In this project of the PUTTE-program (poorly known habitats and species) of Ministry of Environment we study vegetation types and species of rich fens (’letto’ in Finnish). These habitats are among the most threatened and have special biodiversity values. We collect all possible vegetation plot data that exists from Finnish rich fens and amend it in a field work campaign. The data base will enable revision of vegetation classification of rich fens and presentation of their distribution. We also produce information of rich-fen species occurrences with specific focus on poorly known molluscs and hepatics.
Oksana Skaldina (oksana.skaldina@uef.fi)
I am an environmental ecologist working on sustainable nature-based solutions (NBs) for the improving of environmental quality. My current research focuses on urban ecology, biodiversity and interactions of plant-pollinator systems in urban landscapes. I am investigating practical frameworks to increase sustainability of polluted and fragmented habitats. Besides, I am developing novel ecological indicators and biomarkers from insect and plant models and investigating plant-insect interactions mediated by chemical signals. I believe in the power of environmental research, education, and art!
My duties include research, teaching, supervision of bachelors, masters, and doctoral students, as well as negotiation with public and private sectors. I am engaged in discussions and collaborative projects with policy makers and business sector to enable practical sustainable solutions.
Taru Peltola (taru.peltola@uef.fi)
I am an environmental social scientist having background in environmental policy studies. My research topics have ranged from energy, forest biodiversity, wolves and other wildlife to food and waste issues. Currently my work is focused on water and plastics in the society. My research interest encompasses human-nature relations and the politics of environmental knowledge, including epistemic power relations and knowledge controversies. I am also exploring citizen engagement and agency in sustainability transformations. In addition to environmental policy studies I am inspired by science and technology studies, especially posthumanist and pragmatist approaches attending to non-human natures as well as corporeality and materialities in social scientific inquiry. Thereby, I am interested in the role of affects and emotions in environmental governance, human-wildlife cohabitation and care of things. In my work, I have also had a chance to experiment with science-art collaborations.
Ongoing projects:
PlastLIFE SIP (2023-2029)
Sense of Water (2022-2026)
Recent publications:
Peltola T, Saarela S-R, Kotilainen J, Litmanen T, Lukkarinen J, Pölönen I, Ratamäki O, Saarikoski H, Salo M & Vikström S (2023) Researcher roles in collaborative governance interventions. Science and Public Policy, doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scad034
Peltola T & Ratamäki O (2023) Sharing epistemic power: digitally mediated wolf monitoring in Finland. Science as Culture, doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2023.2214148
Peltola T, Arpin I, Leino J, Peltonen L, Salmi P & Ratamäki O (2023) Management plans as resources in conservation conflicts. Environmental Policy and Governance 33(2), 206-218. doi.org/10.1002/eet.2014
I also work at the Finnish Environment Institute, Societal Change Unit