Press release 2013-02-01 at 12:00
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Kuva: Riku Lumiaro
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Nature has an important place in Nordic society and economy but many of the benefits that we get from nature have been degraded and endangered by human activity. One good example is fisheries, which is unsustainable in many parts of the world, including Northern Europe. A recent study called TEEB Nordic examines the importance of the many benefits that humans get from nature and the kinds of political action required to ensure sustainable use of these benefits in the Nordic Countries. The report points out that the Nordic Countries are well placed in terms of economic resources to act as pioneers in promoting green economy based on the sustainable use of ecosystem services.
People in the Nordic Countries enjoy spending time in nature. An average Finn, for example, engages in some form of activity in nature three times a week. In Finland, every euro invested in national parks boosts regional economy even by as much as 10 euros through tourism. Berry and mushroom picking, fishing and hunting are popular pastimes in the Nordic Countries. Nature also helps to maintain clean air, water and pollination. These ecosystem resources and functions that enhance our well-being are called ecosystem services.
Towards genuinely ‘green’ green economy in the Nordic Countries
The TEEB Nordic study examined the socio-economic importance of ecosystem services in the Nordic Countries. The study was funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, and its aim was to identify ways to incorporate nature’s multiple benefits more broadly into decision-making. The study shows that Nordic decision-makers can promote green economy by relatively simple means which nevertheless require broad-mindedness.
In order to understand the true importance and value of nature in a broader sense, Nordic Countries need to develop a set of national indicators that enable the status of ecosystems and ecosystem services to be evaluated in the long term. Closer cooperation between the countries and the ability to share know-how are extremely important in this work. However, creating a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework is not enough; the social and economic value of nature also needs to be incorporated more broadly into actions in different political sectors as well as national accounting frameworks.
At the same time, Nordic decision-makers need to take economic action to actively promote the conservation and, if necessary, restoration of ecosystem services. Wetland and river restoration programmes, for example, have been proven to be extremely beneficial for both humans and nature. In Finland, the town of Vihti creation of wetland has proven to be a cost-effective solution for wastewater management, helping to purify city’s runoff water before it drains into Lake Enäjärvi. The wetland has also become a popular recreation area and it has increased biodiversity in the area.
The report calls attention to the importance of the ‘big picture’ in the Nordic natural resource management. Eco-efficiency and wider aspects of resource efficiency, based on the sustainable use of nature and ecosystem services, promote green economy and sustainability of societies. Changing traditional models of resource use as well as consumption patterns is possible, for example, with the help of new taxation and pricing policies and consumer awareness campaigns.
The ultimate goal should be to disassociate our Nordic economies from the negative effects of using natural resources. The Nordic Countries are well placed to become pioneers in promoting novel innovations that both support the sustainable use of nature, retaining its many benefits, and are not dependent on non-renewable resources.
Background to the report
The synthesis report on the benefits and economic significance of Nordic nature was produced as a collaboration of the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). A wide range of Nordic experts also contributed to the report. The study was carried out in the context of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) initiative coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The aim of the TEEB Nordic project was to identify the most important benefits provided by biodiversity and ecosystems to Nordic societies and national economies and to collect regional data on the current state, trends and socio-economic significance of these benefits. The report is designed to provide an overview of the socio-economic importance of nature in the Nordic Countries, including identifying areas where more information and research is still needed.
Reports online
Further information
Senior Policy Analyst Marianne Kettunen, Institute for European Environmental Policy IEEP, tel. +358 40 485 4844, mkettunen@ieep.eu
Senior Researcher Petteri Vihervaara, Finnish Environment Institute,
tel. +358 40 513 8185 , firstname.lastname@environment.fi
Photos for media
Finnish mushrooms are delicious, and picking them is a healthy activity. Image: Riku Lumiaro