The Regional Councils of Helsinki-Uusimaa, Central Finland and Ostrobothnia, together with Valonia, representing Southwest Finland, and the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), will collaborate from 2026 to 2028 to establish nature value markets in the regions. The project, Lumomaa – Boosting Regional Nature Credit Markets, brings together sellers and buyers of nature values, develops operating models for nature credit markets and pilots trading in practice. The aim is to enhance biodiversity on land and in aquatic environments, while also strengthening and harmonising regional capacity to adapt to climate change.
At present, a funding gap is hindering efforts to enhance biodiversity. New types of market-based solutions offer a way to channel additional funding into biodiversity improvement.
Nature value markets bring together sellers and buyers of nature values. Landowners can sell nature values for purposes such as conservation, restoration or nature management.
Well-functioning nature credit markets provide landowners with new sources of income and offer buyers a practical way to demonstrate their commitment to corporate responsibility. Buyers of nature values, such as companies and municipalities, can take concrete action for nature and offset the adverse impacts of their activities on nature by purchasing biodiversity values on the market. The method for calculating nature values is defined in the Finnish Nature Conservation Act.
Boosting nature credit markets through forums, resources and pilot projects
Nature value market forums will be established in the regions participating in the project, bringing together regional stakeholders. The forums will build a shared understanding of nature, how its value is determined, and how nature creditmarkets enable the trading of naturevalues.
In addition, the Lumomaa project will produce resources to support biodiversity trading, including information on the benefits of biodiversity markets, market forecasts for demand for naturevalues, and contract templates. The project will also pilot nature credit markets by facilitatin actual transactions between nature value sellers and buyers.
Another objective is to scale up the nature value market forum model and share the project’s experiences and resources nationwide. The lessons learned from Lumomaa will help support the development of nature value markets at the regional, national and EU levels.
Helsinki-Uusimaa’s first biodiversity market forum to be held in early 2027
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council is responsible for the overall coordination of the Lumomaa project. It will also organise a nature value market forum in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region and, together with the Regional Council of Central Finland, develop an operating model for the forums.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council will facilitate nature valuemarket transactions in the region. It is also responsible for disseminating the results of the project as a whole, as well as for communications and advocacy.
The project has received funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) national call for projects supporting the green transition, under the theme of climate change adaptation and mitigation. The total project budget is 619,206 euros of which €207,223 is allocated to the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council.
What is a nature value market?
A nature value market is a system based on the Nature Conservation Act in which landowners can generate and sell officially verified nature values, measured in nature value hectares. The aim is to increase private funding for nature-related measures. Nature value hectares can be used voluntarily to compensate for adverse impacts on nature (ecological compensation) or to support positive actions for nature. The permanence of these units is safeguarded by law.
Nature value markets are still at an early stage but are growing rapidly. They do not replace statutory obligations or publicly funded measures; rather, they complement them.
A national roadmap(You are transferring to another service), including the measures required for its implementation, was completed in June 2026.
Environmentally Smart Helsinki-Uusimaa
Helsinki-Uusimaa is aiming at climate neutrality by the year of 2030, in line with the forerunner municipalities of the region. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Climate Roadmap is the guideline for the climate work.
For more information, please contact:
Hanna Mattila
Senior Adviser
hanna.mattila@uudenmaanliitto.fi
Support for transition to circular economy, Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub, European Circular Innovation Valley Project (ECIV)
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