Executive Summary – Our Local Blue Strategy for Securing an Attractive

Local Baltic Sea Action Plan Kalmar Municipality

Contents

Executive summary - our local blue strategy for securing an attractive local community and a prosperous Baltic Sea 1. The strategic background of the Baltic Sea City Accelerator 2. Municipal action in relation to the international and the local water management perspective 3. Local Baltic Sea Action plan - Municipality X 3.1 Overview of the local eutrophication challenges and opportunities 3.1.1 Summary of the Environmental, Social and Economic System 3.1.2 Major Local Sources of Nutrients 3.1.3 Important Geographical Target areas for restoration 3.2 Our local strategy for securing an attractive community towards 2021 3.2.1 A Mission Statement 3.2.2 A Vision Statement 3.2.3 Strategic objectives 3.3 Actions and measures for the period 2017-2021 3.3.1 Clear Coastal Waters 3.3.2 Clean and safe water traffic 3.3.3 Systematic Water Area Management 3.3.4 . Active Baltic Sea Citizenship 4. Summary of resources and solutions that need to be secured for the period 2017- 2021 4.1 Knowledge 4.2 Solutions and innovation 4.3 Cross sectoral collaboration 4.4 Finance 4.5 Monitoring and data 5. Summary of costs for implementing actions towards 2021

Executive summary – our local blue strategy for securing an attractive local community and a prosperous Baltic Sea Call for Local Action - investing in measures and capturing local benefits

1. The strategic background of the Baltic Sea City Accelerator

The Baltic Sea City Accelerator is a platform for public and private actors to explore and co- create innovative approaches to local water and wastewater management challenges, and meet sustainability objectives. Together, we aim to develop new opportunities for growth and create attractive communities for citizens and businesses. During 2016–2017, a select group of municipalities from the Baltic Sea region joined forces with a broad range of international experts to co-develop cost-effective, smart and innovative solutions for local water and wastewater management challenges. Collectively, these efforts will improve local waters and increase competitiveness, and will contribute to an improved state of the Baltic Sea, securing future prosperity in this region.

2. Municipal action in relation to the international and the local water management perspective

In 2007, the ministerial meeting of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM) approved the Baltic Sea Action Plan, which determines the good ecological state of the Baltic Sea and its indicators, in terms of eutrophication, harmful substances, biodiversity and shipping. The aim of the Action Plan is to restore the good ecological status of the sea by 2021: a healthy marine environment with diverse biological components functioning in balance. HELCOM’s Action Plan was reviewed in a ministerial meeting towards the end of 2013, in terms of emission reduction targets.

The European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) apply to all states around the Baltic Sea region. The aim of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is to create a common framework for those actions by member states of the EU that are necessary for the restoration and preservation of the good state of the marine environment by 2020.

The European Union’s Strategy and Action Plan for the Baltic Sea Region were approved by the European Council in October 2009. This first internal macro regional strategy set out by the EU makes the balanced development of the region more effective, makes the actions taken by the EU, countries, regions, networks, and actors at a local level more unified, and promotes cooperation between these actors. The Action Plan related to the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was updated in 2012, and the Commission published its first evaluation of the success of the strategy in the summer of 2013. According to the evaluation, the intensified cooperation has produced joint political decisions and hundreds of new projects and networks. However, to achieve permanent results, the strategy’s goals need to be further incorporated into the administration, funding, and political decision-making in the region.

The joint Baltic Sea Action Plan between the cities of Turku and Helsinki promotes all of the more extensive programmes mentioned above, as well as implementing and supporting their goals. It also supports the commitment of the Finnish government to make Finland into a model country for the recycling of nutrients. Through this joint initiative, the cities act as active trendsetters and major actors in the Baltic Sea region.

