National target mapping

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 1: Public and private funding available for the protection and promotion of biodiversity is sufficient to achieve Finland's national and international commitments. (target year: 2030) This is an action-oriented target . In accordance with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Finland must draw up a financing plan for implementing the national strategy and action plan and ensuring funding. There is a clear need to develop and increase economic policy instruments. The cost-effective use of public funds requires that biodiversity and nature impacts are taken into account consistently in policy measures and in the allocation of funding across administrative sectors. The implementation of national ecosystem accounts and statistics provide support for this. The goal of the strategy cannot be achieved only through public finances. Operating models must therefore be identified and implemented between the public, private and third sectors so that funding increases from all sources. In particular, new, innovative means must be found for obtaining significantly more funding from private sources to secure ecosystem services and natural capital. Public administration must give a clear view of a nature-positive Finland and promote the creation of ecological compensation markets and natural value markets. There is a strong legislative basis for developing the natural value market in Finland, and the provisions of the Act ensure that the natural values produced are genuinely additional, permanent and transparent, i.e. respond to the challenges identified in international research. A natural value market that may be developed should be based on the calculation rules of the current legislation, official verification and ensuring its permanence, rather than creating competing systems for producing natural values that could blur the reliability of the produced natural values. A market system for natural values would enable market-based funding for restoration activities while at the same time promoting the production of natural values related to voluntary ecological compensation under the nature Conservation Act, as there would probably be more demand for natural values.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 13: The impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services have been identified in private sector decision-making, and the private sector develops and implements measures to strengthen biodiversity. (target year: 2030) The measurement of the nature impacts and risks of companies should be developed and the introduction of methods expanded. It is also important to identify new business opportunities for measures to strengthen biodiversity. The state must encourage companies in these activities by promoting joint nature projects between the state and business life, by increasing dialogue between the public administration, business life and the scientific Community, and by ensuring sufficient ecological competence for companies through training. It is important to strengthen network cooperation in developing the pricing of biodiversity and ecosystem services and to increase expertise in identifying nature impacts in companies' activities and value chains. The participation of the scientific Community is needed in the development of methods and in the knowledge base. There is a clear need to develop and increase economic policy instruments. Cooperation between private sector actors, municipalities, regions and the state is an important way of creating new operating models for halting biodiversity loss, for example for the wider use of voluntary ecological compensation. Voluntary commitments and roadmaps for the promotion of biodiversity by business operators and different sectors are an important step in resource allocation, increasing export and innovation policy and reporting on responsibility, and they should be encouraged and their monitoring and effectiveness supported.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 14: The use of genetic resources is sustainable, the access ensured, and the benefits arising from their utilization are shared in a fair and equitable manner and used for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Administrative and scientific expertise and opportunities related to biotechnology, new genomic techniques and genetically modified organisms will be maintained and improved, taking into account the expertise in risk assessment. (target year: 2030) This is a root-cause oriented target . Use of genetic resources takes place through traditional processing and product development as well as biotechnology and digital sequence data (DSI). The regulation of biotechnology is based on the binding obligations of the Convention on Biological diversity and the Cartagena Protocol. New genomic technologies and rapid development in the sector require diverse expertise and broad-based impact assessment. It is important to ensure the protection and sustainable use of genetic diversity in accordance with the National Genetic Resources Programme for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and to instruct users of genetic resources to comply with genetic resources regulations. At the same time, the safe use of biotechnology must be ensured in order to maintain a high level of protection for the environment and humans and animals in accordance with national and international legislation and agreements. New technologies require risk assessment and also broad-based consideration of opportunities for biodiversity.