The pine forests of the North are efficient carbon sinks, valuable habitat loss mitigators and essential for local people's livelihoods such as reindeer husbandry, hunting-gathering and nature tourism. Despite this, near pristine forests, where endangered species and indicator species of old-growth forests are found, are getting logged in Enontekiö.
According to government calculations, these types of forests were supposed to be Finland's carbon sinks. The problem in making this add up is that, even if the forests are of such natural value that they should definitely be protected, there is little that can be done to influence the land use of private owners. Indeed, felling by private, so-called 'remote forest owners' (what a great new word for a colonialist!) has accelerated in the north over the past ten years, and the pace of felling is expected to accelerate further with the completion of the Kemi pulp mill. Several hundred years old trees are now being turned into toilet paper.
If one had to explain in three simple facts why logging in high north should be curbed:
1. Trees here grow slowly and the forest regenerates into a real forest even much more slowly - if it ever does. If old-growth forest species are nearby and the mycelium undergrowth can cope with erosion from logging, the old forest may one day recover. However, this is estimated to take a thousand years. Yes, a thousand years! (Not 150 years, which is the figure often thrown around by the media and the forest industry: this just tells us how long it takes for a tree to grow back to its 'logging length'.)
2. Protected areas should be as continuous as possible at national and international level in order to act as an effective deterrent to habitat loss. At present, protected areas are in danger of becoming islands in these areas where continuous forest is still found and where it would still be possible to create wide coherent protected zones.
3. The activities of “remote forest owners” in the north have a blatantly colonialist aspect. The locals are left to reap the destruction while others reap the profits. The main local livelihoods of reindeer husbandry and tourism are totally incompatible with intensive forestry.
But the good news:
New protected areas are being created here. The latest is a 100-hectare area of Ullatieva at the eastern end of Lake Ounasjärvi, bought from local residents by the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation. The site is an unusual sand ridge formation. Even if you're not an ecologist or a species expert, you'll quickly notice that it's special. It is a place that is dear to many locals and holidaymakers. This piece of news is no longer exactly new, but it is newsworthy because it is permanent: the site is now protected by law forever.
While it is true that deforestation can only be halted by a fundamental change in the system, protecting each individual forest is always an act of regional value. Furthermore, every successful conservation effort sends a message that the conservation effort is worthwhile and that something can be done. Ullatieva and its current, past and future dwellers and hikers are thanking!
metsä lähellä ullatievaa