It is a municipality’s responsibility to govern the local environment and ensure that the 16 national environmental goals, which were established in 1999, are fulfilled. Kalmar Municipality initiated the Kalmar Sound Commission (“Kalmarsundskommissionen”) in 2007 that involves all municipalities around the Kalmar Sound. The Commission collaborates for a clean Kalmar Sound and Baltic Sea. Fundamental to the Commission are the grass root activities carried out by local NGOs and municipalities. Collaboration is sought whenever and wherever action in

3 different municipalities can be combined and enhanced. By joining forces, larger projects can be carried out and actions can be located where the benefits for the Baltic Sea are the greatest, regardless of municipal boundaries.

The Kalmar Sound Commission’s aim is to take its share of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. For Kalmar Municipality this means reducing 72.1 tonnes nitrogen/year and 6.7 tonnes phosphorous/ year by 2021. Kalmar Municipality has an additional goal to get good status on all water bodies according to the national Water Framework Directive by 2021.

Mission: Kalmar Municipality will, together with the other municipalities in the Kalmar Sound Commission, work for a cleaner Kalmar Sound and Baltic Sea, while simultaneously achieving growth in its tourism and food production industries.

Vision: Kalmar Municipality will by 2021, together with the other municipalities in the Kalmar Sound Commission, take its share of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. Kalmar Municipality will also get good status on all water bodies, according to the national Water Framework Directive.

4 3. Local Baltic Sea Action plan – Kalmar Municipality

3.1 Overview of the local eutrophication challenges and opportunities

The Swedish municipality of Kalmar has a population of 67,000 and approximately 47 km of coastline on the Baltic Sea. The Municipality’s two main industries are tourism and food production (poultry farms).

One of the main attractions of Kalmar is its proximity to the sea. There are several beaches in the city center that are frequently used in the summer and Kalmar harbor is popular with boat tourists. The tourism industry has blossomed recently and the number of hotel nights in Kalmar increased by 9% from 2015 and 2016 to a total of 405 653 hotel nights. One reason for the increase is the number of water-related sporting events which are attracted to Kalmar for its location on a clean Baltic Sea, such as the IronMan, a mini-triathlon and Kanalsimmet (Channel Swim).

The Kalmar region leads the nation in egg and chicken production and, as a result, there density of livestock in the region is high. 44% of the 3,188 farms in the Kalmar County host livestock and 17% (193 602 ha) of all the land area in Kalmar County is used for food production (considerably higher than the national average of 7%). While there are no calculations on how much manure is produced annually due to food production in Kalmar, at present more manure is produced than can be handled locally. Several food producers in Kalmar pay considerable amounts to have excess manure transported to other regions in Sweden. If this excess manure cannot be handled in the future, food production in the region will stagnate or be forced to decrease. This situation merits consideration in a larger context; on the global level, food production is forecast to increase 20% by 2030 to meet the demands of a growing population. It is likely that food production will increase in areas that already have the requisite infrastructure – such as Kalmar. Given this scenario, Kalmar will experience an increase in the amount of livestock (and thus manure) in a region where the amount of area to spread manure remains the same. Therefore, one of the municipality’s main challenges going forward will be to ensure that nutrients from its food production industry – primarily poultry-related – do not enter and pollute the Baltic Sea.

In short, Kalmar faces the challenge and opportunities of working for a cleaner Kalmar Sound and Baltic Sea, while simultaneously achieving growth in its tourism and food production industries.

Map of Kalmar Municipality.

With its narrow inlet and being surrounded by fertile land, the Kalmar Sound is a miniature version of the Baltic Sea. The problems that arise with eutrophication are greatest in shallow coastal bays, where nutrients have accumulated in the sediment for decades.

Nutrients that come from land and the nutrients that are trapped in the sediment enhance the eutrophication in the Baltic Sea and have led to an increase of algae and stickleback while decreasing zooplankton and predatory fish. One of the causes for the decrease in predatory fish, such as bass and pike, are the man-made changes on land and in water bodies that impact the fish’s ability to reproduce. While the extent of the problem is not fully known, the man-made changes have been carried out for over a century. Many of the region’s ditches, streams and agricultural land have been greatly altered for drainages. Not only has this resulted in a decrease in breeding grounds for predatory fish, it also leads to water rushing to the sea rather than being held for a longer period in the landscape where nutrients could settle.