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 15: Multidisciplinary research on biodiversity and monitoring has been expanded and organised so that they provide a comprehensive and reliable picture of the state and development of Finnish nature, including genetic diversity, and facilitate implementing actions cost-effectively. (target year: 2035) This is a root-caused oriented target . In order to achieve the goal of the National Biodiversity Strategy cost-effectively, more strategic steering at the national level and safeguarding existing monitoring and expanding the coverage of monitoring are also required. Interoperability, availability and usability of data should also be improved and new monitoring methods developed. The need for high-quality basic research on biodiversity is urgent. In addition, research investments must be directed at broad interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary cooperation in order to identify societal solutions that promote the recovery of nature and to understand the mechanisms of the sustainability transition. More research is needed on the promotion of changes in behaviour and consumption and civic activity as well as on the interrelationships between different policy measures. It is also important to bring together natural sciences that explore research and nature in the economy and elsewhere in society in order to increase understanding of new instruments such as ecological compensation. In addition to scientific knowledge, the knowledge base on biodiversity must include, for example, traditional Sámi knowledge and other local information resources.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 16: Biodiversity loss and solutions to halt it play a key role in society, public discussion and political decision-making. Furthermore, they are considered as important societal goals, the active promotion of which creates well-being. (target year: 2035) This is a root-cause oriented target. Investments must be made in communication on biodiversity. Communication and social debate that show a common direction and feed into concrete actions are important factors in bringing biodiversity into a more central position in society and decision-making. At best, the preservation of biodiversity can give meaning and increase well-being. Communications must create hope and activities and be tailored to different target groups. Making choices that support nature-positive attitudes must be made easier for actors to understand. Communications aimed at citizens must encourage activities especially in their own immediate surroundings and highlight practical ways of working in everyday environments, working life, hobbies, consumers and societal actors. Decision-makers' knowledge of the extent and linkage of the problem must be increased.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 17:  The Finnish biodiversity knowledge and appreciation of nature has improved. (target year: 2030) This is a root-cause related target. The nature know-how of all groups of citizens must be improved. Nature know-how refers to a better level of knowledge of nature, its status and activities as well as the pressures on nature caused by human activity. In addition, nature know-how includes understanding the value of nature and the impacts of biodiversity loss on society as well as being able to act on behalf of nature. The nature know-how of children and young people must be strengthened as an integral part of other sustainability competence at all levels of education and training. In teaching content, it is important to promote a comprehensive understanding of interlinked environmental challenges and their mutually supportive solutions. Stronger nature know-how supports the experience that everyone is active and involved in halting biodiversity loss.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 18: Many societal actors participate in national, regional and local planning, decision-making and implementation concerning nature, and Finns work more extensively and actively for the benefit of nature. (target year: 2035) This is a root-cause oriented target. Methods of co-operative planning and decision-making may support the introduction of acceptable and effective actions. For example, environmental mediation, citizens' panels, transition arenas and phased negotiations can strengthen opportunities for participation. At local and regional level, in particular, various opportunities for participation can accelerate actions in line with the objectives of the strategy, create new types of local partnerships and help to resolve disputes over the division of responsibilities. Finns should be encouraged to participate in the restoreation of biodiversity and to reduce the adverse impacts of their activities on nature. Positive actions include reducing one's ecological footprint. In one's own immediate surroundings, positive impacts on nature can be promoted by increasing biodiversity in one's own or the housing company's yard and on land owned by it, by participating in the prevention of invasive alien species and other voluntary activities that improve the state of nature as well as in civic science.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 19: The measures taken to conserve and restoring biodiversity are considered fair by Finns. (target year: 2030) This is a root-cause oriented target . Sustainability transition inevitably brings up tensions between different views, actors and levels of activity. Coordination is required, for example, on how and to what extent the direct costs of measures to promote biodiversity are compensated to certain actors or, for example, to land and forest owners and how the costs of long-term damage caused by biodiversity loss or neglect of nature measures are taken into account in decision-making. The broad impact assessment of the measures required by the strategy should be increased in order to better understand and take into account the fairness aspects. A fairness review is particularly needed to identify the perspectives of vulnerable groups, in which it is important to better identify the impacts on children, gender, fundamental and human rights.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 21: Sámi peoples´ right to self-determination, as well as the principle of FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) are advanced and enhanced with regard to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures on state-owned lands. Best practices of Sámi culture to conserve biodiversity are advanced, and Sámi traditional knowledge is actively preserved, developed and applied.