Finland launches private market for nature restoration payments

Landowners in Finland can now earn money by improving the ecological condition of their forests and wetlands, as a new private market for “nature value trading” takes shape, Yle reports.

The first significant trading platform, Luontoarvot.fi, was launched last week by the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK). The site has already facilitated its first major deal: a North Karelia cooperative purchased the restoration of a 12-hectare drained peatland in Ilomantsi, converting it back into a natural mire.

The initiative aims to channel private funding into nature conservation, as state resources remain insufficient. “State funding for protection is frankly miserable right now,” said Heli Siitari, MTK’s environmental specialist.

Under the system, landowners can receive payments for actions like rewetting drained peatlands or protecting old-growth forests. Transactions are measured in standardized “nature value hectares,” a metric combining ecological quality and area. One fully natural hectare equals one nature value hectare, while a partially degraded site contributes proportionally less.

For now, the platform operates as a brokerage rather than a direct marketplace. Landowners must work with forest management associations to list projects, and deals are overseen by the Finnish Permit and Supervision Authority. Future updates may allow direct listings and crowdfunding options, enabling private individuals to contribute small sums toward restoration projects.

Researchers and officials see the model as a potential global template. “If we even want to pretend that halting biodiversity loss by 2030 is possible, money has to come from somewhere,” said Panu Halme, a professor at the Finnish Environment Institute. He dismissed criticism of corporate “greenwashing,” arguing that early adopters should be encouraged rather than scrutinized.

The North Karelia pilot, funded by the regional cooperative, will restore a peatland drained in the 1970s. The project includes blocking drainage ditches to raise water levels, with landowners retaining ownership while earning tens of thousands of euros for the ecological improvements.

Finland’s Ministry of the Environment is monitoring the scheme’s progress, with plans to expand similar platforms. “We’re exploring whether Finland could become a pioneer in nature value markets,” said Emma Terämä, a ministry unit director.