6 3.1.1 Summary of the Environmental, Social and Economic System

The Kalmar region is known for food production and tourism. The region leads the nation in the production of eggs- and chicken. However, the region is also known for its small scale farms and cultural landscape and has been the setting for many of Astrid Lindgren children’s stories. Kalmar, and its neighboring island Öland, is at the center of Swedish summer tourism. The region includes many summer houses and also attracts large crowds for sporting- and music events. Kalmar was voted the “No 1 summer town of Sweden” in 2015 and 2016.

The combination of food production and tourism results in Kalmar having a significant amount of nutrient pollution from farmlands and due to its large tourism industry, being dependent on a clean sea. However, the impact by algae bloom for Kalmar is less than other parts of the region, such as Öland, as Kalmar is not solely dependent on “sun bathing tourists”, but has a range of city attractions. A key challenge is that the industry benefitting from a clean sea, namely tourism, is not the same industry that is generating the greatest nutrient load, i.e. food producers. To keep nutrients in the soil is a top priority for crop-based food producers. However, contributing to the nutrient load challenge in Kalmar County is that in this area 44 % of all farms raise livestock and for them, excess nutrients (i.e. manure) is something they need to get rid of. On a national level, we have a situation where it is more cost-efficient to buy chemical fertilizers than natural manure. Further, it also is more cost-efficient to buy soya fodder from Brazil than fodder made from mussels grown in the Baltic Sea. Not only does this break the nutrient cycle in the Baltic Sea, it also leads to the constant increase of “new” nutrients to the Baltic Sea and no reduction of the load. In short, at current price levels, it is not possible to develop an economically viable model for doing what is best for the Baltic Sea in this regard.

It is not just tourists that are drawn to the sea, it is evident from moving patterns and house prices that the municipality’s residents place a premium on living by/near the water. The prices of houses sold in central Kalmar during 2016 show that houses close to the Baltic Sea sold for between 5-10 million SEK, whereas the price of similar houses located farther away from the sea ranged from 3-5 million SEK. While proximity to the Baltic Sea is only one of several parameters buyers consider when purchasing a house, it is safe to assume that the closer a house is to the Baltic Sea, especially if it has a sea view, the higher the price will be – and in some cases the difference can be nearly a doubling in price.

It is difficult to calculate the economic impact that the state of the Baltic Sea has on Kalmar. As per the example above, a sea view has the potential to double the value of a residence, but there is no indication yet that a view of a slightly more polluted sea would be worth any less. Further, Kalmar’s tourism industry has so far shown itself to be quite resilient to periods of algae bloom, and no drop in revenues can be seen during these days. Therefore, the conclusion to be drawn at this point is that Kalmar’s economy is only slightly affected – if at all – by a polluted Baltic Sea. However, it is likely that there will be negative economic impacts if the degradation of the sea were to continue.

7 3.1.2 Major Local Sources of Nutrients

Nitrogen load from Kalmar Municipality: The pie chart below shows the nitrogen run-off from land in Kalmar Municipality and the relative load to the Baltic Sea and includes both anthropogenic and natural run-off. The chart shows that agricultural land has the largest contribution of the total load to the Baltic Sea, followed by woodland.

Agricultural land Woodland Water Treatment Plant Mire Private sewage Stormwater Open landscape Air deposite

Nitrogen run- off from land use to the Baltic Sea, both anthropogenic and natural.

Phosphorous load from Kalmar Municipality:

The pie chart below shows the phosphorus load from different land use in Kalmar Municipality and the relative load to the Baltic Sea and includes both anthropogenic and natural run-off. The chart shows that agricultural land and woodland has the largest contribution of the total load to the Baltic Sea. Private sewage also has a significant contribution.

