This news digest highlights recent Valonia activities promoting sustainable development in Southwest Finland. The summary is based on the Finnish-language newsletter published in May and June 2026. You can subscribe to the newsletter at valonia.fi/uutiskirje. If you would like more information on any of the topics presented here, feel free to contact our staff!
Climate risk assessment for Southwest Finland
The climate risk assessment for Southwest Finland evaluates the impacts of different climate risks on the region both now and in the future. Preparing the assessment is part of the regional climate change adaptation planning currently under way, the purpose of which is to improve the region’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. Producing a shared regional climate risk assessment is an essential step in the planning process: risks can only be addressed effectively if they are understood well enough.
Solar power myth: Glass is the weakest link in a panel – and damage can be seen with the naked eye
Solar panels are designed to withstand long-term outdoor use in rooftop installations under normal climatic conditions. However, the physical durability of the panels does not mean that they cannot develop damage during their long service life. The most common damage is microcracks in the solar cells. How do such damages affect performance, and how can they be detected? Read more about myths and solutions related to solar power on our website!
Water protection projects to be launched in the areas of five municipalities
The Kunnat valuma-aluetyön kehittäjinä (KUVAKE) project supports five municipalities in launching water protection measures in four catchment areas. Through the project work, actors operating in the catchment areas are brought together, and emerging water management challenges and water protection needs are developed into concrete projects.
Catchment-based water protection requires broad cooperation in both planning and implementation. We therefore invite landowners, farmers, forest owners, associations, companies and other local actors in the catchment areas to work together to develop water management and water protection.
What does a forest day teach young people about nature and water impacts – observations from a trainee
What do you notice in the forest when you stop to observe it more closely? Every year, more than 20,000 children and young people learn in a practical way about forests, forestry and nature at 4H associations’ forest days across Finland. During the day, participants spend time in nature, learn new things and are encouraged to consider careers in the nature sector. In her blog, Valonia trainee Janette Hagren tells what was learned at the Perniö forest day organised by the Salo 4H association.
A dam was built through volunteer work in Somero to restore a mire
In Somerniemi in Somero, at Lätäkönmäki, there is an approximately 1.6-hectare habitat classified as especially important under the Forest Act. The open mire in the area was drained in past decades by digging a drainage ditch several metres deep. The aim was to promote forestry and increase tree growth by draining the mire. At the same time, this altered the mire’s natural water economy and weakened biodiversity in the area. A volunteer work event was organised at Lätäkönmäki, where a dam was built in the drainage ditch in order to retain water.
Guide to water protection in forestry offers water protection tips for forest owners
Forests are a natural part of the water cycle, and forest management affects both nearby waters and downstream water bodies. In recent years, research-based knowledge on the water impacts of forestry and on the poor condition of small waters and running waters has become more precise. For this reason, more attention than before must be paid to water protection at all stages of forest management. Legislation and forest certification guide operations, but forest owners can also do more than the minimum required. The Vesiensuojelu metsähoidossa guide compiles information on water protection for forestry professionals and forest owners.
The Materiaalirakkautta event brought together creative makers and providers of surplus materials
The Materiaalirakkautta event organised at Taiteen talo brought together professionals from the creative sector, companies and organisations to consider how surplus materials could be given new uses through art and design. During the day, participants heard inspiring examples of the circular economy in practice within the creative sectors and discussed how providers of materials and the makers who use them could find each other more effectively.
Accessibility is equality
Accessibility is often understood primarily as physical accessibility: thresholds, stairs, lifts and ramps are usually the first things that come to mind. In reality, however, accessibility is a much broader concept. In an accessible environment, services and products are available to everyone regardless of functional ability. In the Kestävän liikkumisen tila Turun seudulla article series, we provide an overview of various measures to develop walking, cycling and public transport in different parts of the Turku region.
Respond to the survey – water vision for Askaistenlahti and Mynälahti
A water vision is currently being prepared for the Askaistenlahti and Mynälahti area. The vision will define the kind of future state that is being pursued for the waters in the area and the concrete means by which that state can be achieved. The water vision covers the municipalities of Masku, Mynämäki, Naantali, Nousiainen, Vehmaa, Taivassalo and Kustavi. A clear need has been identified in the area to improve the ecological status of inland and coastal waters and to support livelihoods and recreational use through better water management.
Through the survey, we are gathering views on the current state of the waters, as well as needs and development proposals related to them. The information collected will support the drafting of the water vision and help target measures in an appropriate way. Responding takes just a few minutes.
Mobility management action plan for Southwest Finland
The mobility management action plan for Southwest Finland implements the goal of the Southwest Finland transport system plan: through mobility management measures, residents and companies are encouraged to choose sustainable modes of transport and reduce transport demand. The 2026–2030 action plan is the fourth mobility management action plan for the region.
Youth sustainability influencer academy starts in autumn – applications open in August!
A one-year sustainability influencer academy focusing on climate work for young people aged 18–25 will begin in Varsinais-Suomi next autumn. The young people selected for the academy will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the region’s wide-ranging climate work; build a picture of the work already being carried out in the area, the routes of decision-making and the opportunities to influence across different sectors; and identify their own role as future influencers.
