Key topics for reaching the EU 2020 Biodiversity Target in Finland

 

• Impact of EU-subsidies: Agricuture, better value for public money needed

Over 90 % of the Finnish agricultural land is included in the agri-environment program. Nevertheless, the biodiversity of the agricultural areas is still decreasing and many agricultural habitats important for biodiversity are threatened[1]. Agri-environment programs have not been able to solve water pollution problems either. Situation is scandalous, as money paid for the environmental purposes, clearly does not bring the expected results, i.e. halt the biodiversity loss and clean waters.

 

Populations of many wetland bird species have decreased rapidly in Finland[2]. Several species are red listed. The situation is alarming and shows that Finnish wetland habitats are in unsatisfactory conditions and large scale actions, both in the wetlands and in the surrounding landscapes is needed reverse current degradation[3].