Case Studies - Coastal Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable Use and Development - page 424

Despite these problems, there are several positive aspects to the cooperative
management of the Vistula Lagoon, including:

• Improved regional political situation—Since traditional post-war political
divisions have faded, cooperation among the countries in the region has
improved.
• Democratization—National governments in Poland and Russia are becom-
ing more participatory and more responsive to the priorities of society. As
a part of this process, responsibilities have devolved to more local govern-
mental levels. Although there is a need to improve the capacity of local
government to make informative decisions, the trend is encouraging.
• Constructive role of HELCOM—The new document 6 gave HELCOM the
opportunity to develop an active role as a facilitator of regional coopera-
tion on Baltic Sea-related matters. HELCOM PITF MLW's development
of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan is perhaps the foremost
example of HELCOM's new role.

• Participation of “third parties”—The involvement of international

financing institutions, the EU, outside countries, and other assisting
organizations has benefited the region in more ways than financial. By
prioritizing cross-border and regional projects, these entities have facil-
itated the sharing of knowledge and experience and laid the groundwork
for future cooperation.

9.4.1.5 Efforts toward Transboundary Management

of the Vistula Lagoon

The Vistula Lagoon requires an integrated, cross-sectoral management approach that
transcends arbitrary political borders. Cross-border cooperation will facilitate inte-
grated lagoon management. Already there is a spirit of cross-border cooperation in
the region, mainly due to the impetus of local and regional contacts and joint
scientific research activities, including modeling. Such regional efforts facilitate
cooperation on a national scale with the additional benefit of improving regional
security.
One successful result of this type of cooperation was the joint international
project “Prioritizing Hot Spot Remediation in the Vistula Lagoon Catchment:
Environmental Assessment and Planning for the Polish and Kaliningrad Parts of
the Lagoon.” 19,20 This project was conducted by different scientific institutions in
Poland (GEOMOR Consult Ltd., Maritime Institute, Sea Fisheries Institute,
Marine Branch of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, Marine
Branch of the Geological Institute), Russia (Atlantic Branch of Shirshov's Institute
of Oceanology, Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring),
and Denmark (Danish Hydraulic Institute and Water Quality Institute) in close co-
operation with local environmental authorities (Elblag and Kaliningrad Ecological
Committees).