Cooperation for Environment
Norden – the Nordic Council of Ministers
The Nordic region consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and the self-governed regions within Denmark and Finland, such as the Faroe Islands and Greenland (Denmark), and Åland (Finland). With 25 million inhabitants, the Nordic region is rather scarcely populated, although there are significant differences in population density across the region.
The Nordic countries share a common history throughout many centuries, and have great similarities in culture, governance, language and nature. They have a long tradition of cooperating on environment protection and seek to achieve synergies, which give added value both in a national, regional and international context. This Nordic cooperation is also extended to include the Baltic states and North-Western Russia
The cooperation is organised through the Nordic Council, which consists of members of parliament of the countries, and the Nordic Council of Ministers, which consists of Ministers within the relevant sectors of cooperation. The basis of Nordic environmental cooperation is an extensive network of experts.
Nordic landscapes – a living cultural and natural heritage
Man’s dependence on and interrelation with nature expresses itself clearly in the Nordic landscapes. Man has left his print on nature and natural resources have been the foundation for human culture, lifestyle and identity in the Nordic countries.
The environmental sector in the Nordic Council of Ministers has expressed its priorities in a new Environmental Action Plan for 2009–2012. One of these priorities is cooperation to help implement the European Landscape Convention. Another priority is to increase knowledge about and to make visible the significance of landscapes and cultural heritage for a good quality of life. It is the task of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Working group on Terrestrial Ecosystems to follow up these priorities.
The Working Group has initiated or contributed to several projects dealing with landscape, cultural heritage and the interlinkages between nature and cultural heritage.
More information:
For more information on specific projects, you may contact
- Jannica Pitkänen-Brunnsberg, co-ordinator: jannica.pitkanen-brunnsberg(at)metsa.fi
- Dr. Stig Johansson, chairperson for the Working Group on Terrestrial Ecosystems: stig.johansson(at)metsa.fi