TENK has published a new recommendation Ethical principles for research involving nature and the environment and a proposal for organising ethical review in Finland (in short, the NERE recommendation).
The publication event of the NERE recommendation took place on June 11 2026 in Inari. The launch was part of the international symposium Inari Symposium on Research Ethics in Nature, Environment and Indigenous Research (InRENEI2026).
The Finnish and English versions of the NERE recommendation were published in TENK's publication series in June 2026. The Swedish version will be published later this year. Links to the recommendations:
In Finnish, the acronym LYTE is used.
The NERE recommendation supports researchers in identifying and considering ethical questions related to nature and the environment. The focus is on minimising harm and ensuring that the adverse impacts of planned research are significantly reduced. This approach protects nature, the environment and local communities from adverse research effects. Ultimately, the NERE framework aims for future continuity so that researchers can conduct research ethically on these topics also in the future.
The first part of the NERE recommendation outlines the core ethical principles for research. The second part outlines a proposal for research organisations on how to organise ethical review. The recommendation applies to all research activities which involve nature or the environment and have direct or indirect impacts on these.
The NERE recommendation was drafted in the LYTE project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and coordinated by TENK. Professor Emerita and former Chair of TENK Riitta Keiski from the University of Oulu served as the chair of the steering group. Sirpa Thessler, Director at the Natural Resources Institute Finland and a former Vice Chair of TENK, served as the chair of the working group. The working group consisted of experts from various universities and research institutes.
Photo: TENK
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