Finnish Environment Institute

The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE carries out a wide range of work related to the environment:  research and development, expert services, administrative tasks and monitoring and information systems. SYKE works closely with Finnish ministries and municipalities, Finland’s 13 regional environment centres, companies, organizations and individual citizens. SYKE also provides consulting services overseas and collaborate extensively with other research institutes and universities in Finland and abroad.

The Marine Centre at SYKE is responsible for research on issues like the status of the Baltic Sea and its changes, eutrophication, marine biodiversity, and invasive species. The three research programmes at the Marine Centre have focus on the status of the marine environment, the function of marine ecosystems, and marine ecology and biodiversity. The activities of the Finnish research vessel Aranda are coordinated by the Marine Centre at SYKE. The number of marine researchers within the organization is around 90.

Key Personnel

Mr. Juha-Markku LEPPÄNEN acts as a Research Manager in the Monitoring and Assessment Unit of the Marine Research Centre of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) with the main task to assist the Ministry of Environment in implementing the MSFD in Finland. He has wide ranging experience in planning and executing environmental monitoring and assessment activities in the Baltic Sea (as the Chair the HELCOM Monitoring and Assessment Working Group and as the Professional Secretary at the HELCOM Secretary being responsible of development and coordination of the joint Baltic Sea environmental monitoring, data exchange and handling as well as thematic and holistic assessments). He has participated in the development of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan, and been involved in the WFD and now MSFD at the national and the European level. He has participated EEA ETC/Water assessment work concerning the marine environment of the European Seas as well as EIONET activities. He has co-operated with the Black Sea Commission concerning environmental monitoring activities of the Black Sea. He has been a project manager of several EU projects.

He is member of the working groups (legal and GES) in implementing the MSFD in Finland.