Luontosuhteen katkokset ja jatkuvuudet: maahanmuuttajien kokemuksia pohjoisessa

A close relationship with nature and the exploitation of products provided by nature are an integral part of Finnish identity. In this review article, we study the nature relationships of immigrants in Finnish Lapland, both in the context of their previous life stages and current integration. We apply the ideas of geobiography and lifelong environmental relationship. We ask how the migrants’ nature relationship has taken shape in the course of life, and what kind of discontinuities and continuities exist. We have approached the issue with focus group interviews conducted among immigrants who have residence permits in Finland and live in Lapland. In interviews, photo-elicitation has had an important role. It seems that northern nature has not become familiar during the “formal” integration process. Nature experiences in Finland relate in many ways to experiences in the nature of the country of origin. Refugee camp is the biggest discontinuity in nature relationship. The nature of the original homeland is therefore very distant in time, but still important.

Maahanmuuttajataustaisten nuorten luontosuhde ja luonnon virkistyskäyttö

Successful integration of immigrants has been identified as the key for future social and economic well-being in EU. Nature can be used to support integration. Based on survey data collected from students in 7–9th grades in the city of Lahti (n=1,121), we explore immigrants’ and native Finns’ participation in outdoor recreation and their well-being experiences of and relationships with nature. The study applies the framework of integration to discuss how nature supports the integration of immigrant youth in Finland. The results show that nature is an important part of immigrant adolescents’ everyday lives and can support their structural, cultural, interactive and identificational integration. However, there are also some differences between the immigrant and native adolescents. The study results highlight the better inclusion of the youth and multi-cultural nature-relationships in the governance of natural areas and development of nature-based solutions for integration.

Paperittomien maahanmuuttajien muuttoliike Suomeen, Suomessa ja Suomesta

Irregular migration to, in and from Finland is the focus of this study. The empirical material consists of a survey among undocumented migrants (n=100) in Finland in 2019 and earlier surveys among all Finnish municipalities about undocumented migrants. In 2019, about 4,000–5,000 undocumented migrants were in Finland. Most current undocumented migrants came to Finland in 2015 legally as asylum seekers (who later failed to obtain asylum or other residence permit), fewer entered Finland without legal right to do so and some remained in Finland after their resident permit on other than asylum seeking grounds expired. War, insecurity, and economic challenges in the country of origin influenced people’s decision to leave. Perceived safety and economic opportunities in Finland influenced their choice of it as the destination country. For some, Finland was rather a choice influenced by rumours and misinformation, also in the social media. Many undocumented migrants live in Helsinki and the capital region. This area attracts undocumented migrants from other parts of Finland due to better everyday opportunities. Very few if any lives in rural areas and small towns. Of responded undocumented migrants, 2–11 percent considered outmigration from Finland and 22 percent could perhaps return to their country of origin. Many will remain in Finland for years if not permanently despite legal, economic and social hardships.

Aluerakenne, alueellinen erivertaisuus ja Suomen aluekehitys

In this paper we draw on the work of Doreen Massey and David Harvey and think with the concept of spatial structure. We divide the concept into three constitutive elements: uneven geographical development (materiality), the discursive production of spatial structures (semiosis) and collective politics of spatial structure (experience). We conclude our argument with the concept of relational inequality and a call for rigorous examination of the history and current development of spatial structures in Finland and elsewhere from the perspective of the threefold conceptual frame presented in the paper.

Maisematason geodiversiteetti Suomessa

The diversity of nature consists of two complementary components: biological diversity (biodiversity) and abiotic diversity (geodiversity). Biodiversity is widely acknowledged in both research, and conservation and management practices, whereas geodiversity (the variety of abiotic features and processes of the land surface and subsurface) is just emerging as a research and practical issue. In this study, we introduce the geodiversity concept in Finnish context and explore how landscape-scale geodiversity varies in Finland and between Finnish municipalities. In addition, we study how geodiversity varies between nature areas and human impacted areas and how Finnish strict nature reserves and national parks succeed in capturing geodiversity. According to the results, there is distinct geographical variation in geodiversity in Finland. The geodiversity of municipalities varies through the country but, on average, municipalities in the southern and northern parts of the country have especially high geodiversity values. Interestingly, human impacted areas have slightly higher geodiversity than nature areas. Nature conservation areas manage especially well in capturing geomorphological richness. This study emphasizes the need for the investigation of geodiversity on a national and sub-national level. Study of geodiversity provides information on nature beyond current biodiversity-focused perspectives, which can be further utilized in e.g., land-use and nature conservation planning.

Jokiuoman kartoitus ja virtausolosuhteiden mallinnus tukena perkauksen suunnittelussa: esimerkkinä Eurajoki

Dredging has a significant effect on sediment transportation, water quality and flow conditions in a river channel. However, often the effects of dredging are not studied carefully in advance. One reason for this is the lack of suitable study approach. Studies on river dynamics require high quality geometric models of riverbed, banks and floodplain. Accurate terrain and bathymetric data are also crucial components of reliable hydraulic modelling. In this study, we created an approach to model the presumable impacts of dredging. We modelled high discharges and annual flooding magnitudes in Eurajoki River, SW Finland in its current form and after dredging. As the low-sloped channel is heavily vegetated, the aim of the dredging is to improve flow conditions by removing sediment and vegetation within a reach of 8 km. First, we created a geometric model of the riverine environment by combining riverbank topography from national Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data by the Finnish National Land Survey and bathymetry, gathered with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP was attached to a kayak to enable access to shallow areas as well. This way, we were able to model the geometry of the fluvial forms within a few centimetres’ accuracy. Next, we modified the model of the river geometry using GIS software according to the dredging plan. Finally, we used a 2D Computational Fluid Dynamics to model the current and after dredging flow conditions during various flow events. We analysed the effects on dredging on the flood magnitudes and flow conditions based on the models and compared these to the present situation. These models offer improvements on river management and observing the effects on dredging.

Globaali talouskriisi ja Suomen alueellinen resilienssi

The aim of this article is to make a general overview to regional economic resilience in the sub-regions of Finland after the 2009 recession. Resilience is studied from perspectives of resistance, recovery, renewal and reorientation of employment and gross domestic product. In addition, the relationship of different kinds of structural background factors to regional resilience is outlined. The regional output is measured in relation to region’s own pre-recession output. The key findings suggest that (1) productivity has recovered better in more peripheral regions of Finland but employment recovery has been better in growth regions. (2) The regional characteristics connected to resilience of employment and GDP seem to be quite opposite. (3) Resilience is not a one feature, instead it takes many different forms. Therefore, in regional development policies it is important to specify which types of resilience, e.g. employment or production resilience, are being pursued.