Joint Fact-Finding

 

Disagreements over the information base for decision-making serve as a fuel to disputes. This is especially true when strong interests are at stake in the decision-making process.

In joint fact-finding, the responsibility for finding and assimilating information is given to a group of parties representing different interests instead of an individual decision maker. The task of the group is to negotiate what kind of information and knowledge production would best satisfy the needs of all parties regarding the scientific quality of the information, transparency, etc. We assist in planning these processes and guiding the work.

Managing a changing planning landscape in Kristiinankaupunki – a new model of interaction for the EIA process

As part of Akordi’s year-long project, funded by TAH and Relex, five living labs were set up, in which models for interaction and conflict management were tested in a real-world environment in collaboration with various stakeholders. One of these living labs was in Kristiinankaupunki in Ostrobothnia,…
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Planning and Facilitation of the “Fisheries for the Future” Workshop

Baltic Sea herring stocks and the herring fisheries have in recent years become a central point of contention in Baltic Sea fisheries policy. Member States' approaches to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommendations for herring quotas have varied, and the public debate…
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Stakeholder engagement on key issues related to the establishment of a producer resposibility organization under the Wastewater Directive

The Ministry of the Environment is currently working on a project to prepare the amendments to national legislation required by the revised EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. One significant change relates to the removal of micropollutants from wastewater and the coverage of the resulting costs…
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Capacity building for the local governance of mineral exploration and mining (CAMI)

Critical mineral exploration and mining are necessities for the green and digital transition. Municipalities can attract, direct, and restrict mining projects in many ways, but high-quality local governance requires successful policy choices and practical know-how on collaborative practices. Building…
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Developing interaction between Luke and the large carnivore observers

The joint YTYKE project (Developing cooperation between actors to improve the quality and coverage of large carnivore observation data) between the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and the Finnish Wildlife Agency aims to strengthen cooperation between different actors in the production of large…
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Scaling up the work in anticipating and resolving conflicts in the green transition

The TAH Foundation and the RELEX Foundation have joined forces to fund Akordi, a Helsinki based organization specialised in environmental collaboration and conflict resolution. The main objective of this year-long project launched in June 2025 is to roll out and scale tested and validated procedures…
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Towards results-based systems to mitigate diffuse emissions and promote biodiversity

Results-based models are an option for improving environmental performance. A prerequisite for their use is that impacts can be measured with sufficient accuracy and at reasonable cost. The preliminary study, carried out jointly by Antti Iho (University of Eastern Finland) and Akordi, examines different indicators that could be used in results-based measures for biodiversity, water protection and climate change mitigation and adaptation, and identifies limiting conditions for measurement.
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Building Common Ground – Wind Power in Reindeer Herding Areas

Akordi, partnering with the Finnish Wind Power Association and the Reindeer Herders’ Association, is conducting a study that delves into the impact of collaborative practices on the local acceptance of wind power in reindeer herding areas beyond the Sámi homeland.
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The Dicstrict Vision for Herttoniemi

In the spring and summer of 2018, the Herttoniemi district (comprising Western Herttoniemi, Herttoniemenranta, and Roihuvuori) developed its own vision, describing the shared aspirations of various stakeholders in the district for its future and generating ideas on how to achieve this envisioned future. Throughout the process, directions for development of the area were jointly identified, and concrete opportunities for constructive collaboration were explored. The vision process enabled citizens to participate in the long-term planning of their surrounding environment and work together with planning professionals, as well as introducing a new collaborative approach to urban development.
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The establishing of the Kvarken archipelago nature conservation area

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. The work on the legislation draft has been demanding due to a decades-long history of conflict and a lack of trust…
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Developing a Collaborative Water Monitoring Platform with the Local Community and Mining Companies in Sodankylä

A collaborative water monitoring project is being developed in Sodankylä, Finland, to address concerns about the impact of mining on local waterways. The project, led by Akordi and funded by the Nessling Foundation, involves collaboration between mining companies, the local community, and various stakeholders. The goal is to improve the credibility and clarity of water monitoring data and address information needs beyond legal requirements. The collaborative group aims to create a functional model for joint water impact monitoring, with results to be presented at an open seminar in November 2023.
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Construction of a Collaborative Platform monitoring the Impacts of mining on Water Quality in Sodankylä

The project's objective is to create a collaborative water impact monitoring model with Sodankylä mining companies and local stakeholders and embed it in the local operational culture. The project's outcomes serve as a model for the mining sectors in Finland and the Nordic countries.
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Where will the conflicts generated by the Green Transition be resolved?

