Learners' Guide 1 - Working for better Water Quality in the Baltic Sea.

Learners' Guide 1 - Working for better Water Quality in the Baltic Sea.

The book presents ideas and examples of the UNESCO Baltic Sea Project environmental education focusing on the Baltic Sea.

The goals of the BSP are concretized with examples from disciplinary, interdisciplinary, action-oriented and problem-based learning as well as field studies. A holistic way of thinking is developed, for instance by connecting field work such as investigating water quality with discussions about politics and shared responsibility.

The book also contains a description of the Baltic Sea - its history, geography, flora and fauna and the human impact which has turned it into a highly polluted sea.

The aim of the book is to give a deeper understanding of today's environmental situation by describing the changing of the relationship between man and nature throughout history. The ecocyclic principle is presented as an example of a new way of thinking, in an effort to reach sustainibility.

The authors are people with expertice and experience from marine environmental studies, history, education and general environmental work. Many:students have also contributed their own ideas about how to save the Baltic Sea.

The book is the first in a series of Learners' Guides to further the goals of the BSP. It is for secondary and upper secondary students and teachers participating in the Baltic Sea Project. It can also be used by other schools, groups or individuals interested in studying the Baltic Sea.

The book was produced under the framework of the Baltic Sea Project by National Agency for Education in Sweden in cooperation within the UNESCO Associated Schools Project.

Contents

Preface
To the reader

1. Introduction - the Baltic Sea Project: History Organization Pedagogics Development strategy Support activities

THE BALTIC SEA

2. Human impact - A historical view: Population invasions Industrialization Environmental crises
3. A unique brackish water sea: From ice lake to brackish water sea Basins and sills A sensitive ecosystem Oxygen and salinity
4. Marine environmental problems: Eutrophication Blue-green algae blooms Nitrogen and phosphorous input Toxic substances Cooperation in the Baltic region
5. Water quality: The environmental situation in the different coastal areas
6. Common plants and animals: Green, brown and red algae Coastal phanerogams Worms Snails Mussels Amphipods Isopods Decapods Insects Some common biotops

GRASPING THE PROBLEM

7. The nature contract: Mankind and environment New rules After modernity What do we do now?
8. Toward the ecocyclic society: Natural resources The hydrological cycle Environmental work - a public duty Need for visions Action The right questions
9. The CCB's challenge to Baltic citizens: Public awareness Environmental education Non-point sources Ecotechnical measures Planning of society Nature conservation

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

10. Water and sediment tests: Benthos Macroalgae and aqutic plants Plankton Abiotic factors like salinity temperature, visibility and oxygen content Equipment
11. Disciplinary learning: Biology Chemistry Civics Foreign languages Geography History Native language Religion
12. Thematic learning: Identifying marine environmental problems and sources What can be done Informing about solutions Students essays
13. Problem-based learning: Real life the starting point Learning is the main activity Identifying and formulating problems Presenting totalities from the outset Acquire knowledge in relation to needs

NETWORKING

14. Cooperation between schools: Gather around a shared idea Active participation International seminars, courses, workshops and camps

APPENDICES

1. Summary of CCB's Baltic Action Plan: Environmental investment programmes Economic incentives International agreements Ecological agriculture Ecological transportation
2. Protocol for observations: Water quality of the Baltic Sea Water quality of the Baltic Sea

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Print-version (PDF, 24.57 MB)

The book can be ordered through:

Liber Distribution
Publikationstjänst
S-162 89 Stockholm
Telephone: +46-8-690 95 76
Telefax: + 46-8-690 95 50
E-mailadress: skolverket.ldi@liber.postnet.se
Language: English

Copyright 2004 © Baltic Sea Project

 

Links with the Sustainable Development Goal no 14, 14.1, 14 a: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development:

A status Report

The common programme Water Quality of the Baltic Sea has now been an integrated part of UNESCO's Baltic Sea Project for ten years. The idea of the project came from a workshop for teachers in Kiel, 1990.  Soon a protocol was created by teachers from Nynåshamn Gymnasium, Sweden, and Rungsted Gymnasium, Denmark, and although some minor changes have been made during the years, the main idea of the programme is the same: 

*to bring students out to their local coast to study the life and the state of the sea

  • *to train the students in collecting observations in a systematic way
  • *to communicate the observations internationally
  • *to give the students possibilities to compare their observations with similar observations from other places around the Baltic Sea and over time at the same place.

The programme and the methods are described in  Learners' Guide No 1: Working for better Water Quality in the Baltic Sea. All schools and other educational institutions associated to The Baltic Sea Project are welcome to join the programme.

 

Connection to UN- Global goal 14:

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E  :

  • Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
    • 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    • 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
    • 14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
    • 14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    • 14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
    • 14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation16
    • 14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to small island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
      • 14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
      • 14.b Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
      • 14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of “The future we want”