(target year: 2035) Article 8(j) of the CBD, which recognises the right of Indigenous Peoples to participate in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in a meaningful way, emphasises the crucial role of traditional knowledge for the future viability of the Indigenous cultures. In recent years, the role and importance of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conserving biodiversity has been highlighted in international environmental  policy. For example, The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has stated that nature is generally declining less rapidly in lands managed by Indigenous Peoples’ than in other lands. Voluntary guidelines promoting the national implementation of Article 8 (j) encourage the Parties to the Convention to create legislation, mechanisms and good practices to strengthen the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and to preserve and apply their traditional knowledge as part of biodiversity conservation.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 20: Diverse nature is recognised as part of advancing health and well-being and for preventing and treatment of diseases. Every Finn has access to diverse nature in their everyday lives. (target year: 2030) This is a root-cause oriented target. Enhancing the relationship with nature will help to increase the appreciation and action for the benefit of nature and increase the health and well-being of the whole population. Time spent in nature has a significant impact on the formation of the relationship with nature. Especially vulnerable groups, such as older people and people with disabilities, should be supported in engaging in nature, and the importance of spending time in nature should be recognised, for example, as part of the integration of immigrants. Knowledge of local nature increases the possibility of utilising intergenerational traditional knowledge related to nature. The most important health and well-being impacts of spending time in nature include recovery from stress, positive impacts on mood and the effect that nature has on physical activity. Clinical research evidence on the long-term health effects of exposure to nature is still lacking, but promising results have been obtained, for example, from the fact that regular contact with nature has a positive impact on immune defences.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 23: In addition to the Coalition of Finance Ministries for Climate Action and its Helsinki principles, Finland is recognized for being nature positive. (target year: 2035)

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 22: Finland promotes biodiversity globally, in the EU, in adjacent areas and in the Nordic countries, and enhances actively multilateral environmental and development cooperation. Finland works globally and regionally to halt the loss of biodiversity by promoting the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. (target year: 2030) Finland is committed to implement the objectives and targets of the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework and to promote its implementation on different levels both globally, regionally and nationally. In recent decades, Finland has continued to be an active global actor promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, as well as foster international cooperation and synergies between different environmental agreements. Finland's knowledge and expertise in international environmental processes is highly considered and well-regarded. Protecting biodiversity requires international cooperation and the implementation of multilateral international agreements, as well as respecting human rights, the precautionary principle and the rule of law. Finland's policies include whole of society approach, advancing human rights, equity, equality and inclusion of people with disabilities, including safeguarding the rights of girls, women and Indigenous Peoples in the fight against biodiversity loss. It is important that different stakeholders, academia, the scientific community, youth, the Sámi people, municipalities, cities and companies participate in international efforts to halt the biodiversity loss. Finland promotes through international partnerships (public-private) nature-based solutions, nature positive actions and sustainable and circular economy. Ecosystem services and mainstreaming of biodiversity are a key also for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 2. Ecosystem restoration is increased, which increases the connectivity of ecosystems and improves their functioning and ability to produce key ecosystem services. Nationally restored area increases towards the global goal of restoring 30% of degraded habitats. (Target year 2030.) This is a state of nature oriented target. Finland is committed to restoring degraded areas as part of the 30% national restoration target for degraded areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The EU Biodiversity Strategy does not have a similar explicit quantitative restoration commitment, but it does commit at EU level to halting the decline of species and habitats of community importance and to achieving a clear improvement in the status of 30% of species and habitats by 2030. In practice, this means large-scale restoration, rehabilitation and management of Habitats Directive habitats with an unfavourable conservation status, and enhanced conservation and management measures for species and their habitats under the Habitats and Birds Directives.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 3. The negative trend in the threat statuses of habitat types has been halted and reversed. More habitat types are improving in terms of their red-list status than that are declining. Measures to improve the state of habitat types are targeted especially at threatened habitat types. (Target year 2035.) This is a state of nature orianted target. The threat status of habitat types in Finland has been evaluated twice (2008 & 2018). Almost half (48%) of the nearly 400 habitat types across the country were assessed to be threatened. The trend among many habitat types is assessed to be declining. This target aims to reverse that trend and improve the status of habitat types. Due to the slow process of habitat change, not all indicators or/and quality factors contributing to the threat assessment will improve by 2035, even with extensive habitat protection, restoration and management. The trend in habitat loss can be considered to be improving if sufficient measures have been taken by 2035 to create the conditions for an increase in the area of rare habitats and an improvement in the structure and function of degraded threatened habitats. In terms of cost-effectiveness, it is appropriate to focus initially on the habitats of greatest biodiversity value, i.e. sites that are particularly species-rich or whose management benefits endangered species.