8 Agricultural land Woodland Private sewage Stormwater Water Treatment Plant Open landscape Mire Industry Water

Phosphorus run-off from land to the Baltic Sea, both anthropogenic and natural.

3.1.3 Important Geographical Target areas for restoration

There are several important water bodies. Below follows a list of Kalmar Municipality’s top priorities:

Shallow coastal bays The shallow coastal bays – from Fågeludd in the north to Värnanäs in the south – are all bays that are frequently visited for everything from recreational swimming to local marinas. Most of these bays have local NGOs (Kustmiljöföreningar) that care for the maintenance of the bay. This care includes cutting back reeds and keeping inlets open for an even water flow. Some organisations are also involved in the maintenance of nearby wetlands.

A number of these shallow coastal bays are of significant interest due to their historical importance and risk of admitting nutrient and pollution from historical sediment: Malmfjärden (stormwater from Kalmar), Hossmoviken, Västra Sjön, Stävlö and Dragsviken. At Stävlö and Dragsviken there are local NGOs who work to maintain the bay.

Map of shallow coastal bays in Kalmar Municipality.

Möre plain: 13 water bodies run through Kalmar Municipality and they all end in the Baltic Sea. The last strip of all the 13 water bodies go through fertile agricultural land, the Möre plain, and maps of the water bodies’ biotope have been carried out on some of them. These water bodies have great ecological value or great potential for ecological value. On the Möre plain, there is potential for

10 many recreational areas and many of the water bodies that run through the plain have a dedicated NGO. These organisations should be encouraged to do more and supported in their efforts.

3.2 Our local strategy for securing an attractive community towards 2021

3.2.1 A Mission Statement Kalmar Municipality will, together with the other municipalities in the Kalmar Sound Commission, work for a cleaner Kalmar Sound and Baltic Sea, while simultaneously achieving growth in its tourism and food production industries.

3.2.2 A Vision Statement Kalmar Municipality will by 2021, together with the other municipalities in the Kalmar Sound Commission, take its share of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan.

3.2.3 Strategic objectives Kalmar Municipality, together with the other municipalities in the Kalmar Sound Commission, aim to take its share of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. For Kalmar Municipality that means reducing 72.1 ton nitrogen/year and 6.7 ton phosphorus/ year by 2021. Kalmar Municipality has an additional goal to get good status on all water bodies according to the national Water Framework Directive.

To reach the objectives, Kalmar will:

Re-use nutrients in food production  To increase the region’s food production at the same time as we reduce the leakage of nutrients to the Baltic Sea more manure will have to be transformed into biogas. Kalmar Municipality will support the innovation to separate nitrogen and phosphorus so that these can be used in custom-made fertilizers.

 Kalmar Municipality will keep more water on land to secure its fresh water supplies, but also to reduce nutrient run-off by building more water holding structures such as wetlands and phosphorus traps.

 Start a green and blue platform where academic research, private sector and public sector engage in food production- and water issues.

Game changes- agricultural land

11 Simplify and clarify maintenance on nutrient-reduction measures that have been carried out on non-municipal land/property.

Encourage goodwill Continue to support local water NGOs.

Waste Water Treatment Plant Kalmar will build Sweden’s leading Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Storm water Implement new solutions and techniques, e.g. green-infrastructure, for storm water treatment in the municipality’s more densely populated areas.

Private sewage All private sewage will be investigated and cautioned to action by 2018.

Re-circulation of nutrition from the sea to land  Kalmar Municipality will focus on finding business cases for re-using phosphorus.

 Involve the private sector. Many actions have the potential to be win-win deals that could benefit several sectors.

 National regulations need to encourage actions that are good for the Baltic Sea. Kalmar Municipality will apply pressure on regional-, national- and international agencies for changes in how business work.

