Skanssi biodiversity park, Turku

Wild Zone is one of the partners in creating the first biodiversity park in Europe, in Skanssi, Turku. The park will function as a pilot area and flagship of fostering biodiversity in urban green spaces. The goal of the project is to develop the park as a recreation area for the residents as well as a learning environment that spreads awareness on biodiversity conservation. Other partners in the collaboration are the University of Turku, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finnish Natural Resources Institute, VASO Oy, Blokgarden Oy, and Valonia (Regional council of Southwest Finland).

The project comprises many critical subjects pertaining to biodiversity loss, such as management of sun-exposed dry meadows, increasing deadwood, establishing meadows, protecting rare native plants, planting grove-growing rare deciduous trees, and creating an experimental lime (calcium) meadow. Wild Zone provides expertise and is in charge of the implementation of these operations. In the Skanssi biodiversity park project, novel methods of inhibiting biodiversity loss and protecting rare species are developed; several different methods will be used.

During the park's development more experience will be gained on the planning, commissioning, and implementing the management of natural sites. In addition, new methods of both cooperation models and concept multiplication are developed, and those can be helpful in considering biodiversity as a part of the functions of businesses.

The project also contains developing learning environments and natural management with citizen engagement with different groups. Students and residents can take an active part in the functions of the park. This in part will increase data on how to include different kinds of groups in a sustainable desing of urban green spaces, taking biodiversity into consideration. The learning tools and environments that the project will provide will offer both concrete and virtual tuition on biodiversity conservation.

The biodiversity park will be developed into a model of ecological compensation and biodiversity conservation, enabling its parts to be duplicated elsewhere in Turku, in Finland, and in Europe. The goal is to spread the good practices and foster taking biodiversity into consideration in other areas, as well.

Wild Zone has drawn up the plan for Skanssi biodiversity park in 2022 in cooperation with citizens, organizations, scientists, and the planners of the City of Turku.