Markku Viitasalo

Current Position

I work as a research professor in the Marine Nature Group of the Nature Solutions Unit. My research focuses particularly on marine biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of marine resources. I lead national and international research projects and serve as the coordinator of Velmu (the Finnish Inventory Programme for Underwater Marine Biodiversity, ymparisto.fi) as well as the research director for the eight-year BIODIVERSEA LIFE IP EU project at Syke. Coordinated by Metsähallitus, BIODIVERSEA (metsa.fi) is Finland’s largest research project aimed at protecting marine biodiversity.

Background

I am a trained marine biologist and have previously worked as a professor of marine biology at the University of Helsinki and as the head of the biology department at the Finnish Institute of Marine Research. During that time, my research focused on marine ecosystem functions and the effects of climate change and eutrophication on plankton, benthic organisms, and fish. Since 2010, I have led the national Velmu program, focusing primarily on mapping and studying the structure and dynamics of benthic ecosystems, as well as conservation issues. I have also served as an expert in various working groups, including Helcom, ICES, the European Science Foundation, and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Current Research Topics

• Marine biodiversity and factors affecting it
• Effects of climate change on the marine ecosystem
• Utilizing marine biodiversity mapping data for marine conservation and sustainable use planning
• Marine mapping for climate conservation in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Research projects

• VELMU Finnish inventory programme for underwater marine diversity (ymparisto.fi)
• BIODIVERSEA LIFE-IP (metsa.fi)
• Increasing climate resilience of Zanzibar with integrated marine management and sustainable blue economy (BLUE-ZAN)

Other Activities

Representative or deputy representative of Syke in the preparation of the marine section of the National Restoration Plan and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Member of the Baltic Sea Panel. Expert tasks related to marine biodiversity and climate change at national and international levels. Lecturing and communication with various stakeholders.

Publications

I have contributed as an author to approximately 100 scientific articles or research reports and have participated in writing seven books on marine ecosystems. The most recent work is Havets skattkammare, published in 2021, for which I was the chief editor. This comprehensive 500+ page book, aimed at a broad readership, is based on marine surveys conducted since 2004 as part of the VELMU program.

My publications in Google Scholar