Organization & Management
In order to achieve the objectives of being a model area for sustainable development, everyone’s efforts are equally important. The Archipelago Sea biosphere reserve is run not only by an organization, but by all interested actors in the archipelago: inhabitants, authorities and research institutes.
Main partners
Our main partners form the backbone of the biosphere reserve’s organization and constitute the steering group for the Archipelago Sea’s biosphere reserve. The main responsibility for coordinating the biosphere reserve’s operations lies within the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) of Southwest Finland.
[read more=”Read more” less=”Hide text”]
Pargas and Kimitoön centrally participate in the management of the biosphere reserve through the cooperation agreement with ELY. In both municipalities, issues concerning the biosphere reserve are handled by the departments related to development, business, the environment and communication. The municipalities run development projects in collaboration with the biosphere reserve and participate in the organization of various events, such as the annual Winter meeting.
The universities Åbo Akademi and Turun Yliopisto primarily carry out research, monitoring and teaching, and have a central role in popularizing science.
Metsähallitus manages the Archipelago Sea National Park, which is located in the biosphere reserve’s core area. Large parts of the biosphere reserve are not nature conservation areas, but privately owned land. Metsähallitus also promotes sustainable development in the area, especially in terms of recreation and tourism in connection with the national park.
[/read]
Steering Group
The steering group is responsible for planning and the realisation of the activities of the biosphere reserve. The members of the steering group consist of representatives from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) of Southwest Finland (chairperson), the city of Pargas, the municipality of Kimitoön, Metsähallitus, Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku.
The biosphere office
The biosphere office is managed by the city of Pargas, together with the municipality of Kimitoön and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Southwest Finland, also responsible for the main funding. The city of Pargas employs a full-time coordinator and occasionally other staff. The role of the office is primarily to create conditions and make it easier for other actors to contribute to a sustainable development. The biosphere office designs and initiates projects, which are often run by different partners of the biosphere reserve. The biosphere office also has an important role in inspiring and engaging residents and companies to work for a sustainable archipelago.