Tero Mustonen

Goldman Environmental Prize 2023 winner on rewilding Finland’s degraded habitats

- Jo Price

Tero Mustonen is a Finnish scholar, fisherman and leader who is deeply connected to nature. He grew up amidst Finland’s lakes and peatlands and has dedicated his life to bringing together western scientists, village elders and Sámi indigenous knowledge holders in the region to preserve traditional culture and environments. He lives in an old growth forest and was a lead author for the International Panel on Climate Change. He’s been awarded a Goldman Environmental Prize to recognise his achievements as a grassroots environmental champion.

My experience as a