Stakeholder meeting in Finland IV
The latest good practices in the discussion
In the fourth meeting of Central Finland Stakeholder group we discussed the main past and future actions related to NACAO project. The latest good practices were discussed and reflected in Finnish context. Copying practices is challenged by different environments and different cities. For example, different climatic zones challenge good practices implementation especially on forests.
Urban green solutions were seen interesting options for their biodiversity benefits and cooling effect. For example Sweden and Denmark have already taken better account of the use of empty roofs as green roofs than Finland. The title of NACAO project indicates, however, a focus on the potential for carbon sequestration, and in this context urban green solutions are not the right answer. In the case of urban green roofs, calculations have been made as to when the amount of carbon they sequester is offset by the emissions associated with construction. That time is so long that in practice green roofs are irrelevant in terms of carbon sequestration.
Citizen participation was discussed in many of the presented good practices. Such an attitude is needed in Finland and Finnish actors could learn from it. From the point of view of adaptation to climate change, it is really important that we have a strong sense of belonging to the community.
In Jyväskylä City, a spatial data analysis has been carried out to identify which places are perceived as insecure and uncomfortable. The development of these could take into account, for example, the Polish and German examples of ecological and socially sensitive park redevelopment. Of course, places that are perceived as unsafe can also be natural places that look untidy. In this case communication activities play an important role.
The effects of nature on health are a constantly growing research topic, and these research results should also be used in urban planning in the future. Simply replacing grass with more diverse vegetation can make a big difference. Good examples are already tested in Central Finland: in Muurame municipality, the design of playgrounds has successfully taken into account berry and fruit trees, in Jyväskylä (Steiner School) a pollinator trail has been created for teaching use and supporting biodiversity.
Third year of NACAO project
An important discussion at the end of the meeting was how to proceed with NACAO during the last active year.
During the project, it will be important to build bridges between actors both nationally and internationally. These are things that will live on after the project. The study visits are also a good way to learn about different practices in different countries, and thus gain a new perspective on your own work.
On the third year of NACAO, it could be considered what kind of communication material could be used to communicate the project themes in a clear and understandable way. The Stakeholder group also strongly encouraged outreach e.g. through visits in municipalities. Webinars do not allow for a more natural flow of discussion and information to be transmitted in the same way as live events. Also, a lot of basic information on carbon sequestration and the different calculation models is still needed.