Event made the challenges of accessible mobility visible
How does a visually impaired person identify the right bus or know when to get off at the correct stop? What does it feel like to move around the street in a wheelchair, and how does crossing a pedestrian crossing work? And how do you manage on a bus with a rollator? These and many other questions were explored at the Liikenne aisti- tai liikuntarajoitteisen näkökulmasta event organised in April by the Regional Council of Southwest Finland, Valonia and Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Turku city logistics tender combined transport services and reduced emissions
Regional library transport, the city’s internal goods transport, and terminal and intermediate storage services have been combined in the City of Turku under one contract handled by a single service provider. In the case of library transport, a total of 25 municipalities took part in the tendering process, enabling regional cooperation and efficiency.
Battery moves into the housing company – pilot study explores when battery storage is a profitable investment
Solar electricity is becoming more common in housing companies, and the next question is whether it would be worth storing energy in a battery instead of feeding it into the grid. What are the real savings in Finnish operating conditions? How does a battery perform in winter frost? What is the right battery size for a housing company? The Taloyhtiöiden energiamurros project launched a research pilot project to find answers to these questions.
Biodiversity in construction and infrastructure procurement – observations from the development journey
Procurement is a concrete way to turn a municipality’s sustainability goals into reality. Procurement decisions directly affect the use of natural resources, but also the way climate and biodiversity impacts emerge in the long term. The impact of construction and infrastructure procurement is especially significant, because construction accounts for one quarter of the climate emissions caused by public procurement in Finland. A large share of these emissions comes from land and water construction and from the repair and maintenance services related to them. It is important to remember that procurement of services already at the planning stage also matters, because planning can either support or hinder the emergence of sustainable solutions in the built environment.
Good practices: advisory clinics for housing companies
During the Taloyhtiöiden energiamurros project, it became clear that it was difficult to find housing companies ready to pilot the procurement of a solar electricity system: housing companies needed more support to improve their readiness, such as in needs assessment, sizing and tendering. Advisory clinics were organised for housing companies, where participants became familiar with a solar electricity calculator as well as issues related to procuring solar electricity and energy communities.
The work of roots, worms and microbes can be seen in soil health
The cold spring wind did not drive away participants from the Ilmakas project’s farmers’ evening held in Kuusjoki, Salo. Around ten farmers from the surrounding area had arrived at Sarita Silvennoinen’s organic farm. The theme of the evening was biological soil workers, so during the event participants became familiar with roots and soil organisms and reflected on how different choices affect soil functioning. The evening was guided by ProAgria experts Kati Knuutila, Anna-Sofia Koivu and Heikki Ajosenpää.
New projects
Kunnat valuma-aluetyön kehittäjinä – KUVAKE
1.6.2026–15.11.2027
The project is funded by Economic Development Centre with a grant covering 50% of the total project costs, which amount to €75,000. Valonia and the participating municipalities of Koski Tl, Laitila, Loimaa, Masku and Uusikaupunki cover the project’s self-financing share.
Kunnat valuma-aluetyön kehittäjinä KUVAKE is a joint project of Valonia/Regional Council of Varsinais-Suomi and five municipalities – Koski Tl, Laitila, Loimaa, Masku and Uusikaupunki – aiming to strengthen the role of municipalities in catchment-area-level water protection and water management planning.
The project will prepare implementable water management and water protection projects for at least four catchment areas of different sizes: Sirppujoki, Piuhanjoki, Holisevanoja–Vinarinoja (Paimionjoki) and Petäjoki (Loimijoki). Valonia coordinates the project and the planning of projects in the catchment areas. Close cooperation is carried out with different stakeholders in the planning areas, such as various associations and landowners, by inviting actors to meetings and by becoming familiar with the catchment areas during field visits.
Naantalin, Paimion ja Kaarinan valumavesien hallinta (NAPAKKA)
1.6.2026–20.10.2028
The project is funded by Economic Development Centre in Southwest Finland with a grant covering 60% of the total project costs, which amount to €617,000. The self-financing share is covered by the cities of Naantali, Paimio and Kaarina, Lounais-Suomen vesiensuojeluyhdistys and Valonia. In addition, other external funding will be sought to cover the self-financing share.
The NAPAKKA project pilots a shared catchment area coordinator for three municipalities, with the key aim of activating water restoration measures in the Naantali, Paimio and Kaarina area. The restoration measures aim to improve the ecological status of Paimionlahti, Piikkiönlahti and the coastal areas of Naantali, especially the coastal areas surrounding Merimasku, as well as the waters flowing into them. The water coordinator supports landowners, municipalities and associations in the area in planning and implementing nature-based water management measures.
The project coordinator is Lounais-Suomen vesiensuojeluyhdistys. The project partners are the cities of Naantali, Kaarina and Paimio, and Valonia. Valonia is responsible for coordinating the project’s communications as well as providing expert support related to the planning and implementation of restoration sites.
This summary has been translated with the help of AI, and although a human has reviewed the text, some errors – for example in terminology – may still occur.