The nature footprint tells about the load caused by the activity on biodiversity

Human activity weakens biodiversity all over the world. In addition to global warming, exploitation of natural resources, changing habitats, the spread of alien species and environmental pollution cause nature loss. Finnish municipalities set out to find out the effects of their area's activities on biodiversity by calculating their natural footprint.

Riihimäki is involved in a project in which 13 municipalities and cities are calculated the nature footprint caused by their activities in their geographical area - reportedly among the first in the world. The nature footprint is a measure of the load caused by human activity on Riihimäki. Typically, nature impacts have been assessed at the local level. However, the environmental footprint tells about the harm caused to nature not only locally but also globally. The project offers new information about nature's effects and helps to identify ways to reduce the load.

"In the dense urban environment of Riihimäki, preserving contact with nature and strengthening natural diversity becomes particularly important. From this project, we get valuable information about the effects we cause on natural resources. We also hope to get concrete means to curb the effects", describes the environmental director Elina Mäenpää.

The city of Riihimäki is committed to strengthening natural diversity and sustainable consumption of natural resources. Environmental policy has set goals and measures to achieve this. Last year, six new nature reserves were established in city-owned areas, which is a significant step forward in supporting biodiversity. Some of the areas also serve as important recreation areas for city dwellers, where the beneficial effect of nature becomes concrete.

In order to measure the natural footprint, a huge amount of research work is done in different parts of the world. The Finnish calculation method developed at the University of Jyväskylä is groundbreaking and right at the forefront of development. The method developed by the University of Jyväskylä is also used in this project implemented by Sitowise.
Espoo, Helsinki, Kangasala, Kauniainen, Liminka, Lohja, Pori, Riihimäki, Seinäjoki, Tampere, Turku, Vantaa and Ylöjärvi are involved in the joint project. The environmental footprint calculations will be completed in June 2024.

You can find more information about the project here.

 

For more information about Riihimäki's nature work, please contact Environment Director Elina Mäenpää, 040 330 4160 elina.maenpaa@riihimaki.fi

For more information about the nature footprint project and the calculation method, please contact team manager Emma Liljeström/Sitowise, 040 549 7875, emma.liljestrom@sitowise.com