This is how we build a nature-wise Espoo

To achieve the goals of the Nature-wise Espoo Roadmap, we need to take action and develop our practices. The Roadmap will help us target our activities at areas where they are both impactful and feasible. This is long-term work that began already before the Roadmap was completed and that will continue more consistently.

Local nature in MatinkyläPhoto: Elena Savina

Taking care of nature at local and city level

We will improve the ecological network proactively and systematically.

Espoo wishes to preserve its diverse and vibrant nature for future generations. In addition to having a great intrinsic value, nature also provides vital benefits for humans. While developing the city, we will give nature room to grow, recover and form a functional network.

We will establish new nature reserves and safeguard valuable nature sites over the long term. We will protect forests, mires, waters and habitats for endangered species even when this is not a legal obligation. Large protected areas will support the long-term preservation of species, and we will also encourage other landowners to get involved in nature conservation.

We will improve the connectivity of the ecological network, enabling animals and plants to move between areas and adapt to changing conditions. We will identify discontinuities and develop solutions, such as green bridges and underpasses. We will also restore degraded nature sites, including streams and meadows, eradicate invasive alien species and foster forest biodiversity.

Pole crossings on Kuitinmäentie to help flying squirrels get across the road.Photo: Philippe Parisot

Parks, forests, meadows and waters make up the blue and green infrastructure of Espoo, which is being developed to support both nature and residents’ well-being. Diverse nature also helps us adapt to climate change, including to heat waves and floods. The goal is that all Espoo residents will have access to high-quality local nature.

Measures in 2025–2026:

We have established four new nature reserves.
As part of our work on Espoo Master Plan 2060, we examined the principles of ecological connectivity to support further planning. We have also checked the locations of ecological connections by surveying individual sites.
We have identified areas suitable for restoration and prepared restoration plans.
In January and August 2026, the valuable traditional rural biotope of Nuottasalmi was managed by mowing reeds. The mowed reeds were used as a safety surface for a swing in a day-care centre playground.
We updated the survey of traditional rural environments in Espoo and surveyed plant species on traditional rural biotope sites.
Flying squirrel corridors were improved on Friisinmäentie road. Future corridors were created and existing ones strengthened by planting trees.
We produced a report on schools’ and day-care centres’ green areas, which examined the use and accessibility of these areas. Read the report in Finnish (pdf)(external link, opens in a new window).

Restoration work in Nuottasalmi meadow in summer 2025Photo: Tiina Peippo

Incorporating nature values in the city's development

We will make extensive use of the environmental mitigation hierarchy in planning and implementation.

Nature values are addressed in City of Espoo’s development from the early stages of planning on. The goal is to reconcile the city’s growth with fostering biodiversity while ensuring that valuable habitats, species and ecological corridors are preserved. Planning is based on up-to-date nature data and impact assessments, making it possible to identify and address factors that play a key role for nature in decision-making. To support planning, we will develop and maintain a set of classification criteria for nature values and various green factor tools.

In land use planning and construction, we strive to avoid degrading valuable nature sites, such as scree meadows. Photo: Paula Kuusisto-Hjort

The mitigation hierarchy guides practical solutions at all levels of planning. The primary aim is to avoid damage to nature by directing construction to less sensitive areas. If adverse effects cannot be fully avoided, they are reduced by means of planning solutions and implementation methods, including site practices. Adversely affected nature can be later restored, or new habitats can be created in connection with construction. Compensation, in which unavoidable adverse effects are offset by improving the status of nature elsewhere, will only be considered as a last resort. This ensures that nature values are consistently addressed as part of developing the city. Ecological compensation is a new approach in Finland, and its practices are still taking shape. Espoo is currently working on its own principles for consistent and effective use of compensation.

Measures in 2025–2026:

ARVO project aiming to develop a regional green factor was completed in late 2025. This tool will be introduced stepwise in Espoo. Detail will be added to the principles of using the tool based on experiences gained in pilot projects. The project’s final report in Finnish (pdf)(external link, opens in a new window).
The Handbook on sustainable development in Kiviruukki identified measures for promoting a nature-wise approach and assessed the prerequisites for achieving net positivity using the Biodiversity Metric tool.
We participated in a research project conducted by the University of Jyväskylä, which examines the nature footprint and handprint of construction and city planning. For example, the nature footprint of the draft Master Plan 2060 is being examined in Espoo. This project is ongoing.
We participated in a study on the recreational use of urban forests that was concluded in 2025 (VIRKKU). The results of the study will be used in the planning and reconciliation of biodiversity and recreational use of nature.
Examination of methods for increasing canopy cover on example sites in Espoo 2026.

