GCU 114 Cultural and Biodiversity in Finland Like many other developed countries in the world, Finland has

begun placing an emphasis on protecting the cultural and biodiversity in their country. Governments and citizens have finally started to realize that, just like resources, cultures also need to be sustained. For the most part, not much seems to have been lost forever in Finland. However, there had been some trouble with accepting just how culturally diverse the Finnish people really are. This is being remedied and new importance is being placed on protecting natural resources, biodiversity, and the environment. There are two different views on how Finland has handled their cultural diversity. Some people feel that Finns have always been taught to look alike and ignore the differences (Tessieri, 2012). While other feel the image of Finland as a culturally and ethnically homogeneous nation is erroneous (Raento & Husso, 2002, p.1). It would appear that both are true. The area that is now Finland was conquered back and forth between Sweden and Russia for the last several hundred years until 1917 when Finland finally got independence from Russia. This means that Finland has had less than one hundred years to create a cultural identity in the first place. There are two constitutionally protected minorities; the Swedish-speaking Finns and the Sami-people (Mitchell & Kanerva, 2013). Swedish has been spoken in Finland for a very long time since it was occasionally under Swedish rule. Finns who speak this language are generally considered innate Finns having a second national culture (Mitchell & Kanerva, 2013). There is also plenty of immigration into Finland from other

countries such as Estonia and Russia. Since the mid 1990s, there has been legislation passed to improve human rights for the immigrant population in Finland. These rights include supporting minority and immigrant cultures, fighting racism, for multi-cultural events and projects, and for supporting immigrant artists (Mitchell & Kanerva, 2013). These measures certainly seem to be a step in the right direction for Finland if they are going to protect all heritages in their country. Finland is a key player in the world in terms of sustainability and trying to leave as little of a carbon footprint as possible. This also translates into their understanding of how important protecting biodiversity is to their country and the world. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry shares part of the burden of managing the state of biodiversity in Finland since they are part of the Finnish government. Maintaining biodiversity is highly significant in managing areas such as fishing waters and reindeer husbandry. Finland even came up with a strategy to combat invasive alien species. This was completed in April 2012 and the purpose of the plan is to prevent damages caused by invasive alien species to Finnish nature, sustainable use of natural resources, livelihoods and well-being of the society and people. Some research is suggesting that there has already been damage that cannot be reversed but Finland s government is putting forth an effort regardless. While there may have been parts of either cultural or biodiversity that have been lost forever because the people of Finland and their government were not concerned with maintaining them, there certainly is an effort being made now to protect what they have. At this rate, Finland will be able to hold on to the obscure cultures that make up their country and the biodiversity in the nature found around them.

Sources 1. Raento, P., & Husso, K. (n.d.). Cultural Diversity in Finland. Untitled. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://ojs.tsv.fi/index.php/fennia/article/viewFile/3773/3564 2. Mitchell, R., & Kanerva, A. (2013, March 27). Finland : 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates : 4.2.4 Cultural diversity and inclusion policies. Finland : 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates : 4.2.4 Cultural diversity and inclusion policies. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/finland.php?aid=424 3. Tessieri, E. (2012, June 13). Cultural diversity in Finland: The high price of being too alike. Migrant Tales. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.migranttales.net/cultural-diversity-in-finland-the-high-price-of-beingtoo-alike/ 4. Working to halt the ongoing decline in biodiversity. (n.d.). www.mmm.fi. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.mmm.fi/en/index/frontpage/natural_resources/biodiversity.html 5. The decline of forest biodiversity in Finland may already be irreversible. (2012, March 27). Welcome to our portal. Retrieved November 13, 2013, from http://www.nbforest.info/news/decline-forest-biodiversity-finland-may-already-beirreversible