Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation

The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto, SLL) is the largest non-governmental organization for environmental protection and nature conservation in Finland. Organization was founded in 1938.

In order to pursue its objectives, SLL

  • takes the initiative, makes proposals and recommendations, takes a stand on current environmental issues as well as influences national decision-makers to respect environmental demands in all fields of the society.
  • promotes public awareness and environmental education by producing and publishing all kinds of environmental material, i.e. books, brochures, leaflets, and calendars. SLL also organizes study courses, seminars, excursions, camps and public meetings.
  • organizes national and local campaigns, and manages projects on different themes.

Activities include:

Protection of biodiversity and forests

In our forest protection work the emphasis is on the creation of an adequate conservation network for the forests of Southern Finland - currently only roughly one percent of these forests are protected. Promoting the creation of conservation networks means stepping up the level of obligatory conservation measures for all forest owners as well as establishing new financial instruments for forest protection programs.

SLL campaigns for the protection of endangered species, including the Saimaa ringed seal, grey seal, eagle species, the Baltic salmon and the larger Finnish mammalian predators (wolf, bear, wolverine, lynx).

Energy policy and climate change


Pictures: Jorma Luhta, www.leuku.fi

Work for the prevention of climate change and for a sustainable energy policy has for years been among the key activities of SLL. After the integration of the Nordic electricity markets, a labelling system for electricity generated by renewable means (solar or wind power, hydroelectricity, biomass etc.) has been introduced by SLL. The idea is to expand consumers' alternatives in electricity markets and encourage them to avoid electricity generated by nuclear power or fossil fuels. An eco-label called 'Norppa' (Saimaa ringed seal) is available to supply companies producing electricity by means fulfilling SLL's criteria. Suppliers may only sell the amount of eco-labelled electricity than their renewable power sources can generate.

Waste prevention and sustainable resource use

For several years the SLL project on waste prevention, sustainable resource use and responsible consumerism has highlighted the need for ecological efficiency and sufficiency in order to decrease the use of natural resources to the level considered sustainable. In promoting longevity and efficient use of goods SLL stresses the need for renting, leasing, maintenance and repair companies.

International activities

In its international activities, SLL spans three geographical dimensions: global level, EU-level and Baltic Sea/Nordic level. On the Baltic Sea level, critical follow-up of the work of the Helsinki Commission, an inter-governmental body for the protection of the Baltic Sea, is one of our key tasks. SLL also participates in the work of Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), an umbrella organisation of over 20 environmental NGOs around the Baltic Sea. SLL operates in Finnish border regions, especially in the St. Petersburg region of Russia, where the emphasis is on energy and nuclear safety-related issues.

On a global level SLL focuses mainly on climate change as well as on the questions of trade and environment. A co-operative informal network of Finnish NGOs monitor and analyse the effects of the WTO and other trade-related issues. SLL is also a member of IUCN - World Conservation Union, and participates in the work of the national IUCN committee.

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