The Baltic Sea is one of the five most polluted seas in the world. As part of an environmental campaign, a team of Lithuanian scientists, activists, and volunteers plans to trek almost 5,500 kilometres to raise public awareness of the Baltic Sea's "critical state".
The 250-day hike around the Baltic Sea will begin on 11 March, covering a distance of 5469 km. The goal of the hike (the project) is to urge national governments, organisations, and individuals to take action to protect the sea and restore marine ecosystems. The route is planned to pass through eight countries to encourage actions that "must be taken to preserve and restore Baltic Sea ecosystems".
Pollution in the Baltic Sea has been driven by business, the agricultural sector, and individual actions alike. In recent decades, efforts to clean up the Baltic Sea and prevent overfishing have intensified, made possible by initiatives from the EU and countries bordering the sea. However, the expedition participants also emphasise the importance of public efforts to raise awareness of the problems facing the Baltic Sea.
How will the hike promote nature conservation?
During the expedition, educational events open to the public, such as living laboratories, discussions, lectures, and meetings, will be organised in collaboration with local organisations and scientists. Everyone is invited to join the hike throughout its duration; it is possible to participate in the entire trek, several stages, or even just for a single day.
The goal of the hike is to inform the public about the state of aquatic ecosystems, promote understanding of the human impact on nature, and introduce ways to halt the decline in marine biodiversity.
"We want the 'Save the Baltic Sea!' expedition to bring people closer to the sea," explains expedition leader Giedrius Bučas (Giedrius Bučas), to promote a culture of marine conservation, educate the public about the impact of human activities on the sea, and inspire more environmentally friendly habits. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help finance the planned activities and to support the expedition participants and marine conservation measures after the expedition.
G. Bučas also mentions the fundraising as an opportunity to assess "how important this issue is to people". "The hike is neither a business nor an EU project, but my personal idea, in which I fully believe and for which I am sparing no personal funds," he adds. "Many have already placed their trust in this project, and now we need even more supporters and people who believe in it and want to invest in a cleaner sea. Only by coming together can we succeed."