Nature Forum 5.9.2025

Thank you all for attending the event! Nature Forum 2026 will be organised in Lahti.

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Nature Forum, held at Dipoli in Espoo on Friday, 5 September 2025, invites decision-makers, cities, and representatives of business, research and civil society to talk about how we can make nature flourish. Nature Forum is a platform for cooperation that accelerates sustainable changes in society.

The event is free for registered participants. The program will be primarily in Finnish

Program

The Nature Forum program begins by exploring the landscape and groundwork of nature work: with what tools are we traveling towards the goals of the 2030s? Alongside the program, the exhibition area will showcase the nature work of various organizations and inspire action-hungry participants. In the afternoon parallel sessions, participants will seek their own paths towards nature positivity, and by the end of the day, everyone will know their next destination.

The program is subject to updates.

8:30–9:30 Registration and coffee
9:30–11:00 How is a nature-positive future built?

Opening number
Opening speech by Mayor Kai Mykkänen
Builders of nature positivity in Finland. Greetings from the Ministry of the Environment.
From Nature Loss to Nature Love: Strategies, collaborations, and actions for more bioculturally diverse cities. Cecil Konijnendijk, Director of the Nature-Based Solutions Institute.
Nature pitches: What are the big and small actions strengthening nature right now?

11:00–12:30 Lunch & exhibition area
During lunch, you can visit the exhibition area to learn about various stakeholders' nature work.

12:30–14:30 Parallel sessions: various forms of nature work

How are urban biodiversity and climate benefits secured in growing urban areas? What conflicts and opportunities exist in combining urban growth and nature? What planning solutions, methods, and tools can be applied, and how does research meet the needs of cities?

You will hear presentations from Aalto University and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), along with a speech from the City of Espoo. The session concludes with a panel discussion in which participants can actively engage.

Session organized by Aalto University and SYKE.

Nature-based solutions provide many benefits in the built environment: they mitigate the effects of extreme weather events, support biodiversity and soil health, sequester carbon, and improve physical and mental well-being.

The session will present and discuss related research and practical experiences in utilizing these solutions, and together, we will outline the next steps for broader adoption of nature-based solutions.

Designed for stakeholders ranging from decision-makers to land-use planners and architects, as well as those working in early childhood education, community building, and health promotion.

Session organized by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and Sitra.

What does developing nature value markets and ecological compensation mean for municipalities and urban areas? What kind of cooperation is needed between municipalities and businesses? The session will explore opportunities for cities and companies to collaborate in impactful nature work and accelerate the initiation of nature value markets.

Session organized by CLC, the Finnish Association of Local and Regional Authorities, BOOST and MUST.

Discover the cutting-edge solutions for climate resilience and nature-based adaptation with our comprehensive research initiatives which are dedicated to developing innovative approaches that address the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability.

Our climate change adaptation and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) focus on protecting, conserving, and restoring ecosystems to provide human well-being, ecosystem services, and biodiversity benefits. We use modelling as well as integrate open data with IoT networks for effective monitoring and impact assessment, ensuring that our solutions are both adaptive and sustainable.

You will also hear about our groundbreaking projects, such as the EU Regions4Climate(external link, opens in a new window) and EU UNaLab(external link, opens in a new window), which aim to create resilient and sustainable communities through cross-sectoral collaborations. These projects demonstrate the benefits, cost-effectiveness, and replicability of NBS in various urban environments taking into account also the just transition.

Language in the session will be Finnish and English.

Target audience include e.g. cities, municipalities, consultants, construction companies, utility providers (like water, energy, waste) educational and research institutes.

Session organised by VTT.

During the parallel sessions, a closed roundtable discussion will also be held for the mayors and city leaders of Finland's ten largest cities.

14:30–15:15 Coffee break & exhibition area
During the break, you can visit the exhibition area to learn about various stakeholders' nature work.

15:15–16:30 Looking to the future – and getting our hands dirty!

City Declarations: What commitments are city mayors and leaders making?
From knowledge to action: A panel discussion about the parallel sessions with decision-makers, companies, public sector actors, and researchers.
Youth evaluation: Young people’s comments on city collaboration and achieving nature positivity.
Closing number

Exhibition area

The exhibition showcases Finland’s most interesting organizations, businesses, and initiatives related to nature.

The exhibitors of Nature Forum 2025 are Espoo, AFRY, HSY, HumbleBee Housing Project, Innogreen, Kekkilä-BVB, KVVY Tutkimus, Lassila & Tikanoja, MUST, Nomaji Landscape Architects & Future nature, Ramboll, Rudus, Sitowise, the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, the Finnish Association of Nature and Environment Schools, Finnish Environment Institute Syke, SYKLI Environmental College, Tapio, Turku, the Finnish Association of Landscape Industries and Villi vyöhyke.

Arrival

Dipoli is located in Otaniemi, Espoo at Otakaari 24, with excellent public transport connections. We recommend using public transit.

Read more about Dipoli here(external link, opens in a new window) and find your route via HSL Journey Planner.(external link, opens in a new window)

There are some paid parking spots in front of Dipoli. See all Otaniemi parking locations here(external link, opens in a new window). Read more about parking in Otaniemi here(external link, opens in a new window).

Accomodation

Participants of Nature Forum can get pre-negotiated rates at Heymo 1 by Sokos Hotels and Radisson Blu Hotel Espoo, both sustainability-certified and within walking distance of Dipoli.

Rates stated here are valid for bookings between September 4–7, 2025, as long as rooms allocated for the event are available. Book by August 28, 2025, 6 PM. Reservations from the event quota must be confirmed by credit card or paid in advance. Free cancellation up to 7 days before arrival.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Otaranta 2

€120 / single room

€140 / double room
Includes breakfast, Wi-Fi, Radisson Rewards™ benefits, and VAT.
Use booking code LUONTO25. Read more and make a booking(external link, opens in a new window)!

Heymo 1, Miestentie 5

€95 / single room

€115 / double room
Includes breakfast, sauna access, Wi-Fi, S-Card benefits, and VAT.
Use booking code BLUONTO25. Read more and make a booking(external link, opens in a new window)!