The Role of Multilocality in Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure and Everyday Security in Rural Areas

The project will provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of rural multilocal living in strengthening Finland’s comprehensive security and vital societal functions.

The decline and ageing of the permanent rural population pose significant challenges to maintaining functions that are critical to comprehensive security in rural areas. At the same time, multilocal living is becoming increasingly important as a user and financer of critical rural infrastructure, as well as a contributor to everyday safety and community preparedness. For example, an increasing share of the customers, shareholders, and stakeholders of small rural road associations and water supply organizations consists of second-home owners and other multilocal residents.

The presence and support of multilocal residents, including their contribution to informal neighbourly assistance, are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring everyday safety and fostering a sense of security. Through their engagement across multiple places of residence, multilocal inhabitants can make a significant contribution to supporting and strengthening these vital functions. At the same time, however, they may also increase societal vulnerabilities if the significance of multilocal living is not adequately considered across the different dimensions of comprehensive security.

The project examines the significance of rural multilocal living for comprehensive security and identifies the risks and opportunities associated with it. In collaboration with key stakeholders, the project will develop new approaches for harnessing multilocal living to strengthen critical societal functions, as well as the operational capacity, resilience, and crisis preparedness of the population.

The project will be implemented as a consortium between the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and the Karelian Institute of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF/KI). The Finnish Environment Institute will serve as the coordinating organisation, and the consortium will be led by Senior Research Scientist Kati Pitkänen (Syke). The UEF sub-project will be led by Senior Researcher Mari Kattilakoski.