>> Background information

Development

Urbanization and the expansion of population centres has been consistent to the worldwide trend in Finland. Area of population centres as well as their population have increased steadily. Total area of population centres was about 6000 km2 in 2005, which corresponds to 60% increase from year 1980. Number of people living in population centres increased by more than 825 000 inhabitants during this time, and their share of the whole Finnish population inreased nine percentage units.

Impact on biodiversity

Construction always changes the natural environment. Population centres expand to surrounding areas where primary species must either adapt to the changing environment or migrate elsewhere. For example many plant species occurences disappear from cleared areas either immediatly or gradually after some time. Then again, urban areas are an important primary habitat for several species which are rare in or absent from other habitats (see also UA4). These species favour the special conditions of urban parks and ruderal habitats. For example predators are relatively few near population centres. Some species also benefit from fertilization of gardens and parks.

Population centeres are not evenly distributed in Finland but centred in southern Finland and on the other hand the shores and coasts (see e.g. SH1).