Driving Blue Economy Solutions: Alina Strengthens Science-Based Ocean Management and Investment Expertise

The Protecting Marine Biodiversity for Nature and Humans Autum School brought together 20 participants from across Europe in Seville Spain, from 8 – 10 October 2025, to explore how marine biodiversity supports ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Organised as part of the MARBEFES Project (Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning leading to Ecosystem Services). The training was designed to deepen understanding of how biodiversity links to ecosystem functioning, and how these relationships can be translated into practical tools and decisions for sustainable blue economy, investment, policy and marine management.

Among the selected participants was Alina from A’Pelago, who attended the Autumn School during her fall holiday. Her participation reflects her ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of science-based approaches to ocean sustainability. As Alina continues to support coastal and marine projects, blue economy ventures and investors both globally and locally, exposure to the latest tools for ecological assessment, socio-economic valuation, and decision-making is essential for strengthening private sector impact and guiding business and investor clients toward nature-positive outcomes.

Connecting Biodiversity to Ecosystem Functioning and blue economy desicions

The Autumn School focused on understanding the links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and on translating this knowledge into practical tools for business, investors, decision-makers and policy developers. Training modules covered a wide range of topics, including:

• Analyzing ecological structure and marine ecosystem functioning
• Assessing marine biodiversity risks and ecosystem services
• Integrating socio-cultural and economic values into marine planning, blue economy and blue investments
• Decision Support Systems (DSS) to guide effective management strategies
• Artificial Intelligence for Environment & Sustainability (ARIES)

Practical Applications in an International Team

Alina collaborated with an international group on a final case study focused on a petrochemical complex in an enclosed estuary. Using the frameworks and tools introduced during the program, the team examined both environmental trade-offs and socio-economic considerations. 

The group concluded that for long-term sustainability, management must shift from production-driven approaches to ecosystem-informed strategies, balancing economic benefits with ecological resilience and community values. 

Driving Marine Nature-Positive Solutions and Finance

This fall, Alina further strengthened her expertise by participating in two other advanced training programs:

Turku University of Applied Sciences – Water Management Fundamentals

This 4-week course focused on analyzing aquatic ecosystems, providing participants with skills to understand indicators of coastal water quality, hydrology and hydrodynamics, eutrophication, climate change impacts, biodiversity, and spatiotemporal environmental variability. Participants also learned to identify environmental pressures, assess loading and carrying capacity, and implement targeted measures while monitoring their effectiveness.

UNDP – Biodiversity Finance Training: Designing and Implementing Finance Plans for Nature

During this 6-week course Alina enhanced her ability to analyze, design, catalyze and implement biodiversity finance solutions, aligning national strategies with practical funding approaches to support marine biodiversity conservation.

For Alina and the team at A’Pelago, these trainings strengthened capacity to guide businesses, investors, and other decision-makers toward nature-positive, ecosystem-informed outcomes, demonstrating the power of science, innovation, and cross-border collaboration in safeguarding our oceans.

Want to learn more about nature-positive marine strategies and finance

Reach out to Alina Sippolainen alina@apelago.fi