A photography exhibition featuring nature of the Barents Region was opened on 16 April 2015 in the University of Oulu. Development Manager Tero Väisänen from the Oulu Office of the Finnish Environment Institute opened the exhibition with introducing 25 guests on environmental problems of the Barents Region, and therefore highlighted importance of biodiversity conservation. He also gave credits for active co-operation on developing protected area network in the Barents Region.
Leading Expert Tapio Lindholm and Development Manager Tero Väisänen from the Finnish Environment Institute exploring the exhibition. Photo: Anna Kuhmonen.
The Barents Region is a treasure trove of biological diversity that covers 1.8 million square kilometres. However, many of its natural areas are remote and difficult to access. Project manager Anna Kuhmonen from the Finnish Environment Institute stated that “we wish to bring nature closer to people through photographs”. Even if you wish to trek to all beautiful places and see species in nature, it may be quite challenging. People should know more about the nature that we are losing due to too intensive land use.
The exhibition is open to the public in the main lobby of the University of Oulu, on Linnanmaa campus, from 16th until 28th April 2015. Afterwards the exhibition continues to tour visitor centres and other venues in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. The aim is to promote conservation of boreal and Arctic nature through the development of a representative network of protected areas in the Barents Region. On the opening day exhibition seemed to be interesting for several people, who stopped to see exhibition during their visit at the university.
Besides its unique and valuable nature, the Barents Region boasts a wide variety of natural resources and indigenous cultures. “The northern nature is vulnerable and sensitive to change. It is important to develop a well-connected network of protected areas in the face of climate change and the increasing use of natural resources in the northern areas”, concludes leading expert Tapio Lindholm from the Finnish Environment Institute. The last natural areas and landscapes in the Barents Region are unique on a global scale.
The exhibition consists of 15 photographs by Finnish, Swedish and Russian photographers, accompanied by an information leaflet, posters and postcards.
“Barents – Nature has no borders” exhibition dates:
- University of Oulu (Northern Ostrobotnia), main lobby, from 16th until 28th April 2015
- Fell Lapland Visitor Centre (Lapland), weeks 19-23
- Pallastunturi Visitor Centre (Lapland), weeks 24-31
If you would like to hire the exhibition from two to four weeks, please contact Minna Pekkonen or Anna Kuhmonen. We wish to bring exhibition to places, where people have free access to see it!
More information:
Anna Kuhmonen, project manager, Finnish Environment Institute, anna.kuhmonen(at)ymparisto.fi, +358 29 525 1322
Tapio Lindholm, leading expert, Finnish Environment Institute, tapio.lindholm(at)ymparisto.fi, +358 29 525 1379
Minna Pekkonen, coordinator, Finnish Environment Institute, minna.pekkonen(at)ymparisto.fi, +358 29 525 1779
Press release of the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE
Read more on exhibition
http://www.bpan.fi/en/bpan-project/pilot-projects/bpan-exhibition/