{"id":74041,"date":"2025-12-09T10:40:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T08:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?page_id=74041"},"modified":"2026-01-13T12:05:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T10:05:53","slug":"environmental-dna","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/sustainability-consultancy\/environmental-dna\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental DNA\u00a0boosts ecological assessments\u00a0in projects"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Environmental DNA: cost-effective and reliable nature survey solution<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\t
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Environmental DNA boosts ecological assessments in projects<\/h1>\n

Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods are a cost-effective way to carry out\u00a0<\/span>nature surveys<\/span><\/a> in projects by collecting the species’ DNA from the environment. Environmental DNA methods are used to identify individual species in the project area or to estimate the amount of biodiversity at the level of species groups.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

eDNA methods respond to the growing need for ecological information in both companies’ <\/span>sustainability reporting<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>environmental impact assessment<\/span><\/a> (EIA) procedures of projects. It is important to integrate ecological information as part of decision-making in land use, from industrial and energy investments to infrastructure and building construction, in order to prevent biodiversity loss.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Biodiversity services at Sweco<\/a>Contact our experts<\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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What does environmental DNA mean? <\/h2>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods are\u00a0<\/span>molecular monitoring methods<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that are based on\u00a0<\/span>DNA samples<\/span><\/b>. As in criminal investigations, DNA samples are used to\u00a0identify\u00a0unique DNA sequences of plant and animal species, which are like genetic barcodes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DNA samples from the project area will be compared\u00a0<\/span>to the reference database<\/span><\/b>, which is currently the most extensive for aquatic species. The existing reference data includes, for example, species that are required by law to be studied in nature surveys, such as the moor frog and protected migratory fish.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sweco\u00a0supports its\u00a0clients in\u00a0being\u00a0ecological\u00a0forerunners, and if they wish, the client can\u00a0<\/span>promote science with their project<\/span><\/b>, for example, by adding the DNA barcodes of the new species to international reference database.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact us!<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Reliable nature information with eDNA methods saves time<\/h2>\n

Environmental DNA methods enable\u00a0<\/span>nature surveys<\/span><\/a> to be carried out cost-effectively, reliably and objectively. New DNA research equipment and methods are constantly entering the market, as well as international standards that harmonise operating methods.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n