Estonia in Saaremaa focuses on harmonizing land and sea planning at the local level

Estonia is represented in the Baltic Sea2Land project through the Saaremaa pilot case, which focuses on harmonizing land and sea planning at the local level. During the pilot phase, the Saaremaa team worked to establish a supportive framework for integrated coastal land use and marine space planning, considering sustainable blue economy perspectives and community values.

Key activities included stakeholder workshops, participatory GIS mapping, surveys, and interviews, all of which provided crucial insights into land use conflicts and community priorities. One major lesson learned was that coastal accessibility is a complex issue requiring a careful balance between private land ownership, public access, environmental protection, and community needs.

In this pilot, the Sea2Land Navigator was used for situation scoping, sectoral mapping, and stakeholder analysis, helping to streamline data collection and identify accessibility challenges. However, the team found that some Navigator tools were too complex for local staff. This valuable feedback will help developers refine and improve the tool for future use. Despite these challenges, integrating existing municipal tools with the Navigator enhanced planning and decision-making processes.

For Saaremaa, the work does not end with the pilot phase. The results will be now incorporated into the island’s new comprehensive plan, ensuring that coastal accessibility principles are formally adopted. Public participatory planning efforts will also continue, reinforcing community involvement in shaping Saaremaa’s coastal future.

Autor: Anu Printsmann, picture taken from a stakeholder seminar workshop

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