Finland’s national report on biodiversity: We are heading in right direction but faster action is needed to reach biodiversity targets
Finland’s new national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity shows that the work to halt biodiversity loss is heading in the right direction. Progress has been made in almost all sectors, but measures need to be upscaled in the protection, restoration and management of nature. Besides this, actions that cause biodiversity loss must be avoided or mitigated. Awareness of the importance of biodiversity has grown and many operators in the business and financing sectors and civil society organisations have strengthened their work on biodiversity.
Finland’s 7th report on biodiversity contains information on how Finland has implemented the 23 objectives of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The report describes the actions taken to promote nature conservation, the sustainable use of nature and access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits derived from biodiversity.
According to the report, Finland has continued to expand the network of protected areas and to implement restoration measures and targeted protection of species. Based on the report, protected areas account for 13 per cent of Finland’s surface area. The global target is that, by 2030, protected areas and other areas that support biodiversity would cover at least 30 per cent of the Earth’s surface area.
According to the report, the actions need to be upscaled especially outside the protected areas to halt biodiversity loss and turn the trend into recovery. The resources targeted to nature actions are still insufficient relative to the targets. A key focus should be on economic steering instruments and positive incentives. In Finland the development of financing related to nature values is progressing fast. This is based on the idea that ecosystem services produced by nature – such as clean air, water resources and biodiversity – have an economic value.
“Halting biodiversity loss requires commitment from society as a whole. We need new funding solutions and concrete actions by different actors in society. I am very happy that Finland, among the first countries in the world, has included biodiversity commitments of companies, financial institutions and NGOs in its national report. The commitments show that taking care of biodiversity is now even more strongly incorporated into the operators’ strategies and practices,” Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala says.
According to the report, the awareness of the importance of biodiversity has increased considerably in recent years. Research institutes, educational institutions, civil society organisations and municipalities and cities, for example, have made long-term efforts to cherish biodiversity and enhance the understanding related to it.
The indicators of the national report were compiled in broad-based cooperation with research institutes and expert organisations.
“Pressures on nature have to some extent been reduced as we have as a rule stopped taking certain measures that are the most harmful, such as the drainage of mires. However, the use of natural resources continues at a high level and comprehensively positive development that is an absolute necessity to reach biodiversity targets has not been achieved. Nature restoration measures should increase manifold from the present to put biodiversity on a path to recovery. The progress of climate change is inevitable, which makes it even more important to improve the state of biodiversity,” Researcher Ari-Pekka Auvinen from the Finnish Environment Institute says.
National report provides for first time new information on genetic heritage of species and long-term establishment rate of invasive alien species
Biodiversity means the diversity of life, which comprises the entire spectrum of species, their genetic heritage and their habitats. For the first time, the national report contains information on the genetic diversity concerning the heritage of species. The assessment covers 65 species and it lays an important foundation for monitoring in future. Genetic diversity is the foundation of nature’s adaptive capacity, and its systematic assessment is an important step forward both nationally and internationally.
In Finland the calculation of the establishment rate of invasive alien species dates back as far as 1850.
“Our monitoring data is excellent. We have strong expertise especially on the development of long-term monitoring, which is why our report is exceptionally comprehensive. High-quality information is needed to make timely and effective decisions for the benefit of nature. Finland’s long-term work on developing the monitoring and reporting is well recognised in international contexts as well,” says Marina von Weissenberg, Senior Ministerial Adviser and coordinator of the work on the national report.
The national report also discusses other factors affecting biodiversity, including the use of natural resources, consumption, education, ecological footprint, positive incentives and harmful subsidies. The report includes a stronger analysis of ecosystem services than before that combines the state of biodiversity, human wellbeing and health, and economic impacts. The monitoring of equality and gender impacts has also been utilised in the process. In addition, the report contains information on the traditional knowledge and occupations of the Sámi people.
Inquiries:
Marina von Weissenberg, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of the Environment, [email protected], tel. +358 295 250 321
Minna Pekkonen, Senior Researcher, Development Manager, Finnish Environment Institute,
[email protected], tel. +358 295 251 779