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Datenbank der Projekte zur ländlichen Entwicklung

Profitable Environmental Entrepreneurship

Summary

Nature and landscape management was promoted and improved through cooperation between local entrepreneurs, municipalities and private companies in south-western Finland.

Photo:

Background

Nature and landscape management is an emerging sector. Given that there was a growing demand for this type of services, ProAgria the leading agricultural expert organisation in Finland, wanted to strengthen cooperation in this sector and initiated the project that handled a total of 18 landscape management sites on lands owned by municipalities and power grid companies.

Objective

The aim was to develop and increase nature and scenery management.

Main activities

The authorities looked for local entrepreneurs to take over the management of 18 scenery management areas owned by five municipalities and two electric companies in the region. The entrepreneurs were responsible for the restoration of fields and meadows, which had been neglected until then. The goal was to create open scenery and increase biodiversity through grazing, scything and clearing.

Results & Benefits

Clearing the overgrown heaths increases the survival rate of false heath fritillaries, a rare and endangered butterfly species. The restoration of key scenic areas also creates a visibly more pleasant environment. The cooperation networks formed during the project provided both the entrepreneurs and the client with increased opportunities to make their operations profitable. The project was nominated for best development project of the year in the Best Practices 2010 competition.

Lessons learnt

Due to the sites being small they should be combined into a more extensive network to make the work profitable for both the client and the rural entrepreneurs. It was the first time that electric network companies used management methods that promote biodiversity of nature in scenery management.

Project location and other information

Pirkanmaa in south-western Finland

Region

Pirkanmaa

RDP Territory

Mainland

Total project cost (€)

140 139

Contact name

Riikka Söyrinki

Telephone

+358 40 744 7231

Languages for contact

English, Finnish

At a glance

Country

Finland

Final beneficiary type

Non-farm or non-forest entreprises, Other

Budget range

€100 000 - €500 000

Start date:

01/08/2008

End Date:

31/07/2011

Theme / Measure:

• Rural Quality of Life & Economic Diversification
• Improving quality of life in rural areas
• 323. Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage

Keywords:

Grazing, Biodiversity, Sheep, Landscape, Entrepreneurship

Last update

19/08/2013