Links of Ecosystem Services provided in the Lithuanian Coastal Zone with the Regional Development Guidelines of the EU Programme and the Lithuanian Strategy

Abstract

The aim of the ECOSERVE project “Future Ecosystem Services of the Lithuanian Coastal Zone in the Context of the Global Changes” is to highlight the links between the strategic priorities and directions of ecosystem services provided in t he Lithuanian coast al zone and regional development with regard to sustainable development. In order to answer the following problematic questions, the research was conducted: How do the ecosystem services provided in the Lithuanian coastal zone influence preparation of pro gramme provisions and strategic priorities of territorial expansion? What impact do the programme provisions and strategic priorities of territorial expansion have on development of ecosystem services provided in the Lithuanian coastal zone? What is the li nk between the programme and strategic guidelines of territorial expansion and development of ecosystem services provided in the Lithuanian coastal zone with regard to sustainable development? How do the global changes determine the link between the progra mme and strategic guidelines of territorial expansion and development of ecosystem services provided in the Lithuanian coastal zone? In order to answer these questions, the programme and strategic documents of regional development of the EU and Lithuania w ere analyzed and it was determined what EU programme and national documents and priorities and goals defined therein are related to the ecosystem services of provision, regulation and culture. Secondly, it was highlighted what tools provided in the documen ts of strategic regional development are responding to the expansion of services provided in the Lithuanian coastal zone. This research is funded by the European Social Fund according to the activity ‘Improvement of researchers’ qualification by implement ing world - class R&D projects’ o f Measure No. 09.3.3 - LMT - K - 712.