Sanna-Riikka Saarela

Using the ecosystem services approach for better planning and conservation of urban green spaces: a Finland case study

Ecosystem services are vital for humans in urban regions. However, urban development poses a great risk for the ability of ecosystems to provide these services. In this paper we first address the most important ecosystem services in functional urban regions in Finland. Well accessible and good quality recreational ecosystem services, for example, provided by urban nature, are an important part of a high-quality living environment and important for public health. Vegetation of urban regions can have a role in carbon dioxide sequestration and thus in climate change mitigation. For instance, estimates of carbon sinks can be compared to total CO2 emissions of an urban region, and the municipality can aim at both increasing carbon sinks and decreasing CO2 emissions with proper land-use planning. Large and contiguous core nature areas, smaller green areas and ecological connections between them are the essence of regional ecological networks and are essential for maintaining interconnected habitats for species and thus biological diversity. Thus, both local and regional level ecological networks are vital for maintaining ecosystem services in urban regions. The impacts of climate change coupled with land-use and land cover change will bring serious challenges for maintaining ecosystem services in urban areas. Although not yet widely used in planning practices, the ecosystem services approach can provide an opportunity for land-use planning to develop ecologically sustainable urban regions. Currently, information on ecosystem services of urban regions is lacking and there is a need to improve the knowledge base for land-use planning.

Biodiversity in strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of municipal spatial plans in Finland

This article examines the current practices of Finnish SEA with regard to inclusion of biodiversity issues in land use planning. The study of local master planning revealed that impact predictions have a limited influence on final plans due to a missing link between baseline studies and impact prediction. Land use SEA is very baseline oriented. It overemphasizes certain narrow biodiversity elements in studies and consequently in the whole planning process in order to avoid legal appeals for approved plans. There is also a tension between the proactive, opportunities constraints approach and the reactive approach in assessing impacts of a drafted plan. A strong need was expressed by consultants, planners and authorities for more holistic data and assessment regarding ecosystem functions and ecological connections and networks, but this need has not been realized in practice. To change assessment practices, holistic approaches and tools, such as ecosystem services type and green infrastructure planning, should be used in SEAs of spatial planning.