Environmental protection and nature conservation

Environmental protection focuses on the prevention of damage. One way of doing this is to use a permit procedure. Financial controls, for example taxation, can also be used to help preserve the environment.

Nature conservation focuses on preserving biodiversity. National parks and nature reserves contribute to the overall aim of preservation. Endangered species, both flora and fauna, have a better chance of survival in them.

Everyone is in a position to influence the state of the living environment. Consumer habits and making them more environmentally friendly have a key role here.

The Ministry of the Environment implements policy on the environment. The Finnish Environment Institute studies changes in the environment, produces data and develops ways of protecting the air, the waters and the soil.

The sections responsible for the environment and natural resources of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment deal with environmental issues in their own regions. The sections responsible for environmental permits in the Regional State Administrative Agencies deal with and decide on environmental permits under the Environmental Protection Act and the Water Act. Local authorities are responsible for local environmental protection and monitoring, and they decide on applications for environmental permits from small plants.