Press release 2019-09-13 at 14:56
Living in the land of a thousand lakes, water plays an important role in the everyday lives of Finns. How is water represented in our everyday landscapes? Is it quietly flowing along in tiny streams along the route to your local market? Do you take evening strolls on autumnal shores? Do you pass a bog on your way to work? Do you walk your dog along a ditch in the mornings? Is it raining?
Autumn view in Lappland. Photo Riku Lumiaro.
International Landscape Day is celebrated on Sunday 20 October. This year’s Europe-wide theme is ‘Landscape and Water.’ The theme was selected to focus on the value of water in the landscape. Water both calms and livens up a landscape at the same time, and it also affects the soundscape.
The photography campaign organised on Instagram by the Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Environment Institute encourages people to observe water in their surroundings ahead of Landscape Day. The campaign aims at inspiring people to find creative and diverse approaches to the subject.
In what ways is water represented in your day to day landscape? Photograph landscapes open-mindedly. Share your images on Instagram using the hashtag #arkimaisema.
A landscape photography competition
The campaign will come to a head with a photography competition organised on Instagram on International Landscape Day 20 October. The competition jury will select the best shots from the photographs shared with the #arkimaisema hashtag on International Landscape Day. Winners will be rewarded with book prizes related to the theme.
The jury is chaired by Environment Counsellor Tapio Heikkilä from the Ministry of the Environment. According to Heikkilä: ”The purpose of #arkimaisema is to observe and interpret landscapes, no matter how small or large, rural or urban, boring or perceived as valuable they are. Understanding the essence of the landscape is a step towards preserving it.”
Instagram: @arkimaisema
Twitter: @arkimaisema
Kerava river is important recreation landscape for local peoples. Photo Pirjo Ferin.
Annual landscape celebration
International Landscape Day is celebrated on 20 October each year. The day is connected to the European Landscape Convention of the Council of Europe, which aims at planning, managing and protecting all kinds of landscapes. Indeed, the convention covers all landscapes, from the beautiful to the mundane as well as rural, natural and urban. This year, we celebrate International Landscape Day for the third time.
Landscape Day is organised by the Ministry of the Environment and the Finnish Environment Institute. The Finnish Local Heritage Federation and the Rural Women’s Advisory Organisation are also involved. The programme includes walking tours in valuable landscape areas. International Landscape Day is part of the European Heritage Days programme.
More information
Researcher Annika Uddström, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. 0295 251 715, annika.uddstrom@ymparisto.fi
Environment Counsellor Tapio Heikkilä, Ministry of the Environment, tel. 0295 250 166, tapio.heikkila@ym.fi