Nature solutions

The primary responsibility of the nature solutions unit is to promote well-being through nature-based solutions and prevent biodiversity loss. 

The following groups are under the Nature solutions unit:

• Ecosystems: group manager Tuija Mattsson
• Use of ecosystem information: group manager Päivi Sirkiä
• Protected areas: group manager Peter Kullberg
• Species: group manager Ulla-Maija Liukko
• Habitat types: group manager Terhi Ryttäri
• Freshwater ecology: group manager Satu Maaria Karjalainen
• Marine ecology: group manager Marko Järvinen

Development managers of the nature solutions unit

• Minna Pekkonen
• Kari-Matti Vuori

More information

The duties of the groups under the Nature solutions unit: 

Understanding ecosystems group  

•  studies and monitors the cycle of carbon, nutrients and other substances in changing environmental conditions,  
• develops model systems, indicators and research infrastructures for evaluating and forecasting changes in the ecosystem and ecosystem-related services  
• plans, coordinates and participates in operation of national and international monitoring programs and regional monitoring networks.  

Use of ecosystem information group  

• studies and produces information associated with biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services, and develops ecosystem accounting in cooperation with other actors,  
• tests and develops new methods and models used for assessing the state of ecosystems and, for example, the effect of climate change on the distribution of species and production of ecosystem services,  
• applies spatial data and new remote mapping materials and develops their usability.  

Protected areas group  

• carries out research and expert work in support of the development of the protected area network by producing spatial data analyses,  
• participates in the coordination and monitoring of the Helmi and METSO programmes, 
• serves as expert support for the Ministry of the Environment in, e.g., implementation of the EU's biodiversity strategy, reporting and implementation of the Habitats Directive, and in cooperation between neighbouring areas,  
• performs research and expert work related to restoration of habitats.  

Species group  

• produces solutions for preventing loss of species, and handles assessment, monitoring, expert and research tasks associated with species,  
• manages reports and assessments that are statutory and which serve decision- making, such as reports required by the EU's Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, and threat evaluation for species,  
• produces information on the ecology of species, trends in the vitality of populations and reasons and for deterioration of populations in regressive species and means of improvement, and develops related data collection and monitoring methods and information management,  
• manages long-term monitoring of pollinators (incl. monitoring of pollinators required by the EU Pollinators Initiative) and takes part in European cooperation on insects monitoring,  
• manages national coordination of care for animals soiled by oil.  

Habitat types group  

• produces solutions for securing the diversity of habitat types and handles assessment, expert and research tasks related to habitat types,  
• manages reports and assessments on the state of habitat types that are statutory and which serve decision-making, such as reports required by the EU Habitats Directive and threat evaluation of habitat types,  
• produces information about the ecology of habitat types and pressure factors affecting habitat types, develops monitoring and means of habitat types for improving the state of habitat types, and promotes the improvement of habitat types materials, habitat types monitoring methods and information management.  

Freshwater ecology group  

• studies, develops and carries out expert work relating to the diversity of inland waters, 
• studies and develops indicator, monitoring and assessment methods for the ecological and hydromorphological state of water systems,  
• studies, develops and performs expert work for restoration of inland waters, related ecosystems and small water bodies, and relating to heavily modified and built water systems.  

Marine ecology group  

• studies the diversity and protection of marine ecology and sustainable use of the sea, 
• coordinates the national Inventory Programme for the Underwater Marine Environment (VELMU),  
• develops and applies methods in mapping and modelling of marine ecology and processing of marine information,  
• manages national and international expert duties associated with the protection and sustainable use of marine ecology,  
• develops multidisciplinary and interactive methods that support the protection and sustainable use of marine areas.