Our key targets for enhancing biodiversity:
- We convert all the closed energy peat production areas, ca. 20,000 hectares to next land use by 2025 and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance biodiversity.
- Our biodiversity programme aims to increase biodiversity for example by restoring old peat production areas by re-wetting or afforestation in collaboration with local stakeholders.
Neova Group is committed to enhancing biodiversity and have set ambitious targets to convert closed energy peat production to next land use and to implement restoration measures through wetlands and afforestation at selected sites.
Biodiversity programme
We have established a Neova Group biodiversity programme aiming to increase biodiversity by restoring (re-wetting or afforestation) 2,000 hectares during 2021-2025 in collaboration with local stakeholders. The restoration planning has started for example in Lavassaare area in Estonia with the EU WaterLANDS project; in Norrbomuren area in Sweden with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; as well as in Komppasuo area in Finland with the EU MERLIN project.
This focuses on specific peat production areas, where we want to showcase how to increase biodiversity in habitats by wetland creation, as well as mosaic-like variation. Regarding closed peat production areas, the topography, hydrology, and rocks/stones influence what the best next land use option is. Also, during peat production, a diverse wetland species is formed in water treatment structures, and biodiversity can further be increased by creating small wetlands, and building nesting or shelter areas.
Progress in 2024
In 2024, we continued our dedicated work to promote biodiversity. We have established over 3,300 hectares of wetlands and biodiversity areas on decommissioned peat production sites, spread across approximately 120 locations throughout Finland.
Wetlands are a cornerstone of our biodiversity efforts. The average size of these wetlands is around 20 hectares, with some exceeding 100 hectares.
We also enhanced the recreational value of our biodiversity areas by building structures such as birdwatching towers and shelters, ensuring the areas serve both nature and people.
One of the highlights of 2024 was the completion of Ropolansuo biodiversity area. Designed in collaboration with stakeholders, the area includes nesting islands for birds and preserves open landscapes.
Sustainability certifications
In Kekkilä-BVB business, we are committed to improve biodiversity and use Responsible Produced Peat (RPP) certification scheme as one of the tools to demonstrate our commitment.
In 2024, we continued to advance responsible peat production through RPP certification. RPP (Responsibly Produced Peat) ensures that peat is harvested from ecologically degraded areas and that future land use is planned and implemented responsibly.
We applied for RPP certification for six new sites in Finland and three in Sweden. Currently, we have a total of 21 RPP-certified production sites: 9 in Finland, 7 in Estonia, and 5 in Sweden. Our goal is to continue increasing this number and ensure that a growing share of the peat we use is responsibly produced.