Where Business Meets Nature — and Makes Things Better
NPOS investigates how companies in Northern Ostrobothnia can go beyond reducing their harm to actively restoring nature. We bring together research, business, and community to build a genuinely nature-positive regional economy.
What is nature positive — and why does Northern Ostrobothnia matter?
A nature-positive economy is one where the net result of all economic activity leads to a measurable increase in biodiversity and ecosystem health. Not just 'less harm' — but genuine recovery. NPOS is a research initiative at the Martti Ahtisaari Institute, Oulu Business School, University of Oulu, studying how businesses in Northern Ostrobothnia can lead that transition — and what stands in their way.
Northern Ostrobothnia is home to remarkable boreal ecosystems — forests, peatlands, rivers, and wetlands. It is also a dynamic regional economy with strengths in technology, construction, energy, and forestry. The NPOS project sits at that intersection: understanding how economic activity can shift from extracting from nature to restoring it.
Liminka River Delta biodiversity baseline mapping, 2026
“Leaders believe in sustainability. The budgets, measurement systems, and financial instruments to support that belief have not yet been built — and that is the gap we are closing.”
Supporting diverse stakeholders in the regional transition
Businesses
Practical insights for your transition
Policy-makers
Evidence for regional strategy
Researchers
Data, methods, and publications
Investors
Nature-positive investment landscape
Citizens
Get involved, share your voice
Latest Publications & Surveys
Measuring Natural Capital Integration in Nordic SMEs: Survey Methodology and Metrics
By Yaraghi, N., & OBS Research Group
This paper outlines a 35-item questionnaire developed to survey responsible management practices and natural capital integration in companies operating in Northern Finland. We report structural validation scores.
Nature-Positive Business Ecosystems: A Case of Boreal Peatland Restoration
By Martti Ahtisaari Institute Working Group
Examines collaboration gaps between forestry owners, peat excavation operators, and energy companies in the Liminka and Oulujoki water catchments, proposing data commons.
The Double Edge of Digital Technology in Regional Carbon Footprint Management
By Yaraghi, N.
Highlights the paradox of ICT companies in Northern Ostrobothnia having low-carbon software solutions while running opaque data center hardware lifecycles.
AI-Curated Digest: Global Policy & Peatland Innovations
Discover this month's updates gathered from academic databases like OpenAlex, summarized automatically by our AI models.
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Upcoming Forums & Seminars
NPOS Regional Policy Forum: Green Construction Procurement
Location: Oulu Business School, Saalastinsali & Online
Presenting the NPOS policy recommendations for regional procurement guidelines. Keynote by representatives from ELY-Centre and municipal developers.
SME Natural Capital Measurement Webinar: Starter Metrics Demo
Location: Online (Zoom)
Demonstrating the NPOS 1-hour self-assessment tool and the 5 key biodiversity starter indicators for Northern Ostrobothnia businesses.
NPOS Launch Event & Ecosystem Workshop (Archive)
Location: Martti Ahtisaari Institute, Oulu
The initial participatory ecosystem mapping workshop involving nine regional pioneer firms. Results summarized in Blog 11.
Featured Resources & Methods
NPOS Policy Brief 2026: Green Public Procurement Standards
A concise 4-page guide for municipal decision makers in Northern Ostrobothnia, outlining how to reward designed disassembly and biodiversity in construction tenders.
Six Capitals Boardroom Diagnostic & Print-and-Play Kit
A gamified diagnostic workshop material designed to identify tensions and strategic blind spots in corporate natural capital integration.
Boreal Peatland Restoration: Value Exchanges & Flows
A visual mapping illustrating economic exchanges and ecosystem handprints between regional forestry operators and wetland bio-investors.
Introduction to Nature-Positive Regional Economies (Oulu MOOC Link)
Link to the free 2-credit online course offered by Oulu Business School on circular models, handprints, and risk governance.
Supported By & Collaborating With
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