Written by: Tiina Ynnilä, UEF

The ᴇNᴀBʟS team of the University of Eastern Finland and the Priodiversity LIFE project of the Economic Development Centre of Eastern Finland together with the North Savo network of nature stakeholders created a policy brief for regional decision-makers as a result of the discussions at the workshop meeting held on 24 February 2026 and a follow-up survey.

The key messages of the policy brief are:

• Human well-being depends entirely on nature. However, biodiversity in North Savo is in decline.
• Urgent action is needed to strengthen nature conservation, restore habitats and improve ecological connectivity across the region.
• Regional programmes play an increasingly important role in guiding development, as they must integrate biodiversity, sustainable land use and vitality.
• North Savo needs strong cooperation, expertise, actors and clear strategic and political leadership that respects biodiversity in the efforts to build a carbon-neutral and nature-rich region.
• Nature in North Savo can only be protected through actions taken within the region.
• Biodiversity also has intrinsic value, entirely independent of its benefits to people.

The policy brief was sent to regional decision-makers by email and UEF created a news article about it. The North Savo Regional Council invited Professor Elina Oksanen to present the policy brief for their steering committee meeting in May 2026.