Planetary health in the well-being of the nataural environment (Plate Nature)

Planetary health in the well-being of the natural environment (PLATE Nature) project is part of a project set of three projects, in which operating models based on nature methods are developed from the perspective of promoting planetary health as part of service structures in Kainuu from 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2026. Planetary health in the development of the barrier-free nature recreation area of Syntiniemi (PLATE Investment) sub-project will build a barrier-free nature and recreation path in Sotkamo's Syntiniemi as a pilot project. The pilot site will be used in the development of operating models that promote planetary health, especially in social services from the perspective of promoting human well-being, inclusion, and community, and preventing marginalization in the Planetary health in increasing inclusion and community (PLATE Human)) project. The whole project is a continuation of the health forest models in promotion of work and functional capacity (S22526) project, and it is implemented in cooperation with the Natural Resources Center, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, Sotkamo Municipality and Sotkamo Parish.

The Plate Nature project promotes increasing the connection between people and the environment in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of nature recreation areas from the perspective of the natural environment and human well-being. The project's target group is primarily landowners or renters who plan or maintain a nature recreation area, municipalities, parishes, organizations, and entrepreneurs. Secondary beneficiaries are residents, hikers, and tourists.

The goal is to raise Planetary Health, i.e., the health connection between humans and nature, as a starting point for the planning, implementation, and maintenance of nature recreation areas and to increase environmental awareness and cooperation. The goal is to increase the knowledge of nature area planners and users about the condition and care of the environment. And involve both designers and users in the area's nature conservation.

The project will increase the know-how to utilize the reference framework of planetary health and offer sustainable solutions for the promotion of well-being. In the project, from the point of view of Planetary Health's environmental well-being, a pilot site, an accessible nature recreation area in Sotkamo's Syntiniemi to Kainuu, is planned and implemented in cooperation with Sotkamo municipality's PLATE Syntiniemi - project. The plan considers the sustainable use of the area, landscape, diversity and the state of nature and the environment, considering climate change. Digital information about the natural state of the pilot site's environment is created using the online environment and video. Information about Planetary Health operating model in the planning and implementation of nature recreation areas is taken to target groups through information sessions and by inventorying possible new health forest - nature recreation areas in Kainuu. The discoverability of nature areas is developed using digital means.

During the project, a new type of cooperation will be formed between municipal, parish and organization actors of research and educational organizations, the natural resources sector and the social sector. As a result of the project, an operating model for the utilization of the planetary health reference framework in the planning and implementation of the nature recreation area from the perspective of the natural environment is created for municipal and parish actors, third sector actors, and the private and public sector. As a result of the project, evaluation information on the effectiveness of the measures is created.

The project is financed by the European Rural Development Fund and the Natural Resources Center. The project is carried out by the Natural Resource Center. Close partners Sotkamo municipality, Sotkamo parish, Kainuu municipalities, the municipalities' hyte coordinators and Metsähallitus nature services.

Close project cooperation is carried out with Luke's Nature referral - development and experimentation of effective nature-assisted operating methods in municipalities (STM), which instills the nature referral practice nationwide. In addition, cooperation is carried out especially in the evaluation of the project's effects with the Interreg Aurora-funded Regenerative Nature Tourism project led by Luke, where innovative tourism and wellness services are developed and evaluated.