Doctoral Research Project: Localizing Sustainability Transformations in the North Karelia Biosphere Reserve

Promoting sustainability transformations in an era of escalating ecological crises requires broad and rapid structural and systemic changes across multiple sectors of society. Cross-sectoral collaboration has been identified as a key prerequisite for localizing sustainability transformations. In addition, generating knowledge that adequately accounts for local contexts and the actors operating within them has proven essential for supporting transformational change.

Over recent decades, environmental governance has sought to address these challenges through various forms of network governance. Alongside improving effectiveness, these approaches have increasingly emphasized inclusive participation and closer interaction among stakeholders as part of collaborative decision-making processes and the pursuit of more just transitions. However, implementing sustainability transformations in ways that are simultaneously effective, interactive, and equitable has proven challenging within prevailing environmental governance practices. This highlights the need for up-to-date knowledge on how sustainability transformations can be localized through network-based forms of collaboration at the local level.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this doctoral research is to advance understanding of how sustainability transformations are implemented through existing local environmental governance structures and how interaction and collaboration unfold among the actors involved in these governance processes.

The North Karelia Biosphere Reserve provides a valuable case for examining local environmental governance. Guided by the principles of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MaB) Programme and administered by the Economic Development Center of Eastern Finland, the biosphere reserve actively supports local sustainability transformations while bringing together a diverse set of actors and interests.

Implementation of the Study

The study will be conducted as a case study utilizing multiple qualitative data collection methods. These include research interviews, participant observation, document analysis of materials related to the activities of the North Karelia Biosphere Reserve, and workshops.

Participation in the research is voluntary, and informed consent will be requested from all participants. Data collection will take place during 2025 and 2026 in connection with activities organized within the North Karelia Biosphere Reserve.

Dissemination of Research Results

The doctoral dissertation is an article-based dissertation consisting of three separate articles. Each article will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journal. The publication of the research articles and the doctoral dissertation will be communicated to the participating parties by the researcher.

Additional Information

The doctoral dissertation is part of the Sustainability Transfromation Doctoral Training Pilot (SusTra) led by the University of Eastern Finland. The doctoral training pilot will run from 2025 to 2027 in collaboration with 10 universities and the Finnish Environment Institute. The pilot aims to train 40 new doctors in Finland with funding granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Academy of Finland.

Väitöskirjatutkimuksesta vastaa Väitöskirjatutkija Niko Nesterinen Itä-Suomen yliopiston Historia- ja maantieteiden laitoksella. Nesterinen tekee väitöskirjaansa osana professori Irmeli Mustalahden johtamaa Responsive Natural Resources Governance -tutkimusryhmää ympäristöpolitiikan alalle (YTT).

Tutkimuksen ohjaajina toimivat Professori Irmeli Mustalahti ja Yliopiston lehtori Marja Alastalo Itä-Suomen yliopistosta.

For further information about the research, please contact:

Niko Nesterinen Doctoral Researcher Department of Geographical and Historical Studies Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies University of Eastern Finland [email protected] +358 29 445 5477 

A research notice and privacy statement have been prepared for the study, which can be read via the buttons below.