The draft proposal for establishing the nature conservation area of the Kvarken archipelago was finalised after a long conflict resolution process
The establishing process of the Kvarken archipelago nature conservation area has been Finland’s largest environmental conflict resolution process assisted by a neutral third party.
Today, on 25th of March, a working group of representatives appointed by the municipalities of the Kvarken archipelago region unanimously approved the decree draft proposal on the establishment of the nature conservation area and the accompanying memorandum. The work on the legistlation draft has been demanding due to a decades-long history of conflict and a lack of trust between the parties. However, there has been a strong will to find solutions and, in some cases, shared objectives. Akordi has assisted the parties in identifying and clarifying their different interests, building a common knowledge base and constructing acceptable solutions.
Since autumn 2023, we have been working with local stakeholders and representatives of the environmental administration in a multi-stage process:
- We carried out a conflict assessment.
- We facilitated discussions to create a process for the next steps.
- Based on the assessment and the discussions, we proposed a process for setting up working groups to prepare the legislation and develop a co-management model.
- We supported the work of the working groups by ensuring that all key perspectives were taken into account, anticipating and identifying conflict situations and assisting the parties in finding acceptable solutions.
The content of the draft was worked on until the very last minute. However, the media conference held after the meeting showed that the open and constructive discussions, even on difficult issues, had made a difference and that the contentious issues had been resolved.
Next, the draft proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, where it will be submitted for requests for opinions, with the aim of having the legistlation before the Finnish Goverment before the end of the year.
However, this is not the end of the work. The adoption of the decree will enable the next steps to be taken towards extensive collaboration between Metsähallitus, the Ministry of the Environment and local actors to draw up a management and use plan for one of Finland’s largest nature conservation areas and to secure the area’s natural, landscape and cultural values.
Read more:
Ministry of the Environment’s press release 1.4.2025 (in Finnish): Työryhmä luovutti ympäristöministeriölle asetusluonnoksen Merenkurkun suojelualueen perustamiseksi
Yle 26.3.2025 (in Finnish): Merenkurkun luonnonsuojelualueen perustaminen etenee – työryhmä hyväksyi asetusluonnoksen
YLE 25.3.2025 (in Swedish): Förslag: Kvarkens naturskyddsområde ska skötas av en delegation – kan minska på myndighetsföraktet
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Akordi’s news 29.11.2024: Work to resolve nature conservation disputes in Kvarken archipelago is progressing in a constructive spirit
Akordi’s news 25.4.2024: A common vision for the future of the Kvarken archipelago nature conservation dispute has emerged
Turunen, Juha-Pekka ja Strandberg-Panelius, Camilla (2023). Merenkurkun luonnonsuojelun ristiriidat ja ratkaisumahdollisuudet [Naturvården i Kvarken: meningsskiljaktigheter och möjliga lösninga]. Akordi Oy publications. (in Finnish and Swedish)
Ministry of the Environment’s press release 1.12.2023 (in Finnish): Merenkurkun erimielisyyksiin etsitään ratkaisuja
