MAINSTREAMING

Q8:

2.4.1 Bringing biodiversity into the mainstream

During the reporting period, special attention was paid to mainstreaming and communications. Since 1997, the CBD decisions have been implemented in Finland within the framework of the NBSAP. The drafting and

monitoring of the NBSAPs takes a broad-based approach. The drafting and implementation of the NBSAP is managed by a diverse working group that consists of ministries, expert organisations, NGOs and stakeholders. The potential of the social media and the Internet and open dialogue with citizens were exploited during the reporting period, especially during the NBSAP drafting stage. There has been a communications group working under the broad-based working group since 2007. Its members include communications professionals from the relevant ministries, expert organisations and Finland’s national public service broadcasting company Yle, as well as biodiversity experts. The communications group drafted the communications strategy for biodiversity matters and it drafts the annual action plans. The working group meets regularly to coordinate cooperation and discuss the efficiency and means of communication, among other things.

Finland’s biodiversity strategy’s five objectives focus on the mainstreaming of biodiversity issues across society, the introduction of new participants in the work to advance biodiversity causes, a decision-making process based on robust research data, and Finland's responsibility, as a member of the international community, for global biodiversity. The strategy also outlines policies linking the Saami community’s traditional knowledge to the protection of biodiversity.

Legislation on nature conservation will be developed to respond to the challenges posed by the degradation of biodiversity, while ensuring the full national implementation of EU regulations on nature conservation.

Biodiversity will be taken into account in steering systems governed by other legislation, particularly in the Environmental Protection Act currently under reform and Forest Act, which came into force at the beginning of 2014. In addition, legislative and administrative measures will be revised and developed, while the range of steering instruments will be expanded to rely more on various actors taking responsibility and engaging in voluntary action.

Sustainable management of forests taking into account among other things the forest biodiversity has been developed since the Forest Act came into force in 1997. In addition, forest certification has been essential part of sustainable forest management during the last 15 years promoting biodiversity in all kinds of forests in Finland.

Particular attention is paid to sustainable use of natural resources. Renewable resources should be used in a manner that ensures their genuine renewal and does not deplete them, while non-renewable resources should be used as eco-efficiently as possible. The aim of natural resource economy is to enhance well-being and

competitiveness, improve the security of supply in Finland, and contribute to the implementation of various other policy objectives relating to the use of natural resources. At the same time it creates conditions for loosening the linkage between the use of resources and the economy as well as for a recycling-based economy where economic growth does not increase the exploitation of unrenewable natural resources or environmental loading.

Renewable natural resources can be used to substitute for the use of unrenewable ones.

For example, forest management has followed principles of sustainability for a long time. At first, sustainability was viewed from the perspective that forests regenerate themselves. However, in the Forest Act that entered into force in 1997, biodiversity of forest nature was brought as a goal together with the economical sustainability.

Criteria and indicators, including biological diversity, have become an established instrument for assessing and 100

monitoring sustainable forest management (see State of Finland’s Forests 2011,

http://www.metla.fi/julkaisut/seuranta/pdf/state-of-finlands-forests-2011.pdf). All the aspects of sustainability have been included in the Finnish National Forest Programme (NFP,

http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/metsat/kmo/64ytYHceF/NFP_2015_Turning_the_Finnish_forest_sector_into.p df), where strengthening forest biodiversity, environmental benefits, and welfare implications is one of the three objectives (see Part III). The current NFP is valid until 2015, but a new one will be prepared in 2014.

It is challenging to take biodiversity perspectives into consideration on a broad scale. For instance, methodologies for taking account of indirect and accumulative impacts on nature are undeveloped and this is often disregarded.

The reason is the associated projects are distinct, rendering it impossible to ensure broader-based progress with respect to the same natural area at the landscape level. It is particularly challenging to develop land use planning methods that go beyond the current practice of merely stating conditions towards a more extensive and flexible understanding of biodiversity trends. Correspondingly, in planning, the integration of sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity is a major challenge.

