Help Find Finland’s Best Biodiversity Input 2015–2016
Ministry of the Environment and IUCN National Committee of Finland News Release
The best input for halting the loss of biodiversity is being looked for again in Finland. The National Committee of Finland of IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature needs your help in finding an individual, organization or business that has been successful in safeguarding nature’s vitality and functioning ecosystem services in 2015 and 2016 in Finland. Send your proposal on 8 December at the latest!
This time we would like to find an input that that, for example, as a volunteer campaign has inspired various groups of people – children, youngsters, senior citizens, unemployed and new Finnish citizens – to understand the importance of nature conservation, and thus to help protect threatened species or ecosystems. This theme is linked to the IUCN initiative Inspiring a New Generation that aims at helping people of all ages to find a connection to nature.
The best biodiversity input can be, for example, practical nature conservation, communication, environmental education, research or business. It is an input or project that has been finished in 2015–2016. The best biodiversity input will meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society
- Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use
- Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity
- Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services
- Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building
The winner will be announced by Agriculture and Environment Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen in Helsinki in early February 2017. This announcement is one of the events of the official Nature Days 2017 project of centenary of Finland’s independence (Finland 100).
Entries for the competition should be made on 8 December at the latest by using the Webropol tool.
The best biodiversity input is sought for the sixth time
The best input for Finnish biodiversity is now sought for the sixth time. The winners of the competition include:
- 2014: the voluntary work to safeguard the nesting of Saimaa Ringed Seal by covering the nests with artificial snow
- 2012: three journalists that promote the communication on biological diversity in their work
- 2010: the way of the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation to acquire old-growth forests and guarantee them permanent conservation status
- 2008: the decision of Espoo City Council to protect 550 hectares of land to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the City
- 2006: Helsinki City Public Works Department’s Crafts Workshop for landscaping the Vuosaari dump and landfill site in an innovative way and using native plants species
The form for submitting your proposal for best biodiversity input (in Finnish or in Swedish)
If you wish to send attachments, please send them to liisa.nikula (at) metsa.fi marking clearly to which proposal they are related to.
The hashtag of the competition in social media
- #parasluontoteko
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature is the oldest and largest global environmental organisation and network. The Finnish government represented by the Ministry of the Environment, and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, WWF Finland, the Finnish Society for Nature and Environment (Natur och Miljö), the Finnish Wildlife Agency, BirdLife Finland and the Helsinki Zoo are Finnish IUCN member organisations.
Additional information online:
- IUCN National Committee of Finland (ym.fi)
- IUCN National Committee of Finland on Facebook
- IUCN National Committee of Finland on Twitter
Additional information:
- Senior Environmental Adviser Matti Nummelin, IUCN National Committee of Finland Chair, tel.int. +358 40 503 8442, [email protected]
- Senior Advisor Liisa Nikula, IUCN National Committee of Finland Secretariat, tel.int. +358 40 528 8467, [email protected]
- Ministerial Adviser Marina von Weissenberg, IUCN National Committee of Finland Member, tel.int. +358 50 307 0806, [email protected]