City of Biodiversity: Alternative Plans to Protect Nature

Cities and municipalities across Finland are planning new residential and industrial areas, as well as data centres, at the expense of nature, despite scientific evidence that local nature is crucial for human wellbeing, biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change.

Many of the plans cities use for building on forest areas are based on outdated assumptions and do not adequately consider the forest's role as a safeguard for human and natural living conditions in an era of climate and environmental crisis. A large portion of Finland's remaining near-natural forests are located in cities, as they have rarely been subject to forestry use.

In the City of Biodiversity project, we create alternatives to plans that destroy urban forests, allowing city forests to be saved from development. The project is funded by the Koneen Säätiö foundation's "For the Forest" initiative. We have developed alternative plans for Pieni Neulamäki in Kuopio, Stansvik and Kumpula in Helsinki, and Lehtivuori in Lempäälä - each in close collaboration with local communities. The purpose of these carefully crafted alternative plans is to strengthen residents' agency in urban planning and protect local forests: they are a tool for defending nature near homes. For each alternative plan, information meetings and planning walks are organised where residents, decision-makers, and planners meet.

City of Biodiversity is formed by architects Heljä Nieminen, Seela Pentikäinen, Cecilia Aintila, and Siiri Hänninen. Tuikku Leinonen was involved in developing the alternative plan for Kumpula. All completed alternative plans and more information about the project can be found on our website www.elonkirjonkaupunki.com and on Instagram @elonkirjonkaupunki.