Luontonovesiin

Luontonovesiin is a Finnish neologism describing a holistic approach that directs human activity toward natural waters, with the aim of restoring and protecting freshwater ecosystems within urban and rural planning. The concept frames water bodies as central to environmental, social, and economic well-being, emphasizing biodiversity, resilience, and cultural connections to water.

The term blends luonto, meaning nature, and vesiin, a form of water toward or into waters, signaling a shift toward water-centered policy. It emerged in informal Finnish environmental discourse in the 2010s and 2020s and is not yet widely represented in peer‑reviewed literature.

The concept envisions policy frameworks that prioritize river and wetland restoration, naturalized drainage, green-blue infrastructure, and hydrological connectivity, along with community engagement and climate resilience. It is intended as an umbrella for integrating ecological goals into planning and governance at multiple scales.

In practical terms, luontonovesiin would guide urban stormwater management, riparian restoration, and the development of blue-green corridors, while supporting watershed‑level governance and cross‑sector collaboration between water management, land use, and conservation agencies.

Reception to the term has been mixed. Supporters view it as a concise framework for nature‑based water policy, whereas critics point to vagueness and limited empirical grounding due to its relatively sparse formal usage. See also nature‑based solutions, ecological restoration, watershed management, and green infrastructure. References to the term are primarily found in NGO reports and regional planning documents.