Team introduction

Our team, made up of experts from the University of Turku in landscape studies, economics, futures research and SYKE’s nature solutions and social change, is looking for solutions for new multiple uses of peatlands that are no longer used for peat production.
Industrial peat production started in Finland after the energy shortage during the Second World War, and the first areas for the production of fuel peat were decommissioned decades ago. The Aitoneva site in the pictures shows how the landscape has changed at these sites.
Our energy landscape is changing from open peat fields to wind farms and solar panel fields.

With the advent of renewable energy, the energy landscape will expand significantly beyond the area of land used for peat production at its greatest extent. By studying the cultural, ecological and regional economic impacts of peatland management over the last 80 years, information can be generated to support decision-making, both for the continued use of peatlands and to assess the future impact of the new energy landscape.

Reeta Hautaniemi is the project manager of the SATUMAA-project, coordinating cooperation between the project partners and being responsible for the smooth management of the project. Reeta is also involved in project activities, in particular in identifying the multiple use possibilities of the peatland and promoting networking.

Anu Lähteenmäki-Uutela focuses on the legal regulation of different land uses and economic sectors as well as on the justice issues of land use and sustainability transition.

Laura Puolamäki will meet local residents, landowners and schoolchildren in the target areas in workshops and research interviews. The socio-cultural meanings that emerge in these encounters are needed to outline future scenarios for peat production areas.

Eeva Raike is responsible for educational cooperation with the The Degree Programme in Digital Culture, Landscape and Cultural Heritage. The teaching partnership allows for a wider range of fieldwork to be carried out, while at the same time giving students experience of concrete research work and working with stakeholders.

Jarmo Vehmas works in the SATUMAA project as an expert in macroeconomics. He examines the costs and benefits of restoration and different after-uses of peat production areas. Based on the costs and benefits, he constructs alternative scenarios on the after-use of peatlands and assesses their economic impacts in the Satakunta region.

Antti Sallinen´s task in the project is to examine peatlands from an ecological and environmental point of view. The focus is on the current situation of Satakunta’s mires and peatlands and the environmental prerequisites and effects of after use options for peat extraction areas.

Inka Santala explores the justice dimensions related to energy transition and land use change. Particularly she studies the differing roles of local actors and ways they navigate shifting priorities and power relations.

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