Our nature is our trump card – protect it

Local nature is Kirkkonummi’s most important draw — and municipal decisions must reflect that every time zoning or budgeting is on the table.

What does participatory budgeting tell us about residents?

Participatory budgeting voting has begun in Kirkkonummi, and it again shows that local nature is one of the most important things to residents. A practical example of this is Kirkkolaaksonpuisto and the central sports park, which in recent years have been comprehensively renovated with playgrounds reshaped into open lawn areas. Of the participatory budgeting ideas, 15 were various ways to add trees, shrubs, flowers or other nature to the area. In total, almost half of the proposals relate to improving local nature or moving in nature.

What did the forest strategy survey reveal?

The same was visible when the municipality commissioned a survey on the new forest strategy, with 90% of respondents saying that the recreational values of nature are more important than any income that might be derived from it. The same recurred in the open comments. For forests, the primary wish is protection and recreational use. One fine idea was the thought that Kirkkonummi could one day have old-growth forest. Imagine if you did not need to travel to eastern Finland to see it, but a half-hour train journey from Finland’s capital would suffice.

The same is often noticeable when talking with people who have moved to the municipality; they come here because they want to live close to nature while still being near work and services. The same is well stated in Kirkkonummi’s municipal strategy , in which the first factor for the strategy’s success is “Proximity to nature is our charm factor.” And as both the forest strategy survey and the participatory budgeting ideas show once again, it remains one of the most important things in our municipality.

How should nature feature in municipal decision-making?

There are now two clear development areas for the municipality — our forests and Kirkkolaaksonpuisto — and a clear message that our primary factor in the municipal strategy has been correctly identified. Now we must remember to look after local nature in all of the municipality’s decision-making.

I have written more about local nature and planning: about protecting nature near schools and kindergartens and about a growing municipality’s need for a vibrant town centre .

Published in Kirkkonummen Sanomat on 31 January 2024.