Pictures
of this page tell the story about how UPM-Kymmene manages its own
forests in Keuruu municipality in Middle Finland; forests where endangered
bird, Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus) dwells.
According
to a Siberian jay expert Mr Rainer Mäkelä, old-growth spruce
forests have been common in the UPM-Kymmene owned lands til 1998.
From 1995 a number of Siberian jays have been noted in the area. The
clearcuts UPM-Kymmene carried out between fall 1998 and summer 1999
have significantly fragmented the forest area.
UPM-Kymmene
claims it avoids unnecessary fragmentation caused by logging in old-growth
forest areas. Apparently it is necessary to clearcut old-growth forests
according to the market situation.
UPM-Kymmene
does not care
The local
ornitological society and the local nature conservation organization
have been negotiating with UPM-Kymmene without any success. No concrete
actions have been taken by UPM-Kymmene. The company has not promised
to give up logging the last old-growth forests in the area. Furthermore,
additional logging is most likely going to take place in these forests
which are crucial for the Siberian jay.
It is
uncertain why the company has published a biodiversity strategy when
it does not obey it.
Excerpts
from the UPM-Kymmene Biodiversity Strategy (translation by the Finnish
Nature League):
"...the
aim of the strategy is to permanently maintain at least the diversity
of existing species in each of the company's forests. The living conditions
of especially the declined, original species will be improved... The
aim is that in 50 years the biodiversity will be improved from the
present level in most of the company's forests."
"The
Biodiversity Strategy of UPM-Kymmene Forest aims to protect all three
levels of biodiversity, even though most of the operations mentioned
aim primarily to the protection of species and habitats."