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 4. The negative trend of increasing extinction risk of species has been halted and reversed. The genetic diversity of species is maintained, and populations of declined common species recover. (Target year 2035.) This is a state of nature oriented target. The target aims at decreasing the number of threatened species (red-list categories CR, EN & VU) and increasing the number of species that are of least concern (LC). Reviving the populations of common but declined species ensures that these species do not become threatened in the future. The achievement of the target  is measured by the red-list index for all species as well as by habitat-specific threat indices. The target is that the overall red-list index in 2035 is higher (better) than in 2019 and that the habitat-specific indices show a clear positive trend. Given that between 2010 and 2019, the red-list index declined significantly for some species groups and some habitats, achieving this target will require a significant change from past trends.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 6. Halting biodiversity loss and mitigating and adapting to climate change will be promoted simultaneously . The implementation of the green transition avoids, minimises and, if necessary, compensates for the adverse effects on nature. (Target year 2035.) This is a pressure oriented target. Nature-based solutions can, for example, simultaneously sequester carbon, improve resilience to extreme weather events that will increase with climate change, and reduce water pollution. In urban environments, a multi-benefit nature-based solution is, in particular, the enhancement of green infrastructure such as green roofs, green streets and natural stormwater wetlands. Protecting and restoring carbon-rich ecosystems is a key solution to support both climate change mitigation and adaptation and biodiversity recovery. The network of protected areas should be actively developed to promote adaptation to climate change. More generally, the challenges to species conservation posed by climate change must be addressed by developing and implementing new tools. Finland must also prepare for the fact that as the climate zones shift northwards, many new southern species will arrive in Finland and more southerly species will continue to migrate northwards.

Note: This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 7. Natural resources are utilised, managed and used sustainably so as to reduce pressures on biodiversity and improve the quality of habitats. (Target year 2035.) This is a pressure oriented target. Activities that have the greatest impact on biodiversity in Finland in terms of area are forestry (77% of Finland's total area), agriculture (8%) and construction (4%). According to red-list assesments the use of natural resources is the most acute threat to both species and habitats. Most of Finland's biodiversity occurs outside protected areas. The ecological sustainability of land use outside protected areas is therefore key to safeguarding biodiversity. To halt biodiversity loss, it is essential to reduce the need for biodiversity-degrading land use and the exploitation of virgin natural resources. This will be supported by, among others, increasing transparency in product value chains, better identification of impacts and strengthening resource productivity. The National Bioeconomy Strategy aims to achieve the 'more from less' principle, for example by modernising industrial production and increasing the added value of products. The carbon-neutral circular economy is one way of reducing pressures on natural resource use and can thus indirectly play an important role in halting biodiversity loss.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 8. Biodiversity and the different values of nature are taken into account in land use planning and development. (Target year 2035.) This is a pressure oriented target. Negative biodiversity impacts should always be avoided in the first place by targeting land use to less valuable areas. If this is not possible, the damage caused to nature should be mitigated through nature-based and technical solutions. Any remaining damage to nature after avoidance and mitigation can be compensated for, for example by restoring areas of similar natural value elsewhere. The mitigation hierarchy can be applied as part of land-use planning, for example at the master plan level, to avoid damage to nature and protect biodiversity and ecological connectivity. At the level of local detailed plans, the aim is to mitigate biodiversity impatcs and, where appropriate, to define the implementation of voluntary ecological compensation.

Note: This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 9. The risks of pollution will be reduced to a level that is not detrimental to biodiversity. (Target year 2030.) This is a pressure oriented target. At EU level, the REACH Regulation sets rules for the use, authorisation, monitoring and evaluation of chemicals by different bodies. Timely, rapidly updated monitoring information for all harmful substances is a prerequisite for effective protection measures and other environmental decision-making. A national chemicals programme up to 2035 will be implemented with the aim of improving chemical safety, ensuring and promoting the protection of human health and the environment. In Finland, regulatory control will ensure that humans and farm animals are not exposed to plant protection products, but environmental exposure needs to be further investigated. The use and risks of chemical pesticides must be reduced by 50% in the EU, and their use in urban green areas and other sensitive areas in the EU must be phased out completely, in line with the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy. Reducing emissions and air pollution, controlling agricultural run-off and urban and industrial waste water are key to preventing eutrophication and acidification. Finland is implementing programmes of measures in its water and marine management plans to reduce pressures from catchment areas and direct pressures on water bodies.

