Cooperation Document for the Construction Industry and Large Cities

Nature actions implemented in the built environment play a key role in enhancing the biodiversity of cities. They support the well-being and health of city residents, as well as the attractiveness and economic success of cities. The ten largest cities in Finland and the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT (hereinafter RT) share a common goal to halt biodiversity loss and turn biodiversity into a recovery path by 2030.

In its own biodiversity roadmap, RT has identified the following as its nature-enhancing activities: reduction in use of natural resources, promotion of the circular economy and compliance with the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimise, restore, offset). The roadmap also emphasises the necessity of cooperation between the private and public sectors to halt biodiversity loss, and cities have been identified as one of the key stakeholders.

RT wants to support the achievement of the objectives of the Nature Declaration of Mayors drawn up in Tampere in 2024 and updated in Espoo in 2025. The Nature Declaration states that enhancing urban nature requires not only the cities’ own active contribution but also closer cooperation with the construction industry.

This Cooperation Document between RT and the large cities has been drawn up to concretise the common intent. RT also wants to encourage other sectors to support the Nature Declaration.

With the nature commitment, RT and the ten largest cities will intensify cooperation in three agreed areas. A special focus is on the utilisation of the mitigation hierarchy in construction projects and the built environment. The cooperation areas of the nature commitment have been selected based on their impact, cost-effectiveness and feasibility. Cooperation will be built between RT, willing cities and willing companies in joint thematic dialogues. The convener is either RT or one of the ten largest cities. The dialogues agree on the model for cooperation and its coordination.

1. Sharing nature information and good practices

Cities and also construction companies have plenty of nature information and good practices, the sharing of which can cost-effectively promote nature actions in the built environment and support the application of the mitigation hierarchy.

Several projects are often carried out in the same areas, in connection to which municipalities and developers conduct surveys on the nature of the area and prepare plans for local nature solutions. Compiling these surveys to an appropriate extent would help form an overall picture, which would enhance the consideration of nature in the planning and construction process. At the same time, city residents could also learn to understand their local nature better.

Green areas and structures play a key role in enhancing the nature of the built environment. Cities and companies have good practices and operating models for managing the entire life cycle of green areas from planning to maintenance. Sharing and scaling these practices can bring significant benefits to nature in a cost-effective manner.

Construction sites can also consider nature, for example, through procurement, by preserving existing nature, managing stormwater and improving soil quality. Clear instructions on site practices that respect nature also support local nature outside the construction site areas.

The aim of the cooperation between RT, companies and cities is to create an operating model for sharing nature information and good practices. The operating model will encourage cities to collect and share nature information. RT, in turn, trains companies in the sector to produce and utilise high-quality nature surveys based on the project’s impact area, promotes the sharing of surveys and guides the companies to act on the basis of the information, so that biodiversity does not decline in planning and construction work. In addition, efforts will be made to develop a cooperation model for sharing good practices in the life cycle management of green areas and the development of site guidelines. RT will include these nature guidelines in site practices, produce instructions for considering the local nature and water bodies, as well as train companies to act accordingly.

2. Consideration of biodiversity in land use planning

Cities are responsible for land use planning and have extensive expertise in land use planning, land use and the consideration of biodiversity. Construction companies also have experience and knowledge of nature-related challenges and opportunities in land use. In land use planning, the development of operating methods and cooperation could enhance the consideration of biodiversity, especially on the first steps of the mitigation hierarchy, i.e. avoiding and minimising harm to nature. A dialogue on common goals, which is considerate of the strengths of both parties, can ensure the use of up-to-date information and practical solutions in biodiversity consideration. Common principles for enhancing biodiversity can be developed, for example, through collaborative urban planning, of which cities already have plenty of experience.

The aim of cooperation between RT, companies and cities is to promote dialogue on the consideration of biodiversity in land use planning and to develop the flow of information. In addition, various forms of cooperation can be developed, such as collaborative planning processes that consider biodiversity, to which RT companies commit and which cities implement together with various stakeholders.

3. Boosting the nature values market

Ecological compensations are the last-resort method of the mitigation hierarchy, which can be used to achieve nature positivity also in construction projects in which nature values are lost locally. In Finland, officially confirmed ecological compensations and the nature values market are promoted rapidly, and their development has been recorded in RT’s biodiversity roadmap. Forerunner cities have already adopted compensations. Cooperation between companies and cities enables the proactive development of nature values markets in areas that are beneficial for nature, so that compensations are available near the place of birth of the harm to nature. In terms of market development, it is important that compensation is widely available in different parts of Finland. Cooperation and a functioning nature values market ensure that the realisation of compensation does not slow down the progress of projects.

The aim of cooperation between RT, companies and cities is to create an operating model that contributes to the creation of a nature values market in Finland. In the operating model, cities and companies consider introducing ecological compensation when the harm to nature cannot be avoided. RT commits to developing the competence of companies in ecological compensation, so that companies themselves can utilise, develop and also offer ecological compensation projects to cities to promote the creation of a nature values market.

In Espoo, 5 September 2025

Kai Mykkänen, Espoo, mayor

Daniel Sazonov, Helsinki, mayor

Timo Koivisto, Jyväskylä, mayor

Soile Lahti, Kuopio, mayor

Niko Kyynäräinen, Lahti, mayor

Ari Alatossava, Oulu, mayor

Lauri Inna, Pori, mayor

Ilmari Nurminen, Tampere, mayor

Piia Elo, Turku, mayor

Pekka Timonen, Vantaa, mayor

Aleksi Randell, Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT, CEO