Best idea for biodiversity in Finland from 550-year-old City of Espoo to protect

The best action was found in Finland’s second Countdown2010 competition seeking for new solutions to promote the vitality of nature and human welfare. The competition was arranged by the IUCN National Committee of Finland.

Minister Paula Lehtomäki thanked Espoo for acting as strong pioneer in the work for biodiversity and as a good example for other municipalities and decision makers. “If a city in the densely-populated Southern Finland can do this, it surely is an inspiration for other municipalities in Finland to strive for similar solutions”, says Lehtomäki. “The protection decision is an innovative and concrete way of combining decision making, human needs and environmental issues”.

The competition jury, the IUCN National Committee of Finland says that the decision of Espoo to protect a total of 550 hectares to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the City is significant and exemplary as concerns the safeguarding of biodiversity in the densely-populated metropolitan area. The jury regards the idea of combining the anniversary and the decision to protect nature excellent.

The jury emphasises the importance of the decision from the viewpoint of protecting forests in Southern Finland where the share of protected areas is lower than in other parts of the country. With this decision to protect a vast area, Espoo is a strong pioneer in municipal nature conservation and a good example for other municipalities and their decision makers. This anniversary decision leaves an immeasurable, priceless and everlasting legacy for future generations that can be enjoyed already by the present generation.

A few of the areas to be protected have already been designated and the rest will be chosen in 2009. The area of 550 ha to be protected covers three per cent of the area of Espoo. The IUCN National Committee of Finland will follow the realisation of the protection decision.

The Countdown2010 Initiative seeks to find ideas to safeguard biodiversity

The Countdown2010 Initiative started by IUCN and the European Union aims at halting or considerably slowing down the loss of biodiversity. The initiative brings to public attention new means to reach this goal. Safeguarding natural diversity is paramount for human welfare and livelihoods.

The Countdown competition is arranged in Finland every two years. The first competion arranged during Finland’s EU Presidency in the autumn of 2006. The successful natural landscaping of a former dump and landfill site, with its ingenious and unique reuse of waste soil, its introduction of wholly domestic species and the environmental education of children and youth at the site, singled out the Crafts Workshop of the Helsinki City Public Works Department's Environmental Production branch as the clear winner of the 2006 Countdown competition.

IUCN National Committee of Finland comprises IUCN member organisations: the government, Hunters’ Central Organisation, WWF Finland, the Finnish Society for Nature and Environment (Natur och miljö) and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. The Government of Finland is represented by the Ministry of the Environment together with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Finnish Environment Institute and Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services.

Further information:

Ms. Marina von Weissenberg, Senior Adviser, Chair of IUCN National Committee of Finland, IUCN Regional Councillor, tel. +358 50 307 0806, [email protected] [marina.vonweissenberg]