Crowdsorsa mobile game won the Finnish Biodiversity Award 2023–2024 for its role to fight against invasive alien species in Finland on a total of 4 million square metres, said the Ministry of the Environment on Friday.
Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala awarded the prizes to the winners.
The cities of Kauniainen and Vantaa were also awarded Honourable mentions this year.
The competition is organised by the National Committee of Finland of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
This year the focus was on actions that have inspired to wider action and cooperation to preserve or improve the state of the natural environment.
The jury was particularly interested in actions that inspire especially young people to participate in the efforts to halt biodiversity loss.
The mobile application to fight against invasive alien species is a game developed by the start-up Crowdsorsa, with almost 200,00 registered users already.
It makes it easy for people to participate in the work to fight against invasive alien species in urban areas and other actions and surveys to improve the environment.
In the game the participants record deposits of invasive alien species on video before and after the work to prevent them. Approved actions are rewarded. The species fought against include Himalayan balsam, lupine, rugosa rose and Canadian goldenrod.
“It is truly great how Finnish game industry can help us in innovative work for nature and inspire young people to participate! Gamification offers the municipalities and cities a cost-effective and easy way to involve residents in the fight against invasive alien species and work for nature in their own neighbourhoods,” Multala said.
In Finland the mobile game is already in use in 65 municipalities and in Åland. It is also spreading internationally and is being used in Sweden and Canada as well.
Last summer work to fight against invasive alien species covered more than 3 million square metres and more than 600 litres of Spanish slugs were collected in Finland, Sweden and Canada.
A total of EUR 170,000 was handed out to the participants as rewards.
“Work repeated on an annual basis is truly producing good results. Even deposits that we have not yet managed to eradicate completely have clearly declined, which makes it more cost-effective to prevent them in the following year” Chief Executive Officer of Crowdsorsa Toni Paju said.
Diplomas for a deed for the benefit of Finnish nature in 2023–2024 were awarded to the cities of Vantaa and Kauniainen. The honourable mentions were awarded for particularly valuable and inspiring work for nature.
- Crowdsorsa
- Mobile game
- Biodiversity Award
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