Nitrogen Kalmar Municipality has compiled all actions planned to reduce leakage of nutrients to the Baltic Sea from 2013-2021. (The start year set from the latest available data for eutrophication.) As water knows no boundaries, the actions planned by Nybro Municipality, upstream from Kalmar, is included in the compilation. The joint actions of these two municipalities result in a nitrogen reduction of 50 tons/year by 2021.

To reach Kalmar’s goal of reducing its share of nutrients in accordance with the Baltic Sea Action Plan, 22 tons of nitrogen/ year is left to reduce, 31% of the total.

The distribution of the different actions and the outcome in reduced nitrogen is found in the figure below.

12 Private Sewage Stormwater Kalmar; 2250 Kalmar; 804

Remains; 22029,8

Water Treatment Plant Kalmar; 18000

Water Policy; 0 Mussel Farms; 1100 Sanitary Sewer Soil structual Phosphorus Wetlands; 5248 Overflow; Twoimprovment Step Ditch; 99; 0 traps; 5737,5 244,2 Lime Filter Ditch; 0 Private Project Stävlös Sewage vassar- Nybro; Buffert zones; 0 Surrebäcken; 850,5 15000 Stormwater Nybro; 737

Phosphorous Similar to the situation with Nitrogen, the actions of the upstream municipality, Nybro, are included in the compilation of Kalmar. The joint actions of these municipalities result in a phosphorous reduction of 3 tons/year by 2021. To reach Kalmar’s goal of reducing its share of nutrients in accordance with the Baltic Sea Action Plan 3.7 tons of phosphorous/ year is left to reduce, 55% of the total.

The distribution of the different actions and the outcome in reduced phosphorous is found in the figure below.

13 Private Sewage Kalmar; 350Water Treatment Plant Kalmar; 0 Sanitary Sewer Overflow; 40,59 Stormwater Kalmar; 372 Stormwater Nybro; 341 Private Sewage Nybro; 103,5 Water Policy; 0

Wetlands; 799,8

Project Stävlös Phosphorus traps; vassar- 578 Surrebäcke Two Step Ditch; n; 250 Mussel Farms; 110 11,88

Lime FilterBuffert Ditch zones; ; 9,9 Soil structual 0 improvment; 2,25

Agricultural land stands for the largest nutrient leakages from Kalmar Municipality to the Baltic Sea and therefore is a focus area for action. To succeed with these actions, win-win situations must be found in collaboration with landowners; information, inspiration and collaboration is key. It is also important to show the benefits of the nutrients staying on land and in the ground and look into re-circulation solutions. Another aspect, that is becoming more and more relevant as climate change is heating up this region, is to keep water in the soil. This is good for the reduction of eutrophication, whilst also increasing fresh water reserves and biodiversity.

Another aspect to be considered is sewage water. New techniques and ideas can transform waste into a resource and this is something that needs to be considered in light of the fact that Kalmar is planning to construct a new Waste Water Treatment Plant. In addition this, nutrient load from private sewer systems also needs to be reduced.

3.3 Actions and measures for the period 2017-2021

3.3.1 Clear Coastal Waters

As seen under section 3.2.3 the actions already planned for reducing nitrogen and phosphorous in Kalmar will not achieve the municipality’s aim to do its part in reaching the Baltic Sea Action Plan targets. Listed below are areas where more actions are needed to reach this goal as well as the proposed owners and time plans. For some of these actions, the approximate cost has also been possible to estimate. For more detailed information about the actions, please see Appendix 1.