The green transition is a significant societal transformation, involving struggles between various interest groups. Which conflicts can be anticipated and avoided, and which battles are unavoidable? The aim of the green transition is the creation of a sustainable economy that does not rely on energy…
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Regional Flood Risk Management Groups

Regional flood risk management groups, established by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, work to minimize flood damages in Finnish riverine and coastal areas identified as flood risk areas. This collaborative work involves public authorities, the private sector, land owners , water rights holders, and third sector organizations. Akordi supported this work in 2019 by training leaders of flood risk management groups in Kymijoki river and the coastlines of Kotka and Hamina. The work also included facilitating workshops.
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Towards shared understanding of the changes in sustainability of forest use

In 2020, The Finnish Cultural Foundation granted a 150,000 euro Argumenta funding to the project “Towards shared understanding of the changes in sustainability of forest use”. The project is coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä School of Resource Wisdom (JYU.Wisdom), the Natural Resources…
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No Net Loss City

Ecological compensations refer to measures that compensate the lost biodiversity in one location with at least equivalent biodiversity gains in another. The No Net Loss City project introduces the first model for ecological compensations for land use planning in municipalities. The model is tested and…
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Facilitating a Nordic cormorant working group

The great cormorant is protected under the EU Birds Directive. Because of this the population growth has been strong in the Baltic Sea region during the past few decades. Conflicts between cormorants and humans, with fishermen in particular, have occured. Management of cormorant populations is not only…
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Iijoki River Visioning Process

A collaborative approach was used to build a shared vision for the future of the Iijoki water system. In addition to the restoration of the migratory fish stocks, the aim of the envisioning work was to address the water quality in the Iijoki basin, and to increase the attractiveness of the area for e.g. tourism and business. The Iijoki River Vision was published in 2018. The Advisory Board will continue to work on planning and prioritizing measures, and new projects, to increase the value of the river. This has already led to several projects improving the status of the river, including conservation and restoration projects.
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Building a Collaborative Platform for Reindeer Husbandry and Wind Power

How can we build fair common ground between reindeer herding and wind power projects? Since 2019, actors in the field have been learning from each other, building collaboration, and defining good practices hosted by Akordi, the Reindeer Herders’ Association, and Renewables Finland. Background The…
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Revision of Helsinki’s urban nature management practices

The Helsinki Urban Environment Division set up a working group to revise the city’s urban nature management policies. In 2022, Akordi planned and facilitated three workshops to support this work. The city of Helsinki is revising its urban nature management policies, and the city asked Akordi for…
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Helsinki City Strategy (2021-2025): Methods and solutions for aligning differing strategy priorities

Akordi assisted the city of Helsinki in aligning conflicting interests in the city strategy. The interests in question were city growth, biodiversity, and local recreational areas. Helsinki’s new city strategy (2021-2025), titled ‘A Place of Growth’, places city growth as one of the main goals,…
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Negotiations and mediation between the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, Greenpeace and the Finnish forest administration Metsähallitus in 2018-2021

The concerned parties commissioned Akordi in autumn 2018 to assess the prolonged forestry conflicts in the Kainuu region. In order for the conflict to be resolved the national level aspects had to be discussed as well. A twelve member working group was founded from members of the concerned organizations including national directors and forest experts of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation and Finnish Greenpeace. The group convened 14 times between November 2019 and January 2021. The scope of the work expanded significantly from what was initially planned to include all state owned forests in Finland.
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Improving the tracking service of wolf populations

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) wanted to improve its tracking service of wolf populations, and organized stakeholder events for feedback and suggestions. The first events was held in Kajaani in 2020. Akordi was in charge of the planning and facilitation of the events.
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Citizen Jury to deliberate the use of marshlands for peat production

The regional council of South Ostrobothnia and The Finnish Environment Institute, together with Akordi, assembled a citizen jury to discuss the use of South Ostrobothnian marshlands. This was a part of drafting the regional plan of South Ostrobothnia. The goal was to plan how to integrate the differing…
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Jyväskylä Strategic Forest Program

The City of Jyväskylä's Forest Program is a long-term strategic plan outlining the management and use of the city's forests. The process, which concluded in June 2018, involved the collaboration of city representatives and local stakeholders. Akordi played a key role in facilitating an interactive negotiation process during the development of the Forest Program.
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