Protecting biodiversity takes more than short-term interventions. It requires patience, consistency, and partnerships rooted in local realities.
At Lake Saimaa in Finland, one of Europe’s most endangered mammals, the Saimaa ringed seal, has benefited from over ten years of sustained conservation work. The project focused on changing fishing practices that posed a risk to seals while actively engaging local communities in developing solutions.
Rather than imposing restrictions, fishers were supported in switching from gillnets to seal-safe fish traps. More than 1,000 fishers have voluntarily committed to the programme, alongside nearly 900 local volunteers.
Thanks to this collaborative, field-based approach, and close cooperation with partners including POMOCA and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC), the Saimaa ringed seal population has increased by over 50% in the past decade.
This project reflects EOCA’s core belief: Long-term commitment and strong partnerships are essential to delivering meaningful, lasting conservation outcomes…….
