Case Study A: Merimetsa-Stroomi

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Area	Merimetsa/Stroomi
Place	Tallinn
Country	Estonia
Topics	please enter the main coast-related topics here
Author(s)	Please enter your name(s)- optional

Rationale

Merimetsa/Stroomi is an area of the north Tallinn district characterized by a biodiversity to preserve and different kinds of landscape. From the sea to the city, there are Stroomi sandy beach, a park with a marshy area and an urban forest where there is a protected area. Each of them is intended for different uses: there is a bathing beach, play areas for children, grilling areas in the park and path through the woods in the forest. However, many natural barriers make difficult to pass through the different areas. The main challenges are making new connections to integrate the different activities of this area and promoting tourism, but in the same time preserving rich ecosystem, biodiversity and making interventions on the marshy area, in order to avoid further damage in the zone.

Location and scope

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A Landscape System Analysis

A.1 Landscape layers and their system context

Geomorphology, landscape units and coastal typology

• Description of evolution, status quo and driving forces, is the coastal typology changing? Why is that? (approx 200 signs)
• add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

• Yourcase landscapeunits1.jpg

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• Yourcase landscapeunits2.jpg

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Land use

• settlements, infrastructure, agriculture, resource extraction, natural areas, energy production...
• description of evolution, status quo and driving forces, is the land use likely to change? Why is that? (approx 200 signs)
• add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

• Yourcase landuse1.jpg

  add a caption

• Yourcase landscapeunits2.jpg

  add a caption

• Yourcase landscapeunit3.jpg

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Green/blue infrastructure

The major potential elements of a green/blue infrastructure network are:

• the sea with the costal shore (Stroomi beach & park)
• the Stroomi park with the forest

Change/ disappear? Why?:

The Stroomi beach is a very official place and one of the most popular beaches around Tallin. The water is very flat, though the water is still suitable for swimming.

There are:

• several playgrounds,
• a big trampoline,
• ball playground,
• a surf school/ shop,
• changing cabins,
• an outdoor fitness area,
• 2 outdoor cafes and ice cream sale,
• an official nature trail.

Besides you can rent sun loungers and pedal cars. In the swimming season there is a coast guard. The Stroomi Park is a very popular barbecue and picnic area.

• The accessability could be improved, but a basic construct is available: there is wheelchair access, public transport ((busline 3, 40, and 48) and access by car (parking area) from each side oft the area. In any case, the area is easily accessible for many people and is highly frequented, especially during the summertime.

In the future it will be a challenge to find balance between preservation of nature & human activity at Merimetsa-Stroomi.

• Last year during the summer there were difficulties with cyanobacteria at the Stroomi beach. Caused of the climate change/ ocean change they covered huge areas on the sea with blue-green foam. It is recommended not to swim, because the cyanobacteria releases toxins. These can irritate skin and eyes or cause nausea.

• 

  green & blue infrastructure & their accessability

Actors and stakeholders

• Merimetsa/Stroomi coastal area is part of Tallinn municipality, which is divided into 8 districts. Merimetsa/Stroomi belonging to Põhja-Tallinn district. Each district has its own government that fulfills the functions assigned to them by Tallinn legislation and statutes. The changes in the landscape are mostly driven by them. The 48 hectares big nature reserve on the project area is ruled by the Ministry of Environment and owned by the State Forest Management Centre (RMK). The surrounding area has a lot of apartments, so for a lot of people it’s the nearest green space available. There are a lot of local people whose life quality the surrounding area affects a lot. Right now local people are the ones that are the most affected by the changes, but they have the least power to actually make them. One way for local people to have a more powerful voice in the future is that they could collaborate with a non-profit organisation called Linnalabor who would help them improve urban space according to their wishes.

• 

  Power map of Merimetsa/Stroomi coastal area showing different actors/stakeholders and their power/affection.

Sacred spaces and heritage

• Which places/elements hold cultural value and to whom?
• You may add a map and some images, please also explain in your caption why these elements are valuable

• Your case sacredspace1.jpg

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• Your case sacredspace2.jpg

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• Your case sacredspace3.jpg

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Visual appearance and landscape narrative

• Which elements are essential for the landscape character?
• Has the landscape been painted or otherwise depicted, when and whom? Which elements are essential?
• Which narratives exist? Who has written about this landscape or depicted it in some way?
• You can add text and images

• Your case character1.jpg

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• Your case character2.jpg

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• Your case character3.jpg

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A.2 Summary of you landscape system analysis and your development Targets

In this area, the growing urbanization because of the population increase is a driving force. Nevertheless, here there are also pressures as climate change and swampy soil that cause land subsidence. In this zone, there is the Merimetsa protected area: it is very important for people living in the area around it, offering opportunities for picking mushrooms and berries and practicing recreational sports. The area is popular with athletes, dog owners and riders. It is also possible to promote nature education in the protected area and encourage research. For these reasons, many different associations are interested to preserve it: they are a driving force. The visit load of the protected area is high and reached a critical tolerance limit in certain areas. Although the protected area has lighted paths and it is surrounded on three sides by pedestrian light traffic routes, visitors have also created a number of smaller tracks. This has damaged the soil, destroyed vegetation and reduced biodiversity. Larger damage is in the northern corner and in the central part of the protected area, where are illuminated trails, barbecue sites and exercise grounds (volleyball court, so-called outdoor gyms, children's climbing wall, etc.). In open areas, illegal campfire sites were also found, which might increase the risk of fire during the dry season. For all these reasons, the insufficiency of infrastructures and the unsupervised activities are pressures. There are the sandy beach, and children's playgrounds near the protected area that attract lot of people in beautiful weather. In fact, the tourism is another driving force of this area. However, it has a direct impact on forest communities as the littering increases, also because of the lack of accommodating structures and no supervision of these activities. There are same possible responses to this status quo in order to reduce the pressures and the impacts. First, it is important to realize interventions on swampy zone, and then to plan all area: built quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure as new connections between the different parts to integrate the several activities. In this way, provide access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. In fact, the area needs preserve its multifunctionality and improve tourism through the building of accommodation sustainable structures and green infrastructures. Moreover, develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The planning should ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, in particular the forest and wetlands; promote the implementation of sustainable management of forest, and restore it where is degraded.