Supported by a growing knowledge base

Keeping up with change – we develop our actions for nature based on the latest information and statutes.

In order to preserve biodiversity, up-to-date and reliable data on the status of nature and its changes are needed. Legislation is also evolving, and the requirements for nature conservation and land use planning are growing and diversifying. Espoo is developing nature data collection, enabling us to understand better such as the situation of species and habitats and to target conservation measures and land use sustainably.

Surveys and long-term monitoring help to produce nature data. They help us assess if species and habitats have declined, proliferated or remained unchanged. We also need more accurate and extensive data on such issues as invasive alien species and habitat structures, including the volume of decaying wood or connectivity of areas. The collected data will help us detect changes in time – before nature values are irreversibly degraded.

Close cooperation and clear common practices are needed to manage nature data. This is why we are improving our information systems and the use of survey data. We build up our competence through training and research cooperation, while we also actively monitor the development of biodiversity legislation and participate in its drafting to ensure that the viewpoints of Espoo and other growing cities are taken on board in time.

Nature data are collected by conducting inventories in the field. Photo: Philippe Parisot

Measures in 2025–2026:

We introduced a nature information system that collects the data produced by nature surveys in a single location.
The more extensive habitat surveys launched in 2020 continue in 2026. In 2025, additional nature data covering an area of around one thousand hectares were obtained.
A survey of built environment habitats (RYTY) was conducted in Leppävaara area in 2025. RYTY surveys have continued in 2026.
An ecological status assessment was completed on three detailed plan sites in 2025, and a similar study will be conducted on a further site in summer 2026.

Stepping up cooperation in the city’s organisation

We will increase cooperation and clarify roles in promoting diversity.

Effective dialogue and cooperation between different actors are essential for promoting biodiversity. We will build up knowledge and expertise through experiments, training and research cooperation alike. We will actively exchange information within the city organisation and discuss topical issues in various cooperation groups. We will also develop our practices to facilitate the incorporation of nature-wise solutions in our daily work and urban environment development. Together we can identify goals that are important for urban nature and find solutions that will support the well-being of nature as part of the city's development.

Measures in 2025–2026:

The city’s internal expertise and cooperation were developed at the events of the Urban Environment Sector’s Lumo network.
Co-creation of a regional green factor (ARVO project).
Participation in research projects (incl. VIRKKU, Nature footprint of construction and city planning).
The Nature-wise Espoo working group coordinated the preparation of the Nature-wise Espoo Roadmap.

We also work together with land use planners and environmental experts on surveying nature values. Photo: Suvi Kolu

The city’s multidisciplinary working group on meadows strives to improve the status of meadows and to develop them on every step from land use planning to implementation. Photo: Tiina Peippo

Involving residents, communities and companies

Together for biodiversity.

We wish to safeguard biodiversity together with residents, communities, companies and landowners. We will respond to concerns over the preservation of nature by communicating openly about the city’s actions and offering residents ways to participate in managing and improving nature in their local environments.

We will encourage residents to enhance biodiversity in their gardens and in the city’s public areas. For example, we provide guidance on removing invasive alien species and the organisation of work parties. We meet residents at events organised at Nature House Villa Elfvik and resident events as well as on nature excursions.

Residents can support biodiversity in their gardens, for example by increasing the volume of decaying wood. The image shows a garden entered in Espoo’s garden competition. Photo: Espoon kaupunki

The goal is to step up cooperation with different actors. As part of the cooperation model, we are examining the possibilities of awarding grants that would encourage associations to improve the status of nature. We will expand our communications with the aim of reaching all target groups better, including children and young people.

As a large share of the land in Espoo is not owned by the city, we also encourage companies and landowners to take action for nature. For example, we encourage construction sector operators to preserve trees, develop gardens and green roofs, and try out new nature-friendly solutions. We provide advice to builders, farmers and forest owners as well as promote sustainable land use in cooperation with different parties.

Measures in 2025–2026:

We have supplemented the Nature-wise Espoo website and improved it, for example regarding readability and comprehensibility.
A Nature-wise garden competition was organised in Espoo in summer 2026.
We have promoted the organisation of working parties and volunteering. For example, the City of Espoo has organised volunteers to control invasive alien species at Villa Eflvik and to work on a traditional rural landscape in Laajalahti nature reserve.
For a third year running, we used the Crowdsorsa game to encourage Espoo residents to participate in invasive species eradication events. Such invasive plant species were eradicated across an area of over 118,000 square metres in Espoo in 2025.
We organised a Nature-wise Espoo seminar in May 2025.