Authorities in Helsinki have approved measures to protect over 100 areas of land and inland water under the city’s new Nature Conservation Area Programme for 2025–2038.
Helsinki offers a wide and accessible choice of ways to get out and about in nature, from afterwork lounging and picnicking on the Esplanadi, to kayaking waterways, visiting rare flora on former military base islands, taking a sauna and dip in the Gulf of Finland, or sunbathing on wilded church roofs.
In fact, almost 40% of the Finnish capital’s land is a type of green area, be it forest, meadow, or urban park. The city, which is two-thirds sea, also boasts over 300 islands, as well as wetlands, rocky outcrops, and around 130 km of seashore open to all.
Nature, space, and silence
This make-up, say Helsinki Partners, is what makes nature “part of everyday life.” The air quality is superb, clean water is abundant, and there are quiet spots everywhere, the agency says, noting that following the mantra “nature, space, and silence” exemplifies part of what it means to be Finnish, a nationality consistently found to be the happiest in the world.
But the city is growing and developing rapidly, which brings challenges to that way of life. Construction and climate change are the main threats to biodiversity. The formal adoption of the new programme on 23 June 2025 promises to safeguard those significant nature values held by Helskinkians who believe in the diversity of species and habitats, and the preservation of recreational and hiking opportunities for residents.
120 protected areas by 2038
The scope means 98 new land and 22 new marine areas throughout the city will be protected by 2038, increasing protected areas to approximately 10 percent of both Helsinki’s land and sea. The move will double the protected land area and increase marine areas tenfold. It is also a voluntary step by Helsinki to aim to meet the EU’s country-specific biodiversity strategy target, which entails strict protections for 30% of the designated areas.
