SWFinland

Raingarden Catalogue supports citizen uptake of nature-based solutions in Southwest Finland

As part of the RESIST project, Southwest Finland has launched a new Raingarden Catalogue to help citizens better understand and implement nature-based solutions (NbS) for stormwater management on private properties.

The region is increasingly facing climate-related challenges such as flooding, droughts and heatwaves. However, the uptake of small-scale NbS by homeowners remains limited, often due to a lack of practical information on costs, benefits and implementation options. Developed by Turku University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with regional stakeholders and illustrated with support from REVOLVE, the catalogue aims to address these barriers by providing accessible guidance and clear service pathways for private landowners.

The publication introduces raingardens as an effective tool to improve local stormwater management while delivering additional benefits for biodiversity and urban resilience. It also connects homeowners with companies offering design and implementation services, making it easier to move from awareness to action.

The catalogue was developed through a collaborative process involving public authorities, experts and private companies. Stakeholders jointly contributed to defining the content, identifying suitable plant species and ensuring that technical information was presented in a clear and user-friendly format.

Beyond its local impact, the catalogue is also being shared with other RESIST regions. The Southwest Finland team has worked closely with partners in Normandy to explore how the concept could be adapted to different climatic and cultural contexts, supporting the transfer of innovative climate adaptation solutions across Europe.

The catalogue has already attracted significant interest from both citizens and professionals, and an updated edition is planned for 2027 with the participation of additional service providers.

For more information about the Raingarden Catalogue and other climate adaptation solutions developed within RESIST, visit the RESIST project website.

In RESIST, ERRIN is responsible for supporting the 12 regions in implementing their climate-related innovations. Additionally, ERRIN's role in the project includes developing a Community of Practice and identifying the needs for a mutual-learning scheme. ERRIN also connects Large-Scale Demonstrators and Twinning regions with a wider Community of Interest composed of European regions facing similar climate adaptation challenges.