Note: This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 10. The pressure caused by invasive alien species on biodiversity is reduced, including reducing the number of invasive alien species established in Finland by 50%. (Target year 2030.) This is a pressure oriented target. Of the 1 872 species listed as threatened in Europe, 354 are threatened by invasive alien species. The EU Biodiversity Strategy's target on invasive species aims to halve the number of red-listed threatened species by 2030. The EU, global and Finnish invasive species targets are implemented in Finland, in particular through EU and national legislation on invasive species. The EU's Invasive Species Regulation (EU 1143/2014) and the national Invasive Species Act (1709/2015) and Regulation (704/2019, 912/2023) aim to safeguard native and endangered species and ecosystem services, including the prevention of harm caused by invasive species to the sustainable use of natural resources, livelihoods and the well-being of society and people. Both EU and national legislation will target the most harmful invasive species, and national management plans will direct the control of IS to priority control areas where cost-effective control measures will be applied. Under the National Invasive Species Act, the release of an invasive species into the environment is always prohibited

Note: This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 11. The ecological footprint of Finns both in Finland and abroad will be significantly reduced. (Target year 2035.) This is a pressure oriented target. In Finland, overconsumption is one of the biggest challenges to sustainable development and our domestic material consumption per capita is among the highest in Europe. Finnish consumption of natural resources per person, and our ecological footprint, is among the highest in the world. Root causes must be addressed at systemic level and cannot be left to individuals, but require guidance, regulation and advice. Nevertheless, everyone needs to change their priorities and everyday behaviour in order to halt the loss of nature, and the state must promote opportunities for Finns to adopt lifestyles that are within the limits of nature's carrying capacity, so that everyone can contribute to positive developments in the protection of biodiversity.

Note : This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 5. The network of protected areas in Finland will be complemented with sites of high nature conservation value. Consequently, the network is ecologically representative and well connected and it helps species and habitats to adapt to climate change. (Target year 2030.) This is a state of nature oriented target. Finland's current protected area consists of Natura sites, protected areas established under the Nature Conservation Act and Wilderness Areas. Approximately 13% of Finland's land and inland waters and approximately 11% of its marine areas are now protected. These figures do not include the area of other areas under effectively biodiversity oriented management (OECMs). At national level, more than 10% of Finland's land areas are already strictly protected, while the corresponding figure for marine areas is just over 4%. Additional protection is effectively targeted at different habitat types in a spatially comprehensive manner. The network of protected areas will continue to be complemented in line with the objectives defined in the METSO and Helmi programmes, by protecting old and semi-natural forests that meet EU and national criteria, and through other measures in the NBSAP. Achieving a 30% increase in protected area by 2030 would be extremely challenging, as to reach this target, for example, the protected area in land areas would have to increase by about 2.4 percentage points per year (over 700,000 ha) per year. While a significant increase in protected area is likely to come mainly from areas under biodiversity conservation (OECMs), it will in any case take years to achieve a significant increase in the area of new sites. A more specific quantitative target for the expansion of the protected area network is currently being prepared.

Note: This version is a draft. All targets and actions are being finalized and pending official Finnish Government decision. Target 12. The public administration works consistently and actively together with various actors to halt biodiversity loss: legislation, resources, other steering instruments and strategic planning guide the maintenance and improvement of biodiversity in all sectors. (Target year 2030.) This is a root cause oriented target. An important role of public administration is to strengthen and support citizens' ability to act for biodiversity and to tackle the root causes of biodiversity loss and pressures on nature. Strong sustainability, recognising the limits of nature's carrying capacity, should be a common goal of the whole public administration. Sustainability governance is not only about reducing unsustainable practices, but also about increasing sustainable practices. Voluntary action has so far not had a sufficient steering effect on the state of nature in all sectors. In legislative work, halting nature loss should be more strongly integrated as a starting point throughout government. This will require advice and training, for example to ensure a more comprehensive assessment of biodiversity impacts when drafting legislation. The scale of public procurement is significant, and therefore its redirection can reduce pressures on biodiversity. A predictable and consistent shift in public procurement towards services and products with less environmental impact will create forerunner markets and accelerate the development of sustainable production methods. Consistent and predictable public demand requires a strong focus on procurement governance and monitoring. Ecosystem accounting is one way to bring natural capital and its impacts into national accounts. Ecosystem accounting puts natural capital on an equal footing with other types of capital and allows economic policy to take into account the benefits of ecosystem services and the harms of human activities on nature. The knowledge base, methods and practices for ecosystem accounting need to be developed so that they can be used for planning and monitoring the national economy.