"We are pleased to share a common goal with the Kone Foundation—to establish a functioning, forest owner–driven nature value market in Finland," commented Marko Mäki-Hakola, MTK’s Director of Forestry.

MTK's project focuses on developing and implementing tools that promote the functioning of legally defined nature value markets, nature credits, such as the luontoarvo.fi marketplace. The aim is to simultaneously promote biodiversity and broaden landowners’ opportunities for new sources of income.

"Forest owners are increasingly eager to participate in nature value markets. With this funding, MTK and the forest management associations will be better equipped to meet the needs of these forest owners and inspire new owners to help safeguard biodiversity," Mäki-Hakola explained.

According to MTK’s member surveys related to its biodiversity roadmap, 80% of landowners consider protecting biodiversity important in their own activities, Mäki-Hakola noted.

The project manager will be Janne Tyynismaa, who has been responsible for the development of luontoarvo.fi at MTK.

"There is enormous potential in nature value markets, and I believe this new collaboration will help bring services closer to the everyday lives of forest owners," Tyynismaa commented.

Kone Foundation Sees the Collaboration as Important and Meaningful

"We are very pleased about this collaboration. While the Metsän puolella initiative and MTK have not always seen eye to eye on every issue, we are united when it comes to nature value markets. The majority of forest owners take excellent care of their forests, and good environmental actions should be fairly compensated," emphasized Mari Pantsar, Transformation Director of the Metsän puolella initiative.

In addition to the luontoarvo.fi service, Pantsar also highlighted the role of new service models from forest management associations in serving landowners aiming to join the nature value market.

"There are hundreds of thousands of forest owners, and the Metsän puolella initiative cannot reach enough of them without the help of MTK and the forest management associations. We are also keen to hear from forest owners in relation to service development—after all, it’s about their forests and their services," Pantsar commented.

Also, one of MTK´s member forest management association got funding from Kone Foundation. The Päijät-Häme Forest Management Association’s project develops a model for a comprehensive nature value plan, enabling forest owners to assess the benefits and income of various land use options.

These two projects together provide models and pilots applicable also in building EU Nature Credit models.