Preservation, conservation and improvement of the environment and nature
30% of marine areas to be protected by 2030 – 10% under strict protection
There are national and international programmes, strategies and laws concerning nature values in marine areas. Combined with various forms of cooperation, these create favourable conditions for the preservation, protection and improvement of the environment and nature in maritime spatial planning. Various conservation programme areas can overlap, forming a network of marine nature values. Generally, other conservation and programme areas are located partly or fully within the Natura 2000 areas.
EU Biodiversity Strategy
The Biodiversity Strategy sets goals for the conservation and restoration of nature, as well as presenting measures to achieve the goals. The aim is to protect 30% of the EU’s marine areas by 2030. The strategy also sets a goal for strict protection, which should cover at least 10% of the marine area.
Natura 2000
The purpose of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network is to protect biodiversity. More than 75% of the around 60 sites included in the Finnish Natura network are in marine areas. Finland’s Natura 2000 network consists of three types of areas:
• SCI = Sites of Community Importance
Areas covered by the Habitats Directive that have been approved nationally by the Finnish Government and whose inclusion in the Natura 2000 network has been proposed to the European Commission.
• SAC = Special Areas of Conservation
Areas of special protection measures that have been provided for in a decree issued by the Ministry of the Environment following their approval as Sites of Community Importance by the European Commission.
• SPA = Special Protection Areas
Special protection areas announced to the European Commission that focus on the protection of birds.
HELCOM MPA
The Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention) is an agreement between the Baltic Sea states that obligates the signatories to protect the marine environment, preserve the diversity of species and reduce loads from all sources of emissions. The network of HELCOM Marine Protected Areas (MPA) was established during the implementation of the agreement to enable the protection of valuable marine and coastal habitats and the preservation of biodiversity.
In Finland, the HELCOM MPA areas overlap with the Natura 2000 areas.
Ramsar
The international Ramsar Convention (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat) covers the protection of wetlands. The agreement has later been amended to include the protection of ecosystems and the sustainable use of areas. The agreement obligates the signatories to establish conservation areas in wetlands and promote the protection of internationally significant wetlands and waterfowl. International research and cooperation are part of the agreement. Most of Finland’s Ramsar areas overlap with Natura areas.
EBSA
The international Ramsar Convention (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat) covers the protection of wetlands. The agreement has later been amended to include the protection of ecosystems and the sustainable use of areas. The agreement obligates the signatories to establish conservation areas in wetlands and promote the protection of internationally significant wetlands and waterfowl. International research and cooperation are part of the agreement. Most of Finland’s Ramsar areas overlap with Natura areas.
National parks
National parks are state-owned areas of at least 1,000 hectares, the use of which is regulated by the Nature Conservation Act. The area must have significance as a general site of natural beauty. In addition to safeguarding biodiversity, the purpose of national parks is to increase people’s knowledge of nature and promote nature activities. Separate decrees have been issued on the use and management of several national parks. Finland has 40 national parks, of which five are marine.
Seal protection areas
Seal protection areas have been established in state-owned areas by means of government decrees. There are seven seal protection areas in Finland’s marine area. The purpose of seal protection areas is to protect the grey seal, but some areas are also important for the Baltic ringed seal. Small islands and islets in the outer archipelago are marine habitat types that are also protected in the areas.
Access to areas closer than a nautical mile (926 metres) from islets or groups of islets within seal protection areas is prohibited throughout the year without permission from Metsähallitus. Access to areas outside official fairways elsewhere in seal protection areas is permitted between 16 June and 31 January. In addition, hunting and fishing that is harmful to seals is prohibited in the areas.
Other state conservation areas
Other state conservation areas include a group of typically small areas established to serve as conservation areas by means of separate regulations. The goals for their protection have been determined case by case. Such areas are established by means of a government decree or a decree of the Ministry of the Environment. The areas implement the protection goals of the Natura 2000 network and conservation programmes, as well as protecting nature values not included in these.
Private conservation areas
Private conservation areas are established at the initiative of the landowner or the authorities. The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment can also protect areas included in the conservation programmes without consent from the landowner. The protection is based on protection stipulations determined in connection with the establishment of the area. Private conservation areas often belong to conservation programmes, such as bird protection programmes, coastal conservation programmes and the Natura 2000 network.
In marine areas, the area covered by private conservation areas is as large as that covered by marine national parks.
Sources
Arnkil, A., Hoikkala, J., and Sahla, M. (eds.) (2019) Suojelualueet merialuesuunnittelussa – suositus suojelualueiden huomioimiseksi [Improving and considering the conservation of marine areas in maritime spatial planning] Metsähallitus Nature Conservation Publications. Series A 231
Ostrobothnia regional plan 2040, plan description
EBSA
Convention on Biological Diversity 78/1995 (Finlex)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
EU Biodiversity Strategy
Convention on Biological Diversity 78/1995 (Finlex)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Finland’s national strategy and action plan for 2020 (PDF)
Communication from the Commission ‘Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020’ (European Commission)
HELCOM MPA
Helsinki Convention (2/2000, finlex.fi)
Seal protection areas
Decree No. 736/2001 on seal sanctuaries (www.finlex.fi)
Protection area description by Metsähallitus (www.metsa.fi)
National parks
The use of national parks is regulated by chapter 3 of the Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996)
Other state conservation areas
Establishment regulations by region (references to all sites can be found in the SATJ nature conservation area information system and in Finlex: Current legislation)
Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996, www.finlex.fi): chapter 3, section 10 (‘Nature reserves and prerequisites for their establishment’), and section 24 (‘Establishment of a nature reserve’)
Nature Conservation Act (old 71/1923, finlex.fi).
Natura 2000
Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996, www.finlex.fi), chapter 10: ‘Special provisions on the European Community Natura 2000 network’
Ramsar
Finnish Treaty Series 3/1976, www.finlex.fi
Suomen Ramsar-kosteikkotoimintaohjelma 2016–2020 [Finland’s Ramsar wetlands action programme 2016–2020] (www.julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi).
Private conservation areas
Nature Conservation Act (1096/1996, www.finlex.fi): chapter 3, section 10 (‘Nature reserves and prerequisites for their establishment’), and section 24 (‘Establishment of a nature reserve’)
The grounds for conservation and the stipulations concerning protection are available in the SATJ nature conservation area information system maintained by Metsähallitus (part of the Uljas database).