Helsinki, Finland — Habitats and organisms in Finland’s coastal waters are facing a critical threat from biodiversity loss, according to a new report published on Friday by Finnish experts. The study highlights a worrying decline in key species that are essential to the health of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
With over 46,000 kilometers of coastline and unique brackish, shallow waters, Finland’s Baltic Sea environment is home to organisms adapted to conditions found nowhere else in the world. However, important keystone species such as bladder wrack, eelgrass, and the blue mussel are experiencing significant declines.
“The diversity of invertebrates that form the basis of food webs in the coastal waters of Finland is inherently relatively low, which makes the ecosystem particularly vulnerable,” said Associate Professor Christoffer Boström, a co-author of the report. “If one species disappears locally, there is no species replacing that function.”
For the first time, experts at the Finnish Nature Panel studied changes in Finland’s coastal marine environment and detected 45 different forms of biodiversity loss. The most common types noted were the local disappearance of species and decreases in population numbers.
Coastal ecosystems play a vital role in carbon and nutrient sequestration, oxygen production, and supporting productive fish stocks. The loss of biodiversity in these areas not only threatens marine life but also impacts services crucial to human well-being.
The report identifies eutrophication and climate change as the primary drivers of this decline. Eutrophication, caused by the excess input of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural runoff, forestry, and wastewater, poses the main threat.
“None of Finland’s coastal water areas are in good condition in terms of eutrophication,” said Henri Sumelius, project researcher and lead author of the report. “Despite some signs of recovery, the coastal areas have still not reached good ecological status.”
The Baltic Sea is among the world’s fastest-changing seas due to climate change, adding further pressure on its fragile ecosystems. The researchers stress that increased efforts are needed to prevent harmful nutrients from entering the sea.
To halt biodiversity loss, the Finnish Nature Panel recommends stronger protection of marine areas and prioritizing nature in decision-making processes. These measures are essential for Finland to meet international targets and safeguard the future of its coastal environments.
Reference(s):
Report: Worrying biodiversity loss in Finnish coastal waters
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