We bridge ecological knowledge to agronomic realities of farming, farmers’ acceptance of managing for nature, and existing economic and policy frameworks. The key themes, on which we have been working, are:
Funded by Horizon Europe 2025-2028
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) is leading a case study in two watershed areas in Southern Finland, where intensive drainage systems have replaced traditional open ditches and their vegetated margins. In 2023, Finland restructured its state drainage support, integrating it into the Rural Development Plans. This policy change creates new opportunities for landowners to re-profile major ditches for multiple functions, such as water regulation, pollution mitigation, and biodiversity enhancement. Exploring how these opportunities can support the reintroduction of landscape features will be a central focus of LAFERIA’s work in Finland.
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Pollinator-Friendly farms (in collaboration with Baltic Sea Action Group) -
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Developing and sharing of innovations that support farming systems in areas of exceptional natural values across Europe through a multi-actor approach - was a motivation behind an international HNV-Link network supported under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme.
Birds@ Farmland. Developing tools to support farmland bird conservation in the EU
of the European Commission was launched in 2020 with the aim to support 10 Member States - Finland among them - in addressing the declines of birds living on farmland. The initiative was a collaborative process among researchers, competent authorities, NGOs, Farm Advisory Services and other relevant actors in each of the 10 Member States, and the European Commission. The consortium co-developed 22 farmland bird conservation schemes so that they can be integrated into the Strategic Plans under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in each country.
Due to a unique implementation format – close interactions among key stakeholders at regional, national and EU level with the direct involvement of the European Commission – a number of the newly developed or enhanced existing conservation schemes have already become part of the national commitments. The funding will be open to farmers in 2023 through CAP.
Top experts in the country from the university, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) could reflect on their views of what needs to be done in Finland with representatives of farmers and advisory organisations, both Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Environment, regional centers, NGOs. Importantly, active farmers who already successfully maintain farmland birds on their farms could share their experiences. In a two-way process, the initiative provided insights into knowledge gaps and needs for further research in the field of developing more sustainable agricultural production.
Birds@ Farmland: Maatalousympäristön lintujen suojelun vahvistaminen EU:ssa
Euroopan komission rahoittamassa Birds@ Farmland aloitteessa vahvistetaan maatalousympäristön lintujen suojelun toimenpiteitä kymmenessä Euroopan Unionin jäsenmaassa. Suomessa maatalousympäristön lintulajien runsaus on lähes puolittunut 1980-luvun alusta. Perinteisesti tavallisia ja runsaita lajeja, kuten pääskyt, on jo todettu Suomessa uhanalaisiksi. Maatalousympäristön lintujen suojelu on lintudirektiivin velvoite, joka on välttämätön Euroopan vihreän kehityksen, Biodiversiteettistrategian ja Pellolta pöytään -strategian onnistumisiin. Aloite kokoaa yhteen maataloustuottajaorganisaatioita, kansalaisjärjestöjä, asiantuntijoita sekä maatalous- ja ympäristöviranomaisia niin kansallisella kuin kansainvälisillä tasoilla. Tavoitteena on pitkäaikainen yhteistyö luonnontilan parantamisessa.
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