Re-use nutrients in food production Agricultural land stands for the largest nutrient leakage from Kalmar Municipality to the Baltic Sea and is therefore a focus area for action. The costs stated below are estimates and refer only to the costs for Kalmar Municipality. Other costs might accrue for other stakeholders. Action Main Time Owner of action Cost reduction Help landowners Nitrogen and 2017-2021 Kalmar Human resources increase amount phosphorous Municipality circa 5 mil SEK of actions on their land, beyond Greppa Näringen. Systematize Nitrogen and 2018-2020 Kalmar Human resources Kalmar phosphorous Municipality circa 2 mil SEK. Municipality’s Cost of actions as actions on yet unknown. municipality- owned land. Elongating the Nitrogen and 2018 Kalmar 250 000 SEK channel at Stävlö. phosphorous Municipality and land owner Inform food Phosphorous 2017 Kalmar 100 000 SEK producing Municipality landowners of the possibility to recycle nutrients via re-circulated aquatic systems for fish production Use manure as Phosphorous Ongoing Biogas substrate to businesses, biogas and bio- Kalmar fertilizers Municipality Start a green and 2018 Kalmar blue platform for Municipality food production-

15 and water issues.

Game changers- agricultural land

Action Main Time Owner of action Cost reduction Simplify 2018-2020 Kalmar maintenance by Municipality actions such as tool pools and grazing animal pool Clarify Jordbruksverket None for Kalmar maintenance Municipality responsibility and level nationally Investigate if any 2018 Kalmar wetlands should Municipality be taken over by the municipality

Encourage good will

Action Main Time Owner of action Cost reduction Maintain the NGO 2017-2021 Kalmar Human resources coordinator at the Municipality circa 3 mil SEK. municipality to continue to encourage voluntary work

Start doing the 2017-2021 Kalmar 3 mil SEK actions identified Municipality and by the planning Vattenråden tool used by the NGO Vattenråden

Waste Water Treatment Plant

Action Main Time Owner of action Cost reduction

16 Build Sweden’s Nitrogen 2017-2022 Kalmar Water 1 bil SEK greatest Waste Water Treatment Plant

Investigate new 2017-2022 Kalmar Water None for Kalmar techniques to re- Municipality use water from the Treatment Plant Investigate new 2017-2020 Kalmar areas for re- Municipality circulation of water, for example using storm water for watering football playing fields

Storm water

Action Main Time Owner of action Cost reduction Find new Nitrogen 2017-2021 Kalmar Water None for Kalmar solutions/ Municipality techniques for storm water treatment in densely populated areas

Private sewage

Action Main Time Owner of action Cost reduction Investigate all Phosphorous 2017-2018 Kalmar Human resources private sewages Municipality circa 100 000SEK

17 Rectify all faulty Phosphorous 2017- 2020 Private sewage Circa private sewages owners 100 000SEK in inspection fees

Investigate new Phosphorous 2017- 2021 Kalmar Integrated in daily technology for Municipality work. improving private sewage solutions

3.3.3 Systematic Water Area Management

The main issue with creating a systematic water area management is that today’s system provides no, or only short-lived, incentives to do what is best for the Baltic Sea. The system needs to encourage and pay for the environmental good an action achieves. This calls for changes to the national – and possibly even the international – framework. As we live in a market economy, it should make economic sense to perform an action; either one is paid for doing “good” or one should have to pay for doing “bad”. The former is preferred as a driver for innovation.

Listed below are ideas with potential to become profitable businesses and help reduce phosphorous levels in the Baltic Sea. The list shows the current state of the idea/ project and the idea’s main challenges. If there are added environmental benefits, apart from reducing phosphorous entering the Baltic Sea, they are listed as well. For more detailed information about the actions, please see Appendix 2.

Re-circulation of nutrients from the sea to land For nearly a decade, Kalmar Municipality has tried to mine the “phosphorous mine” that the Baltic Sea represents. Most of the following ideas on this list of projects have been considered by the municipality. In other words, if an actor were interested in taking the next step with any of these ideas, they would not be starting from square one.

