RCE Espoo: NatureGate – Promoting Species Identification for Conservation and Sustainable use of Biodiversity Mauri Ahlberg RCE Espoo RCE Espoo is the first Finnish RCE in the global RCE network. Its members include: the City of Espoo, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Aalto University, University of Helsinki, Omnia, the Joint Authority of Education in Espoo Region, as well as many other companies and organisations that promote sustainable development. One of those organisations is NatureGate Ltd, in which the University of Helsinki is a partner. RCE Espoo was founded to promote sustainable living for citizens of Espoo. Participants in RCE Espoo are experts and professionals from those fields that promote sustainable development and mitigate climate change, such as researchers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and journalists. The RCE Espoo network integrates ecologically, economically and socially sustainable development, in formal, informal and nonformal 84 education, to promote a sustainable future. This concept includes a number of ideas, including increasing awareness and capabilities of sustainable development, learning how to act sustainably, protecting and using biodiversity sustainably, social responsibility, participation, production of services and products that promote wellbeing, sustainable consumption, transport, recycling and saving energy. Project Introduction NatureGate is an online service for biodiversity education, promoting sustainable use of biodiversity, including all aspects of sustainability. NatureGate is a product of NatureGate Ltd. University of Helsinki is a partner in this company for sustainable development. The quality of the NatureGate online service is monitored and promoted by NatureGate Research and Development (R&D) Group in the Department of Teacher Education, at University of Helsinki. The results of the collaboration between UNU-IAS, RCE Espoo and NatureGate have been very promising. However, a lack of resources for systematic empirical research makes it possible only to present qualitative research observations. Those observations and results will be detailed throughout the course of this chapter. Project Background In RCE Espoo, the starting point is that humans are part of the biosphere and part of its biodiversity. Biologically, humans are an animal species and are totally dependent on the rest of the biosphere for food, oxygen, clean water, air, renewable raw materials, medicines, and recreation, among others. In each region of the world biodiversity is at least partly different. During evolution life has diversified all over the earth: species are at least partly different, ecosystems differ from each other. The UN has declared the years 2011 – 2020 as the UN Decade on Biodiversity. RCE Espoo takes this decade seriously, concentrating on making local species and ecosystem identification easy and rapid for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Towards this end, it investigates, monitors and promotes local biodiversity and ecosystem services. The author, Dr. Mauri Åhlberg, is Professor of Biology and Sustainability Education in Department of Teacher Education, University of Helsinki. Based on his research in 2006, he concluded that the core element of sustainability education is learning to identify local species and to use them sustainably. Accordingly, in the beginning of 2006, he founded NatureGate R&D Group with Eija and Jouko Lehmuskallio. When RCE Espoo was established, he was asked to be part of the governing body of RCE Espoo. There were many meetings of the NatureGate R&D Group and the key actors of RCE Espoo, including its coordinator Ms. Mari Nuutinen and Mr. Aulis Pitkälä, currently Director General of the Finnish National Board of Education and Innovative Teachers of Espoo. The point is to educate, increase awareness, promote skills to identify local species and use local biodiversity sustainably in Espoo and in the whole Finland, and later on in the whole world. Loftas (1995) and Subramanian and Pisupati (Eds.) (2010) estimate that there are 50,000 edible plants in the world, yet currently only 15 species contribute to total food energy. According to Johns and Stapith (2004) this has increased human vulnerability to natural and economic shocks. Many wildflowers and weeds are edible, many are toxic. In order to use biodiversity safely and sustainably, species have to be identified easily and rapidly. In California Academy of Sciences, Fisher (2012) had tested the best available identification tools for identification of San Francisco Bay Area ants, and he came to the conclusion that for laymen the best way to identify 170 local ant species is the NatureGate approach. Monitori ng, docume ntation, pr otection, and edu cation NatureGate is an online service for biodiversity education, promoting sustainable use of biodiversity, including all aspects of sustainability. 12
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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