Ecosystem Services in Cities from the City's Point of View the City Of

VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA

Ecosystem services in cities from the city’s point of view The City of Vantaa, Finland

Stefan Skog Director of Environmental Affairs City of Vantaa

VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA

Vantaa - Vanda

The fourth biggest city in Finland Inhabitants (1.1.2009) 195 397 Area, km2 238,4 Inhabitants per km2 820 Municipal tax rate 2009 18.50

Traces of human habitation date back 7000 years First mentioned in a document in 1351 • 200 years older than the capital, Helsinki Became an independent city in 1974 The coat of arms includes a fishtail as a reminder of the salmon in the River Vantaa

1 VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA Vantaa’s population from 1870 up to a forecast for 2030

250,000 Year Inhabitants

200,000 1950 14,976 1960 41,906 1970 72,215 150,000 1980 129,918 1990 152,263 2000 176,386 100,000 2010 198,655 * 2020 220,977 * 2030 231,740 * 50,000 **forecast

0 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA Unspoiled nature

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”Local contribution to obtain the 2010 goal to halt the loss of biodiversity”

City of Vantaa is participating in a project (2006-2010) supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers together with municipalities from Sweden(1), Norway(3), Danmark(4), Finland(2), Iceland (2) and Faroe Islands(2).

- the project focuses on the need for actions in the local municipalities, Count Down 2010

VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA

Nature conservation areas today in Vantaa

Nature conservation areas including Natura 2000 areas, reservations in the Master Plan 2007, total: 1419 hectares, 40 areas, 6 % of the city’s acreage

Areas protected by the Nature Conservation Act, (2009) 847 hectares: hardwood forests, groves by the river shore, hazelnut groves, alder spruces, rocky hillsides, swamps, meadows and old forests,

Protected biotopes, 27 ha: hazelnut groves, hardwood forests

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A new tool in use for the Master Plan

Areas of great importance for the biodiversity

Objective: supplementing the actual nature conservation area network

Based on studies of flora and fauna: - Plant life in Vantaa, since 1980 about 30 studies - Bird fauna, 1990-2009 - Bats, 1992-2009 - Forest types, 2004 - Flying squirrel, 1989-2009 - Insects 2004 - 2009 - Ecological Network in Uusimaa Regional Council Area, 2001 - Study on ” Areas of great importance for the Biodiversity in the City of Vantaa, 2006, by A. Ojala

VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA

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Ecosystem services in Vantaa

In Vantaa the focus and discussions has been in the past almost merely on benefits of Cultural Services like: • Recreation • Educational • Cultural heritage • Aesthetic and • Sence of place

We have not forgot products of Provisioning Services like: •Genetic resources

But today we are focusing on Regulating Services.

VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA

Regulating Ecosystem services in Vantaa

A great deal of work has been done lately on: • Water regulation • Flood control • Water purification and • CO2 absorption

Storm water strategy in City of Vantaa(2009), Storm water management plan in Marja-Vantaa(2009), Development of land- use within the urbanizing Kylmäoja watershed, Gerald Krebs, TKK, (2009) Forest-management principles of City of Vantaa (2008), Recreation and Concervation strategy for the Nature area of Petikko in Vantaa (2009)

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VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA

6 VANTAAN KAUPUNKI CITY OF VANTAA Petikko recreation and nature area

-1700 ha

- More than half of the protected areas in Vantaa

- Key role in the regional green space network

- Regionally and locally significant trails and ski trails

- A number of hobby activities

-Pressure from use (Marja-Vantaa), environmental problems