Environmental impact assessment is often solely focused on the occurrence of certain species and habitats in the area under planning. It has not been possible to a sufficient extent to distinguish the structural features of nature, and their natural development, or the significance of observations made on the habitat level, species level and genetic level. On the other hand, biodiversity is highly appreciated by citizens. An interactive approach to impact assessment on the national, regional and local level is necessary in order to include citizens’ views, alongside those of experts, in value judgments of nature. (ref. p. 10 Action Plan 2013-2020)

Ecosystem services based on biodiversity are integral to the well-being of humankind. Finland’s aim is to promote the conservation of biodiversity through international agreements, processes, funding and political influence. This requires active participation in international negotiations on environmental agreements, in which Finland takes account of the position, obligations and special needs of developing countries when implementing the

agreements, which include the IPBES panel.

In addition to the reconciliation of multilateral environmental agreements and processes, there is the objective of developing cooperation on foreign policy measures, particularly tasks that support developing countries.

2.4.2 Implementation of Article 8(j) work programme and the Saami Parliament

The working programme of the Saami Parliament for 2012–2015 includes a principal goal related to the

implementation of the recommendations made by the Article 8(j) working group. In more detail, the programme includes the following objectives:

Protection of traditional Saami knowledge

− The Saami Parliament takes part in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National

Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan effectively and promotes the swift implementation of goals related to Saami people. Sufficient resources are allocated to the Saami Parliament to take part in the implementation of the NBSAP.

− The Saami Parliament takes part effectively in the ratification process and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol.

− The implementation of projects aiming at revitalising traditional knowledge has begun.

− The Saami Parliament pays due regard to the needs of the intergenerational continuation, transmission and development of traditional Saami knowledge in all its activities.

− The Saami Parliament promotes the foundation of a centre of research for traditional Saami knowledge.

Protection of the Saami cultural environment

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− Akwé: Kon guidelines are fully followed in the land use planning of the Saami Homeland.

− The Saami Parliament follows the principles of sustainable development including the mitigation of climate change in all its activities to ensure the vitality of the Sami Homeland as well as the continuation of Saami culture to future generations.

− The Saami Parliament takes active and effective part in the implementation of the action plan for improving the state of threatened habitat types in Finland in the Saami Homeland.

− The Saami Parliament promotes the implementation of the European Landscape Convention and takes active and effective part work related to it.

− The Saami Parliament takes active and effective part in decision making related to climate change including the formulation and implementation of climate change adaption policies.

− The Saami Parliament ensures that the clauses against compromising Saami culture in the Mining and Water Acts are followed in full in practice. Consulting the Saami people living in the impacted area the Saami Parliament takes effective and well-informed part in the impact assessments required by the Mining and Waters Acts. Sufficient resources are allocated to the Saami Parliament to take part in the implementation of the Mining Act.

− The Saami Parliament takes effective part in the drafting of the national sustainable development strategy and Society’s Commitment to Sustainability. The Saami Parliament prepares, with funding from the

government, a sustainable development strategy for the Saami people which will be included in the national strategy and will oblige officials.

2.4.3 Development Policy

Decision-in-Principle of the Government of Finland (2012) on Finland’s Development Policy Programme states that through development policy and cooperation Finland supports protection of environment and biodiversity as well as promotes sustainable use of natural resources. In so doing, the basic preconditions for life are preserved for future generations. Impoverishment of nature has serious economic and social consequences, and the overthrowing of nature’s balance is a threat also to human well-being.

According to the Development Policy Programme Finland promotes sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection inter alia by supporting the conservation of biological diversity locally, nationally and globally as well as ensuring the rights of local communities; emphasising the position and specific needs of developing countries and in particular the position of women in negotiations on environmental agreements and when implementing the decisions; reinforcing indigenous peoples’ right to use natural resources; promoting sustainable management and use of natural resources, such as forests; and developing good environmental legislation and governance.

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