and local enterprises.
 

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Description:

The Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU), St. Petersburg, has conducted field research in coastal regions of northern Russia (White Sea-Barents Sea region) since 1992. In 2000 the project was refocused to concentrate on the socio-economic problems of the coastal zone of the Murmansk District and Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea. 

In 2003 an ICM program for the Gulf of Kandalaksha was initiated. Due to the educational nature of the lead institution, the RSHU, the project involves students (both undergraduates and postgraduates), providing them with an opportunity for advanced, on-the-job training.
 

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Scientific impact of the project 

The Gulf of Kandalaksha is an ideal research area for developing principles of sustainable interaction between numerous coastal resource users and for assessing the ecological safety of their activities. Within the framework of the project, environmental data have been collected and used by a number of local stakeholders in their practical work. An analysis of coastal problems has been made taking into account the results of various social surveys. Analysis of potential conflicts has shown the existence of five types of conflict between different coastal stakeholders. The social, economic and environmental impact of the use of various marine and coastal resources has been codified. Economic assessment of the current and potential value of the Murmansk coastal zone (about 3x103 and 9x106 US $ per coastal inhabitant respectively) testifies to the great potential for development in the region.

This research has provided a scientific basis for initiating integrated coastal management by the municipal authorities of the Gulf of Kandalaksha.
 

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Educational impact of the project 

(i) Students’ field work 

The principal features of the training, that students involved in the projects receive, are their active involvement in field research and direct cooperation with the final users of their research work. As a result students apply academic results to complex natural and socio-anthropogenic processes and phenomena in the coastal zone of the northern seas of Russia and participate in solving specific socio-economic problems as members of multi-disciplinary teams with their teachers. This develops the students’ practical skills under field conditions, during the process of data analysis, in preparation of scientific reports as well as in extensive discussion of the results with leading specialists.

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Educational impact of the project 

(ii) Training and educational courses 

In 2003 a training course on the development of small businesses in the coastal zone was organised in co-operation with the Kandalaksha Center for Employment. During this two-week course sixteen people from Kandalaksha City enjoyed lectures and computer-based business simulations. All participants received State and UNESCO certificates on their participation.

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Educational impact of the project 

(ii) Training and educational courses 

In 2004 the training course was continued and developed. The main direction of the course was the development of tourism management, which is a priority for Kandalaksha Local Municipality. 

In 2003 and 2004 summer environmental educational courses for children were organised at “Gandvik” a Children’s Health Base in Palkin Bay in the Gulf of Kandalaksha.

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Educational impact of the project 

(iii) Workshops and seminars 

Since 1995 the RSHU and the Kandalaksha State Nature Reserve have held annual workshops on the “Rational use of the Northern Seas Coastal Zone”. The workshops have all been held in the Kandalaksha City region and have resulted in dissemination and deeper understanding of integrated coastal management methodology and tools, greater public awareness, capacity building in the region and recognition by the local authorities.

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Impact of the project on partnerships and public information 

The project has involved interviews and meetings with the mass-media. Its output includes articles in the local newspapers, workshop proceedings, an ICM booklet and a more general brochure. The results of the White Sea- Barents Sea field project were discussed at the UNESCO/UNITWIN “WiCoP-Europe” meeting held in Roja, Latvia, in December 2003. The meeting presented an opportunity for sharing and assimilating experience gained by other universities on ICM, specifically the UNESCO/CSI “Northern Kurzeme” field project run by the University of Latvia. 

The effect anticipated from this work: dissemination of ICM methodology and increased public awareness of coastal issues.
 

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Impact of the project on partnerships and public information 

The Kandalaksha pilot project, one of the first examples of the use of ICZM methods in the Russian Federation is presented in a brochure “Exit From the Labyrinth”. The brochure was prepared and published in 2004 by members of staff of the RSHU. Complete project details are given: its purpose and problems; its methodology and design techniques (for example, the use of “matrixes of influence” to illustrate the interactions between coastal resource users); the work-plan for the project and its stages of development from pre-design initiatives through the pilot stage to expansion; monitoring (with the participation of UNESCO experts); realization of UNESCO recommendations; and preparation of new projects using experience gained throughout the project. The ICZM methodology described in the brochure is not only of regional, but also of general interest.

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNESCO/CSI Project
Sustainable coastal development in the White
 Sea - Barents Sea region, northern Russia
(Kandalaksha pilot region)

Achievements & Assessment
Impact of the project on institutions, legislation and management 

An ICM working group was created within the Local Administration of the Kandalaksha Municipality in 2003. In addition to local decision-makers, the working group includes representatives of different coastal stakeholder groups (port, oil terminal, biosphere reserve, etc). An Integrated Management System plan was discussed and adopted at an ICM working group meeting in October 2003.  

In line with this plan, on 5 May 2004, Mr. V. Golubev, Head of the Kandalaksha Regional Administration, issued a decree by which a permanent working group was established that will promote the implementation of wise coastal practices in the Gulf of Kandalaksha (the City of Kandalaksha and territories around it). The working group consists of 14 members who represent the local administration, local and regional coastal resource users, environmental NGOs and research organizations. The latter’s role is to facilitate informed and equitable stakeholder dialogue, to explore possible solutions and help avoid the recurrence of conflict. Based on lessons learned, the working group aims to promote the Integrated Coastal Management approach through practical tools that can be applied to coastal dispute situations. In the longer term this should lead to the establishment of an “ethical code of practice” in the region. 

Information about this project is published on the UNESCO web-site at: http://www.unesco.org/csi/act/russia/russia.htm

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNITWIN/WiCoP-Europe Workshop on Ports and Sustainable Coastal Development

Following a meeting of the UNITWIN/WiCoP-Europe Management Committee in Roja (Latvia) in December 2003, an international workshop on Ports and Sustainable Coastal Development was organized and hosted by the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (26-28 May 2004, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation). The meeting gathered over 30 participants from 13 institutions in the five country-members of the Network, as well as UNESCO (represented by its Moscow Office) and the European Union for Coastal Conservation. A variety of stakeholders were present of academic, educational, industrial, administrative and decision-making backgrounds. Students from the RSHU also attended. The workshop was organized in line with the UNESCO Coastal Regions and Small Islands unit  strategy of promoting wise coastal practices for sustainable human development.

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNITWIN/WiCoP-Europe Workshop on Ports and Sustainable Coastal Development

The workshop included two half-day round-table discussions on “Universities’ Co-operation as an Opportunity for the Development of a Common Strategy in Integrated Coastal Management Training and Education” and “Ports and Integrated Coastal Management”. On the last day of the meeting an excursion to the new oil terminal in the City of Primorsk (Eastern Gulf of Finland) was organized, so as to acquaint the participants with a variety of problems related to oil terminal operation: legal to environmental. This was followed by a meeting with the local municipal administration of the City of Primorsk and, in the afternoon, a visit to Beriozovie Island, a protected area near Primorsk.
 

UNESCO-UNITWIN
WiCoP-Europe
RSHU 2003-2004
Activities

UNITWIN/WiCoP-Europe Workshop on Ports and Sustainable Coastal Development

High-level representatives of regional and local administrations attended the workshop; thus demonstrating the great interest in sustainable coastal development at the decision-making level of government. 

Following the workshop a CD with documents, pictures and presentations on the workshop was distributed to workshop participants and other interested parties. 

Information about the workshop including its Programme, List of Participants, and its Resolution is published on the UNESCO web-site at: http://www.unesco.org/csi/wise/unitwin.htm