Environmental monitoring
Ministry of the Environment directs environmental monitoring
Ministry of the Environment directs environmental monitoring. The Environmental Monitoring Strategy prepared by the Ministry sets the guidelines for monitoring for 2020. The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) coordinates national environmental monitoring. Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment are responsible for monitoring in their own area. The Institute and regional centres work in close cooperation in carrying out the national monitoring programmes. Monitoring carried out by the environmental administration
The Finnish environmental administration monitors natural re-sources, environmental pressures and the state of the environment. For example, water quantity and quality, air quality and biodiversity are monitored. Monitoring programmes are being updated in the process of implementing the EU Water Framework Directive. Monitoring results of the environmental administration
Examples of monitoring activities and results are available:
Local pollution control monitoring
Local pollution control monitoring of waters is required under the national environmental legislation and is paid for by polluters. In accordance with the legislation, the impacts of municipal and industrial waste waters and those of fish farms, peat mining companies, landfills, and water abstraction and hydraulic engineering operations are monitored regularly. Local pollution control monitoring plans are tailored individually for each polluter and are approved by the centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. There are about 5000 water quality sampling sites under local pollution control monitoring (rivers, lakes and coastal sea areas). The results are reported annually to the environmental authorities. Environmental monitoring carried out by other institutes
Besides the Finnish Environment Institute and 13 centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, other national governmental institutes are carrying out environmental monitoring.
The monitoring activities of these institutes are summarized in the publication:
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