Idea Current state Added benefits Main challenge Growing and Ongoing EU-project How the fodder can harvesting mussels for compete in price with use as e.g. chicken low-cost soya fodder fodder that is on the market Producing biogas from Regional project that Opening up shallow Lack of technology for substrate from the sea ended 2013 coastal bays harvesting reed Dredge free removal of Ongoing EU-project Other substances Improve the

18 sediment can also be re- technology that is still claimed such as under construction. metals. Is kinder to the flora and fauna Change legislation so on the sea bed that dredging mass is then dredging. Do not automatically not disturb the labeled hazardous nutrients into waste. mixing with the water. Thatched roof or A reed carpet Opening up shallow Startup money and a carpets from reed company existed in coastal bays, willing entrepreneur Kalmar until the nutrient removal 1980’s. Separate nitrogen and Local biogas producer Opens up for Develop the separation phosphorous from bio- looking at different increased food techniques fertilizer techniques production Involve the private Ad hoc approach. Side effects that we Get all parties sector. Needs to be more cannot yet imagen. involved. systematic.

3.3.4 Active Baltic Sea Citizenship

Paramount to the success of saving the Baltic Sea is the amount of knowledge about the sea that the citizens in Kalmar, or any region around the Baltic Sea, have and their being able to act on what they know. Not only can it change the way people act, but it also can give the municipality or other stakeholders the freedom to act as there is a common understanding of the challenges ahead. The following list shows actions that Kalmar Municipality is doing today. However, the list could include past activities and other parties should add their actions.

Action Time Owner of action Cost Water detectives- 2017 Kalmar Municipality 110 000 SEK teachers and pupils have water lessons outdoors. Greppa näringen- 2010- 2020 Landowners, farmers taking actions Jordbruksverket, on their lands LRF, Länsstyrelsen NGO- Vattenråd and Various NGOs Kustmiljögrupper work locally with water

19 1. Summary of resources and solutions that need to be secured for the period 2017- 2021 When conducting an Action Plan for the Baltic Sea it is important to view actions in light of their cost-effectiveness. Kalmar’s Regional Agency has developed a cost-effectiveness staircase for phosphorous to visualize the most cost-effective actions to reduce eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. The cost-effectiveness is based solely on costs that would be borne by the municipalities, so the cost could be significant for another stakeholder. Nutrition reduction is plotted on the x- axis, so the longer the horizontal length of the step, the greater the reduction of nutrients.

Cost- effective Kalmar region based on phosphorous reduction

As stated in chapter 3.2.2, Kalmar Municipality is further from reaching its aim to fulfill its part of Baltic Sea Action Plan with regard to phosphorous. As the above steps suggest, the most cost- effective actions for Kalmar Municipality are linked to agricultural land – which is in line with the majority of Kalmar Municipality’s actions that are linked to farm land and food production, as seen in chapter 3.3. Costs for carrying out some actions to reach the goal of taking our part of HELCOM’s Baltic Sea Action Plan have been estimated, but these estimates do not capture the full amount. Therefore, we have not calculated a total sum as this would not be what the total cost of reaching our goal is and would be misleading.

20 To work more effectively with farmers and land owners for more actions related to agriculture, Kalmar Municipality pledges:

Ownership of land and maintenance – Today, most actions needed on private land depend on the goodwill of the land owner, who does not get sufficient compensation. For this to change, Kalmar Municipality will investigate new ways to support the landowner. This could be through maintenance contracts or that the municipality buys the land where the action takes place. Changes also need to be made nationally to stabilize the support system for landowners.

Start a green and blue platform where academic research, the private and public sector get involved in food production and water issues.

Involve the private sector - many actions have the potential to be win-win deals that could benefit several sectors. To fuel innovation and to take actions to the next level, the private sector needs to be more involved. For Kalmar Municipality this means a more pro-active business department (Näringslivsenheten).

National changes - The private sector can only do so much to launch cost-effective solutions. To save the Baltic Sea, national regulations need to encourage actions that are good for the Baltic Sea. Kalmar Municipality will put pressure on regional, national, and international agencies for changes in how business work.

Long term solutions - To support the food producers and carry out maintenance on actions, Kalmar Municipality will secure long-term resources in the form of financial assets and personnel resources earmarked for the Baltic Sea.

Build Sweden’s greatest Waste Water Treatment Plant.