Coalition Clean Baltic
Think Human Fund
Mission & History
Established in 1990 in Helsinki, CCB is an international network of environmental NGOs from 11 Baltic Sea countries and currently coordinated from its secretariat in Sweden. It was created to strengthen civil society collaboration and influence environmental policy at both national and regional levels. Over the years, it has grown to include 28 member organizations, supporting biodiversity conservation, marine protection, and sustainable development while building the capacity of environmental groups across the region.
Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) aims to protect and improve the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region for present and future generations. It promotes sustainable solutions through advocacy, policy engagement, environmental education, and grassroots participation across countries.
Country Information
The Baltic Sea region includes countries with extensive coastlines and significant coastal populations that depend on fragile dune and marine ecosystems. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Sweden all face growing environmental pressures on coastal habitats due to tourism, climate change, and limited ecosystem resilience.
Latvia (500 km coastline) and Lithuania (90 km) experience threats such as dune overgrowth and coastal erosion, while Estonia, with nearly 3,800 km of coastline, faces fragmentation and limited data on grey dune habitats.
Sweden, possessing one of the longest Baltic coastlines, participates from a network perspective – focusing on regional coordination, expert inputs, and scaling up conservation strategies rather than localized dune restoration.
Across the region, these shared pressures highlight the need for improved monitoring, conservation, and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems.
The Need
There is a growing need to protect and restore grey dune ecosystems along the southern Baltic Sea, where climate change, tourism pressure, and habitat degradation are weakening natural coastal defenses. As dunes deteriorate, coastal communities face increased risks from storm surges, erosion, and sea level rise, while local economies and biodiversity are also threatened.
Strengthening restoration, monitoring, and community engagement is essential to preserve these natural barriers, enhance climate resilience, and support sustainable coastal livelihoods.
The Project We Fund
The project strengthens climate resilience along the Baltic coast by restoring grey dune ecosystems through seven coordinated actions in Latvia and Estonia. It combines hands-on restoration (removing invasive species, installing signage, and closing illegal access points), community clean-ups, and citizen-led monitoring with educational initiatives and youth engagement. The project also promotes sustainable and inclusive coastal access through Nature Accessible Certification, while expanding pilot activities in Estonia. Awareness is further reinforced through a documentary and an illustrated brochure, helping communities better understand dunes as natural climate protection systems.
Volunteer game-changers and changemakers can take part in dune restoration activities, coastal clean-ups, and community engagement initiatives, as well as support educational and capacity-building efforts—contributing directly to ecosystem recovery and stronger, more resilient coastal communities.
The Result
The project’s expected results focus on achieving measurable environmental and social impact through a results-based management approach. By engaging around 300 direct beneficiaries—including local residents, youth, volunteers, and partners—it aims to build practical skills, strengthen community participation, and improve access to coastal areas.
Impact is monitored through multiple levels, combining community feedback, internal evaluation, and external audits to ensure accountability and long-term sustainability. Overall, the project seeks to deliver lasting improvements in ecosystem health, community engagement, and climate resilience.