Sustainable Development Goals at risk

• Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure.

Basic infrastructure like roads, information and communication technologies, electrical power and water remains scarce. This goal is at risk in this area because there are few infrastructures: there are not many throw in the forest; a lot of them realized without an urban plan or a project by the government.

• Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health. Recently the popularity of this area raised, this zone attracts more local people and tourists but it causes loss of natural heritage because of insufficient infrastructures.

• Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption.

Humankind is polluting water in sea faster than nature can recycle and purify and excessive use of water contributes to the global water stress. In this area, this goal is at risk because the sandy beach attractes many tourists and local people that cause pollution with their waste.

• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by almost 50 per cent since 1990. From 1880 to 2012, average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. Oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished and sea level has risen. This goal is at risk in this area because the growing urbanization and the realization of possible future unsustainable infrastructures will increase in global average temperature.

• Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

Forests cover 30.7 per cent of the Earth’s surface and, in addition to providing food security and shelter, they are key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity. In the urban forest there is the Merimetsa protected area, where are illegal campfires and grilled zones that increase the risk of fire and deforestation. Moreover, the visiting pressure has damaged the soil and destroyed vegetation.

Hypothesis

Both the absent interventions on the marshy area, and the increase of uncontrolled activities, such as those of the Ippodrom, sports and bathing, could damage the natural zone of Merimetsa. It could happen not only because of them but also because of the growth of the city around the forest, which is not all included in the protected area.

• active plans/plans in activation phase :Merimetsa protected area management plan 2018-2027 ,

Do you have a critical perspective on that?

• 

  DPSI(R) model that summrizes the landscape system analysis. This model identifies the driving forces, pressures, state and impact of Merimetsa/Stroomi area and the possible responces.

• 

  Graphic representation of future impacts on the area if it will not planned

A.3 Theory reflection

• Reflect on at least three international policy documents in relation to their local landscape case
• choose one international, one European and one national document
• You can choose references from our reading list
• Scope: 250 words

A.4 References

• https://www.tallinn.ee/est/geoportaal/Rakendused-2
• https://register.metsad.ee/#/
• https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/413042017008
• http://register.keskkonnainfo.ee/envreg/main?reg_kood=KLO5000024&mount=view#HTTPG3uSnPzNZWYDzqgNL2BtuBNxZ6BbUX
• https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
• Merimetsa kaitseala kaitsekorralduskava 2018-2027
• http://kunilaart.ee/en/artist/paul-burman/
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_burman_Stroomi.jpg
• https://www.alamyimages.fr/photo-image-environs-de-tallinn-kaart-kava-lestonie-le-reval-ancienne-carte-antique-1912-baedeker-139060518.html
• "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallinn"

Phase B: Landscape Evaluation and Assessment

B.1 Assessment Strategy

• Based on the hypothesis derived from your previous landscape systems analysis you are now asked to define the goals for assessing the landscape. Your assessment is the basis for evaluating the landscape status.
• Which elements and phenomena need to be mapped, why and how?
• This a text contribution, max 250 words

B.2 Mapping

• As defined by your assessment strategy you conduct the mapping and present your findings here
• As a minimum, at least three different themes need to be mapped, you may choose more if needed

• Your case your assessment mapping themel.jpg

  briefly explain the findings of your mapping

• Your case your assessment mapping theme2.jpg

  briefly explain the findings of your mapping

• Your case your assessment mapping theme3.jpg

  briefly explain the findings of your mapping

B.3 Problem definition and priority setting

• Give a summary of the major findings of your mapping process, what are the problems/potentials identified?
• Draw a problems/potentials map
• Set priorities for the most relevant issues

• Your case problems potentials map.jpg

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B.4 Theory reflection

• Please reflect the assessment and evaluation methods used based on at least three readings
• Did you encounter limitations'
• 200 words test contribution

B.5 References

• give a full list of the references you have used for this section

Phase C – Strategy and Master Plan

C.1 Goal Setting

• Define strategic planning objectives based on the evaluation findings
• Link back to your original targets from section one and the Development Goals
• 150 words text contribution

C.2 Spatial Strategy and Transect

• translate your strategic goals into a vision
• develop a spatial translation of your vision
• exemplify your vision in the form of a transect with concrete interventions
• add map(s) and visualizations

• Your case spatial translaton vision.jpg

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• Your case transect.jpg

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• Your case transect detail1.jpg

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• Your case transect detail2.jpg

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C.3 From Theory of Change to Implementation

• For implementing your vision: Which partnerships are needed? Which governance model is required?
• Who needs to act and how? Draw and explain a change/process model/timeline
• Which resources are needed? On which assets can you build?
• add 150 words text and visuals

• Your case spatial your governance model.jpg

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• Your case spatial your process model.jpg

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C.4 References

• give a full list of the references you have used for this section

D. Process Reflection

• Reflect in your intercultural and interdisciplinary team on the outcomes of your study
• Which limitations were you facing?
• What have you learnt from each other?
• What would you do differently next time?
• You can also use diagrams/visuals
• 250 words text

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