Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources has become a main global concern, since human activities accelerate biodiversity losses, degrade ecosystems and affect the climate. Environmental degradation and species extinctions threaten our resources and way of life, and affect the ecosystems’ functioning.
Thus, environmental awareness needs to be integrated into all areas of policy making, development assistance, market incentives, trade and international governance processes.
NIRAS´ approach is build around services for sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity conservation, based on the fulfilments of the Convention on Biological Diversity, forest classification and land-use planning through the use of GIS techniques, biodiversity informatics, local capacity building and strengthening of public organizations in the environment sector.
NIRAS provides also services in Biodiversity Informatics and Development of Environmental Information Systems, which is a growing field providing tools for planning, management and decision making at various levels.
Selected references:
- Technical support to the installation phase of the Region Biodiversity Programme of the Amazon of the Andean Community countries, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 2007-2009.
- Environment Project in Peru / Biological Diversity of Peruvian Amazon (Phase I & Phase II) Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 1999-2007.
- Technical Assistance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 1998-2000.
- Forest Genetic Resources Conservation and Management in Thailand, DANCED, 1997-2000.